The term "Scheduled Tribes" signifies specific indigenous groups whose status is formally acknowledged to some extent by Indian legislation, often colloquially referred to as "tribals" or "adibasi." In adherence to the Constitution of the Indian Republic, the state of Odisha officially recognizes a total of 62 distinct tribes as Scheduled Tribes. Among these 62 tribes, 13 hold the designation of "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups" (PVTGs).
As per the 2011 census data, the Scheduled Tribes in Odisha constitute more than 22.84% of the state's entire population, accounting for a total of 95,90,756 individuals. This demographic represents approximately 0.79% of the nation's overall population.
Main tribes
The Kondha or Kandha is the largest tribe of the state in terms of population. They have a population of about one million and are based mainly in the Kandhamal and adjoining districts namely Rayagada, Koraput, Balangir and Boudh. The Santals with a population over 800,000, inhabit the Mayurbhanj district. The Ho people with a population more than 100,000 inhabit in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Anugul, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Kandhamal district. The Saura, with a population over 300,000, are found mainly in the undivided Ganjam and Puri district. The Bonda, are known as 'the Naked People', and have a population of about 5,000 and live in Malkangiri district formerly part of undivided Koraput. The Kisans are the main residents of Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Keonjhar.
List of scheduled tribes
As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, amended by Modification Order 1956 the following were listed as Scheduled Tribes in Odisha;
Bagata (Bhakta) Baiga Banjara (Banjari) Bathudi (Bathuri) Bhottada (Dhotada, Bhotra, Bhatra, Bhattara, Bhotora, Bhatara) Bhuyan (Bhuinya) Bhumia Bhumij (Teli Bhumij, Haladipokhria Bhumij, Haladi Pokharia Bhumija, Desi Bhumij, Desia Bhumij, Tamaria Bhumij) Bhunjia Binjhal (Binjhwar) Binjhia (Binjhoa) Birhor (Mankidi, Mankirdia) Bondo Poraja (Bonda Paroja, Banda Paroja) Chenchu Dal Desua Bhumij Dharua (Dhuruba, Dhurva) Didayi (Didai Paroja, Didai) Gadaba (Bodo Gadaba, Gutob Gadaba, Kapu Gadaba, Ollara Gadaba, Parenga Gadaba, Sano Gadaba] Gandia Ghara Gond (Gondo, Rajgond, Maria Gond, Dhur Gond) Ho Holva Jatapu Juang Kandha (Khond, Kond, Nanguli Kandha, Sitha Kandha, Kondh, Kui, Buda Kondh, Bura Kandha, Desia Kandha, Dungaria Kondh, Kutia Kandha, Kandha Gauda, Muli Kondh, Malua Kondh, Pengo Kandha, Raja Kondh, Raj Khond) Kandha Gauda Kawar (Kanwar) Kharia (Kharian, Berga Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Erenga Kharia, Munda Kharia, Oraon Kharia, Khadia, Pahari Kharia) Kharwar Kisan (Nagesar, Nagesia) Kol Kolah (Loharas, Kol Loharas) Kolha (larka) Koli (Malhar) Kondadora Kora Korua Kotia Koya (Gumba Koya, Koitur Koya, Kamar Koya, Musara Koya) Kulis (Kuli) Lodha (Nodh, Nodha, Lodh) Madia Mahali Mankidi Mankirdia (Mankria, Mankidi) Matya (Matia) Mirdhas (Kuda, Koda, Mirdha) Munda (Munda Lohara, Munda Mahalis, Nagabanshi Munda, Odia Munda) Mundari Omanatya (Omanatyo, Amanatya) Oraon (Dhangar, Uran) Parenga Paroja (Parja, Bodo Paroja, Barong Jhodia Paroja, Chhelia Paroja, Jhodia Paroja, Konda Paroja, Paraja, Ponga Paroja, Sodia Paroja, Sano Paroja, Solia Paroja) Pentia Rajuar Santal Saora Shabar Lodha Sounti Tharua (Tharua Bindhani)
Among the 62 Scheduled Tribes listed, many are subsections of larger Scheduled Tribes.
Inclusion and exclusion
Initially, the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha consisted of 42 tribes. The implementation of the Scheduled Tribes Modification Order in 1956 brought significant changes, including the inclusion of 21 new tribes as Scheduled Tribes, such as Bhottada, Bhumia, Bhumij, Bhunjia, Desua Bhumij, Dharua, Didayi, Gandia, Holva, Kandha Gauda, Kol, Kotia, Lodha, Madia, Matya, Omanatya, Parenga, Pentia, Rajuar, Sabar Lodha, and Sounti. Additionally, the tribe named Gorait was excluded from the list and enlisted in Scheduled Castes. However, after the establishment of the Tribal Research Institute, it was discovered that six communities viz. Chenchu, Ghara, Kandha Gauda, Kuli, Saunti had been mistakenly included in the list due to a lack of accurate local information when the list was originally drawn up in 1950 and revised in 1956. As they did not meet the basic criteria for tribal status, the Odisha government later proposed their exclusion from the list. However, this proposal faced opposition from members in Parliament, and as a result, there were no changes made to the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha.