Orissa, indigenously yours

ETW Staff - Mumbai

Naveen Patnaik Chief minister, Orissa

The eastern state of Orissa situated on the coast along the Bay of Bengal is home to the largest number of tribes in India. According to the 2001 census there are a total of 62 scheduled tribes in Orissa, constituting 22.13 per cent of the state's total population. The tribes of Orissa belong to varied socio-economic backgrounds ranging from tribes who lead a secluded and primitive lifestyle to tribes who lead regular agrarian lifestyles. The Kondhs, numbering around nine lakhs are the largest in the state. The major tribes in Orissa are the Santab, Oraons, Gonds and Kondhs while the Juangs, Gbhuyans, Saoras, Bondas and Bathudis are exclusive to Orissa.

The tribes of Orissa belong to three distinct linguistic divisions, the Indo-Aryan speakers, Dravidian speakers and Tibeto- Burmese speakers. Despite the linguistic differences, the tribes have similar socio-cultural customs. Based on their lifestyle, tribes in Orissa can be categorised into six types: 1) hunting, collecting and gathering type, 2) cattle herder type, 3) simple artisan type 4) hill and shift cultivation type 5) settled agricultural type and 6) industrial urban worker type.

The tribal arts and crafts focus primarily on the joy of free life. The common items of manufacture by the tribes of Orissa are baskets, head dresses, combs, bangles, necklaces, textiles and earrings.

The social and cultural distinction of each of these tribes makes Orissa an ideal tribal tourism destination. The tenure of chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, has witnessed an increased focus on tourism, with a focus on developing tribal tourism - the forte of Orissa.