Abstract

A socio economic survey of Scheduled Tribes was conducted during 2008-10 with the participation of local bodies having Scheduled Tribe population. The survey has revealed that the population of Scheduled Tribes has increased from 3,64,189 in 2001 to 4,26,208 in 2008-10. Technically, the decadal growth of Scheduled Tribes works out to 17.03 per cent, where as the growth of the general population during 2001-11 is only 4.86 per cent. The inconsistency is due to inclusion/exclusion process explained above. Still the representation of Scheduled Tribes to the total population of the State is only 1.28 per cent.

Wayanad District stands first with 35.94 per cent of the Scheduled Tribe population of the State, followed by Idukki (12.42%), Kasaragod (11.21%) and Palakkad (11.01%) Districts. As usual, Alappuzha stands as the lowest district of Scheduled Tribe population with a representation of only 0.71 per cent of the population.

The Scheduled Tribes in Wayanad constitutes 18.76 per cent of the total population of the district. As such they are a decisive fraction in the policy framing of the district as well as the State. In Idukki, the district with the second largest population, the Scheduled Tribes are only 4.78 per cent of the district population. In Alappuzha, the share of Scheduled Tribes in the district population is only 0.14 per cent. Approximately 71 per cent of the Scheduled Tribes in Kerala are in four districts, namely; Wayanad, Idukki, Kasaragod and Palakkad.

Key Words: Scheduled Tribes,  Wayanad, Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan, Hill Pulaya and Irular.