List of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and Population of each Tribe

In this article we are going to know the List of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and also the population of each Scheduled Tribe as per the 2011 census.

 या लेखाला मराठीत वाचा 

List of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and Population of each Tribe
List of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and Population of each Tribe

There are 45 Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and their total population in 2011 is 1.05 crore. Before knowing the list of STs in Maharashtra, let us briefly understand what is a scheduled tribe or ST.

Scheduled Castes and Tribes: Among the classes declared by the President of India as backward under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution of India, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are considered more important in terms of numbers and the extent of their problems.

Apart from this, it is left to the state governments to decide which other classes are to be accepted as backward classes. Apart from this, the Government of Maharashtra has recognized two more classes as backward. These include [1] liberated castes and nomadic tribes (VJ-NT) and [2] newly initiated Buddhists (Neo Buddhists) and the economically backward.

Scheduled Tribes: Scheduled Tribes have different names like Adivasis (आदिवासी), Aborigines (मूलनिवासी), Primitive Castes and Tribes, Wild Castes and Girijans (गिरिजन ). Among them, the name ‘Adivasi‘ (or ‘tribal’) is more prevalent in national parlance. Scheduled Tribes (STs) are also known as ‘Anusuchit Jamati’ in Marathi, and ‘Anusuchit Janjati’ in Hindi.

 

List of Scheduled Tribes with Population

Earlier the number of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra was 47, but in 2003 two of them (No. 12 and 45) were omitted. And now the number of scheduled tribes in the state is 45.

Following is the list of 45 Scheduled Tribes of Maharashtra State, and the population of each Scheduled Tribe as per the 2011 census.

Sr. No.

Scheduled Tribes

Population

1

Andh

4,74,110

2

Baiga

333

3

Barda

1,247

4

Bavacha, Bamcha

345

5

Bhaina

270

6

Bharia Bhumia, Bhuinhar Bhumia, Pando

1,348

7

Bhattra

66

8

Bhil, Bhil Garasia, Dholi Bhil, Dungri Bhil, Dungri Garasia, Mewasi Bhil, Rawal Bhil, Tadvi Bhil, Bhagalia, Bhilala, Pawra, Vasava, Vasave

25,88,659

9

Bhunjia

2,136

10

Binjhwar

8,567

11

Birhul, Birhor

145

12

Omitted

-

13

Dhanka, Tadvi, Tetaria, Valvi

35,104

14

Dhanwar

4,094

15

Dhodia

17,520

16

Dubla, Talavia, Halpati

18,697

17

Gamit, Gamta, Gavit, Mavchi, Padvi

67,796

18

Gond, Rajgond, Arakh, Arrakh, Agaria, Asur, Badi Maria , Bada Maria, Bhatola, Bhimma, Bhuta, Koilabhuta, Koilabhuti, Bhar, Bisonhorn Maria, Chota Maria, Dandami Maria, Dhuru, Dhurwa, Dhoba, Dhulia, Dorla, Gaiki, Gatta, Gatti, Gaita, Gond Gowari, Hill Maria, Kandra, Kalanga, Khatola, Koitar, Koya, Khirwar, Khirwara, Kucha Maria, Kuchaki Maria, Madia, Maria, Mana, Mannewar, Moghya, Mogia, Monghya, Mudia, Muria, Nagarchi, Naikpod, Nagwanshi, Ojha, Raj, Sonjhari Jhareka, Thatia, Thotya, Wade Maria, Vade Maria

16,18,090

19

Halba, Halbi

2,61,011

20

Kamar

1,391

21

Kathodi, Katkari, Dhor Kathodi, Dhor Kathkari, Son Kathodi, Son Katkari

2,85,334

22

Kawar, Kanwar, Kaur, Cherwa, Rathia, Tanwar, Chattri

26,354

23

Khairwar

1,843

24

Kharia

745

25

Kokna, Kokni, Kukna

68,7431

26

Kol

6,874

27

Kolam, Mannervarlu

1,94,671

28

Koli Dhor, Tokre Koli, Kolcha, Kolgha

2,20,074

29

Koli Mahadev, Dongar Koli

14,59,565

30

Koli Malhar

2,82,868

31

Kondh, Khond, Kandh

515

32

Korku, Bopchi, Mouasi, Nihal, Nahul, Bondhi, Bondeya

2,64,492

33

Koya, Bhine Koya, Rajkoya

388

34

Nagesia, Nagasia

133

35

Naikda, Nayaka, Cholivala Nayaka, Kapadia Nayaka, Mota Nayaka, Nana Nayaka

22,307

36

Oraon, Dhangad

43,060

37

Pardhan, Pathari, Saroti

1,45,131

38

Pardhi, Advichincher, Phans Pardhi, Phanse Pardhi, Langoli Pardhi, Bahelia, Bahellia, Chita Pardhi, Shikari, Takankar, Takia

