Tribal Livelihood

The Galo tribe or Galong is located in the central eastern Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh. Being the offspring of the Tani group having descent from the forefather Abu Tani, they are ranked among the more progressive tribes of the region. They are mostly inhabited in West Siang, Leparada, Upper…

The Aka tribe of Arunachal Pradesh have a direct relation to nature and their livelihoods thrive around the lush forests, rivers, and mountains that surround them. Before coming to be known as Aka by the British, they were called Hrusso and today, they largely populate the Kameng districts and…

Jhum cultivation, an age-old practice of the Tripuri tribe, illustrates deep-rooted ties with nature and determines livelihoods thereby. This tribe has been clearing small pockets of forests over time to grow vegetables, cereals, and pulses, and this provides a clearest image of the harmony with…

The Reang or Bru tribe of Tripura makes a living mainly by practicing the ancient shifting cultivation called jhum. They cultivate rice, collect items from the forest, such as fruits and edible leaves, and fish and hunt for their sustenance. The Reangs are always on the move based on the…

It is through the natural resources of the region that the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh draws its life sustenance. These practices, in turn, are among those that are embraced by nature and ensure that the Adis live sustainably and preserve their culture. The Adi, by their very nature, are ever-…

Mizo tribes, located in the remote northeastern state of Mizoram, are highly acclaimed for their rich cultural heritage and unique dance forms, the most renowned being the Cheraw. The bamboo dance represents all that is beautiful and traditional in Mizo culture, yet even more, it truly shows the…

The Chuktia Bhunjia tribe, with their estimated population of just 5,558 according to the Baseline Survey (2015, 2019) and the OPELIP Survey (2022), can be categorized as one of the smaller and lesser-known tribes of western Odisha. They have settled in the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in the…

The Birhor tribe living in Odisha are primarily scattered in the hills of Similipal in the district of Mayurbhanj. The SCSTRTI and OPELIP conducted some recent surveys, and their populations are recorded only at 351, which makes them an extremely vulnerable tribal group. They are socially divided…

The Bonda tribe resides in the Malkangiri district of Odisha and is considered one of India’s most distinct and ancient tribal communities. According to data from SCSTRTI and OPELIP surveys conducted between 2015 and 2022, their total population is 10,993. The Bonda people, especially the women,…

The Didayi are a small tribal community residing on the eastern side of the Ghats in Malkangiri district in the state of Odisha. The Baseline Survey (2015, 2019) and OPELIP Survey (2022) put their total population at 9,651. The community calls itself Gntare; neighboring populations call them Diday…