Scheduled Tribes in West Bengal

Scheduled Tribes (also known as "tribals" or "adibasi/ adivasi") refers to specific indigenous peoples whose status is acknowledged to some formal degree by national legislation. Scheduled tribes of the Indian state of West Bengal, as recognized by the Constitution of the Indian Republic; a total of 40 distinct tribes. Among those 40 tribes 3 tribes are "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups" (PTGs).[1][2]

Overview

As per 2001 census scheduled tribes numbering 4,406,794 persons constituted 5.5 per cent of the total population of the state. Santals constitute more than half (51.8 per cent) of the total ST population of the state. Oraons (14 per cent), Mundas (7.8 per cent), Bhumij (7.6 per cent) and Kora (3.2 per cent) are the other major STs having sizeable population. Along with Santal, they constitute nearly 85 per cent of the state's total ST population. The Lodhas, Mahalis, Bhutias, Bedias, and Savars are the remaining STs, and having population of one per cent or more as per 2001 census report.[3] After 2002 the population of ST had increased due to addition of major groups Tamang & Limbu(Subba) has great significant number in the population.[4]

Population and proportion of ten major STs in West Bengal, as per 2001 census, are given below:[3]

Sl No Scheduled Tribe Population Percentage of
the total
ST population
1 Santal 2,280,540 51.8
2 Oraon 617,138 14
3 Munda 341,542 7.8
4 Bhumij 336,436 7.6
5 Kora 142,789 3.2
6 Lodha 84,966 1.9
7 Mahali 76,102 1.7
8 Bhutia 60,091 1.4
9 Tamang
10 Subba (Limboo/Limbu)
11 Bedia 55,979 1.3
12 Sabar 43,599 1
District wise Scheduled Tribes demographic map of West Bengal

More than half of the total ST population of the state is concentrated in Medinipur, Jalpaiguri, Purulia, and Bardhaman districts. Of the remaining districts, Bankura, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur have sizable ST population.[3]

List of tribes

As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, the following were listed as scheduled tribes in West Bengal.[5]

  1. Asur
  2. Baiga
  3. Badia, Bediya
  4. Bhumij
  5. Bhutia, Sherpa, Toto, Dukpa, Kagatay, Tibetan, Yolmo
  6. Birhor
  7. Birjia
  8. Chakma
  9. Chero
  10. Chik Baraik
  11. Garo
  12. Gond
  13. Gorait
  14. Hajong
  15. Ho
  16. Karmali
  17. Kharwar
  18. Khond
  19. Kisan
  20. Kora
  21. Korwa
  22. Lepcha
  23. Limbu(Subba)
  24. Lodha, Kheria, Kharia
  25. Lohara, Lohra
  26. Magh
  27. Mahali
  28. Mahli
  29. Mal Pahariya
  30. Mech
  31. Mru
  32. Munda
  33. Nagesia
  34. Oraon
  35. Parhaiya
  36. Rabha
  37. Santal
  38. Sauria paharia
  39. Savars
  40. Tamang

References
  1. "Tribal Development Department, Government of West Bengal". adibasikalyan.gov.in. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  2. "Tribal Development Department, Government of West Bengal". www.adibasikalyan.gov.in. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. "West Bengal: Data Highlights the Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  4. "Census report" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 3 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Scheduled Tribes List" (PDF). tribal.nic.in.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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