2,23,527

39

Parja

315

40

Patelia

2,574

41

Pomla

44

42

Rathawa

488

43

Sawar, Sawara

348

44

Thakur, Thakar, Ka Thakur, Ka Thakar, Ma Thakur, Ma Thakar

5,67,968

45

Omitted

-

46

Varli

7,96,245

47

Vitolia, Kotwalia, Barodia

448

Total


1,05,10,213

 

Population of Scheduled Tribes

As per 2011 census, the population of Scheduled Tribes in India is 10,42,54,613 (10.43 crore) which is 8.61 percent of the total population of India.

The population of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is 1,05,07,000 (1.05 crore) which is 9.35% of the total population of the state. Maharashtra has 10.08% of the total Scheduled Tribes in India.

According to the 2011 census, 14 of the 45 Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra have a population of less than 1,000, while there are also 14 Scheduled Tribes with a population of more than 1,00,000.

 

According to the 2011 census, the three districts with the largest population of Scheduled Tribes are as follows:

  • Nashik District (15.64 lakhs / 14.88%)
  • Nandurbar District (11.42 lakhs / 10.86%)
  • Palghar District (11.18 lakhs / 10.64%)

The three districts with the lowest population of Scheduled Tribes are as follows :

  • Sindhudurg District (6,976)
  • Sangli District (18,333)
  • Ratnagiri District (20,374)

 

10 Largest Scheduled Tribes

As per the 2011 census, the list of the 10 most populous Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is as follows:

  1. Bhil – 25,88,659 (24.64%)
  2. Gond – 16,18,090 (15.40%)
  3. Koli Mahadev – 14,59,565 (13.89%)
  4. Varli – 7,96,245 (7.58%)
  5. Thakur – 5,67,968 (5.41%)
  6. Andh – 4,74,110 (4.51%)
  7. Kathodi – 2,85,334 (2.72%)
  8. Koli Malhar – 2,82,868 (2.69%)
  9. Korku – 2,64,492 (2.52%)
  10. Halba – 2,61,011 (2.48%)

 

 

Reservation for Scheduled Tribes

Reservation in Education and Jobs: Maharashtra has a total of 62 percent reservation for Backward Classes (SC, ST, OBC+, EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs. 7 percent of them are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Political Reservation: Maharashtra has a total of 48 Lok Sabha constituencies out of which 4 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. 14 out of 288 assembly constituencies of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

 

Religion of Scheduled Tribes

Scheduled Tribes follow different religions. However, most of the Scheduled Tribes in the state are Hindus. According to the 2011 census, the religion-wise population of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is as follows.

  • Hindus : 1,02,18,315 (97.25%)
  • Muslims : 1,12,753 (1.07%)
  • Buddhists : 20,798 (0.20%)
  • Christians : 20,335 (0.19%)
  • Sikhs : 2,145 (0.02%)
  • Jains : 1,936 (0.02%)
  • Other Religions : 93,646 (0.9%)
  • Non-religious : 40,285 (0.38%)
  • Total : 1,05,07,000 (100%)

 

The proportion of scheduled tribes among religions in Maharashtra is as follows.

  • Hindus : (11.39%)
  • Muslims : (0.87%)
  • Buddhists : (0.32%)
  • Christians : (1.88%)
  • Sikhs : (0.96%)
  • Jains : (0.14%)
  • Other Religions : (52.33%)
  • Non-religious : (14.07%)
  • Total : (100%)

 

 

What about the issue of Dhangar reservation?

Scheduled Tribes remain in the limelight in Maharashtra politics due to the demand for Dhangar reservation. The Dhangar community is the fifth largest caste in Maharashtra and Dhangars constitute about 3.5 percent of the population in the state.

The Dhangar community has been demanding reservation from Scheduled Tribes (STs). At present the Dhangar community has 3.5% reservation from the nomadic caste (NT).

In the list of scheduled castes in Maharashtra, the names of the tribes ‘Oraon and Dhangad‘ are at number 36.

Dhangad and Dhangar are the same and the word ‘D’ is used instead of ‘R’ in English. It is claimed by the Dhangar community that the community has not been included in the Scheduled Tribes due to the mention of ‘R’ instead of ‘D’.

The Dhangar community has claimed that whatever the pronunciation of Dhangar or Dhangad, its meaning is the same. However, Scheduled Tribes reject this claim.

Scheduled Tribes are strongly opposed to the Dhangar reservation demand. According to them, Dhangar is a ‘caste’ while they themselves are a ‘tribe’. Scheduled Tribes also say that Dhangad and Dhangar are different communities.

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