Abstract

Objective of the paper is to analyse the broad features and educational status of tribes in Odisha. Odisha has the largest percentage of tribals which accounts 22.8 percent of the total population of the state. More than one third of the area of the state is declared as “Scheduled area” with not less than 50per cent concentration of tribes. These areas include the entire district of Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh and parts of Ganjam and Boudh, Kandhamal. Thus the tribal population in the state is spread over more than 44per cent of its geographical area. Only 52.24 percent of tribals are literate against the state percentage of 72.9. Education is the key to tribal development.

Key Words- Demography, Education, Population, Poverty, Tribe