The Tribes of Odisha

Odisha occupies a unique position among the Indian States and Union Territories for having a rich and colourful tribal scenario. Majority of Scheduled Tribes live in hilly and forest regions. Their economy is largely subsistence-oriented, non stratified and non-specialized. Their social system is simple and aspirations and needs are not many. Though the Scheduled Tribes in Odisha have suffered from social, educational and economic backwardness due to geo-historical reasons, they have their own distinctiveness and social-cultural milieu. The process of socio economic development is going on after independence and has picked up momentum. 64 Scheduled Tribes in Odisha speak as many as 74 dialects. Their ethos, ideology, worldview, value orientations and cultural heritage are rich and varied. At one end of the scale there are nomadic food gatherers and hunters and at the other end, skilled settled agriculturists and horticulturists. The tribal areas of Odisha, therefore, present an extremely diverse socio-economic panorama.

Name of the Tribes	Languages	Dialects	Script	Language Family	Attachment
Bagata	Sadri	Sadri	---	Indo- Aryan
Baiga	-	Baigani	-	Indo- Aryan
Banjara	-	Banjari	-	Indo- Aryan
Bathudi	-	Bathudi	-	Indo- Aryan
Bhottada	-	Bhatri	-	Indo- Aryan
Bhuiyan	-	Local Odia , Pauri Bhuiyan	-	Indo- Aryan
Bhumia	Desia/ Bhumia	Bhumia	-	Indo- Aryan
Bhumij	Bhumij	Bhumij	Ol-Onal	Austric
Bhunjia	Bhunjia	Laria	-	Indo- Aryan
Binjhal	Binjhal	Binjhwari	-	Indo- Aryan
Binjhia	-	Chhatisgarhi	-	Indo- Aryan
Birhor	Birhor	Birhor	-	Austric
Bonda Paraja	Remo	Bonda	-	Austric
Chenchua	-	Telugu Dialect	-	Dravidian
Dal	-	Kandhan	-	Dravidian
Desua Bhumil	-	Odia (Northern)	-	Indo- Aryan
Dharua	-	Parji	-	Dravidian
Didayi	Gta	Gta	-	Austric
Gadaba	Guttab	Gutab , Ollari	-	Austric , Dravidian
Gandia	-	Koya	-	Dravidian
Ghara	-	Sambalpuri	-	Indo- Aryan
Gond	Gondi	Gondi , Local Dialects	-	Dravidian , Indo- Aryan
Ho	Ho	Ho Munda	Warang Chiti	Austric
Holva	-	Halvi	-	Indo- Aryan
Jatapu	-	Telugu (Odia)	-	Dravidian
Juang	Juang	Thania	-	Austric
Kandh Gouda	-	Local Odia Dialects	-	Indo- Aryan
Kawar	-	Chhatisgarhi	-	Indo- Aryan
Kharia	Kharia	Delki (Khadia) , Dudh (Khadia)	-	Austric
Kharwar	-	Chhatisgarhi	-	Indo- Aryan
Kondh	Kui , Kuvi	Kui (Kutia) , Kui , Dongria (Kuvi) , Kubi , Pengo , Sodabisia , Karkapatia	Kui Lipi	Dravidian
Kisan	Kisan	Kunha	-	Dravidian
Kol	HO	Ho( Tamaria)	-	Austric
Kol Lohara	-	Naguri Munda	-	Austric
Kolha	-	Ho-Munda	-	Austric
Koli- Mallhar	-	Local Odia Dialect	-	Indo- Aryan
Kondh Dora	-	Telgu (Kubi Kandh)	-	Dravidian
Kora	-	Munda (Kera)	-	Austric
Korua	-	Chhatisgarhi Odia	-	Indo- Aryan
Kotia	-	Desia	-	Indo- Aryan
Koya	Koya	Koitur , Gumpa Koya	-	Dravidian
Kulis	-	Bhulia	-	Indo- Aryan
Lodha	-	Nodthern Odia	-	Indo- Aryan
Madia	-	Koitur Gondi	-	Dravidian
Mahali	-	Munda Mahali , Santali Mahali	-	Austric
Mankidia	Birhor	Birhor	-	Austric
Mankirdia	-	Birhor	-	Austric
Matia	-	Local Odia	-	Indo- Aryan
Mirdha	Kisan	Kuda	-	Dravidian
Miunda	Munda	Hasda Munda	-	Austric
Mundari	Mundari	Mundari	Bani Hisir	Austric
Omanatya	Desia/ Bhumia	Desia	-	Indo- Aryan
Oraon	Kurux	Kurux	Kurux tod	Dravidian
Parenga	Gorum	Gorum	-	Austric
Paraja	-	Jhodia , Sodia (Paraja)	-	Indo- Aryan , Dravidian
Penthia	-	Bhatri, Desia	-	Indo- Aryan
Rajuar	-	Northen Odia	-	Indo- Aryan
Santal	Santali	Kherwarli	Olchiki	Austric
Saora	Sora	Arsi , Jurai , Lanjia	Soran Sampeng	Austric
Sabar Lodha	-	Local Odia (South)	-	Indo- Aryan
Sounti	-	Local Odia	-	Indo- Aryan
Tharua	-	Local Odia (North)	-	Indo- Aryan