Primitive Tribes of Orissa and Their Development Strategies

Of the 250 or more Indian tribal groups, 62 live in Orissa, each varying in culture, language, economic life and level of literacy. The 13 tribal groups, namely Birhor, Bondo, Didayi, Dongria-Khond, Juangs, Kharias, Kutia Khond, Lanjia Saoras, Lodhas, Mankidias, Paudi Bhuinyas, Soura and Chuktia Bhunjia, having pre-agricultural level of technology and extremely low level of literacy have been recognized as "Primitive Tribes" of Orissa. These tribes remain confined to their own small world and a probe into its history clearly shows that after a few generations the past turns into mythology. The book presents an in-depth study of the various measures and provisions adopted, schemes introduced and plans implemented, since the Fifth Five-Year Plan, to redress the problems of the tribals; and apprises the readers about the on-going attempts in bringing them to the national mainstream through the 13 Micro Projects. Besides, the book presents an extensive ethnographic detail of the entire Primitive Tribes, more particularly their economic activities, social sanctions and their varied problems. The realistic description of their pathetic life, deprived of all modern facilities, is highly touching and makes one wonder, do such people really exist in the 21st Century? The book will universally appeal to all readers and is highly recommended for the scholars of sociology and anthropology in particular.Patnaik, N. is the author of 'Primitive Tribes of Orissa and Their Development Strategies ', published 2005 under ISBN 9788124602737 and ISBN 8124602735.