DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE OF THE PEOPLE OF LODHA TRIBE OF MAYURBHANJ OF ODISHA IN EASTERN INDIA

Abstract

Odisha is regarded as the homeland of a number of different types of tribes, which have been considered as Scheduled Tribe numbering sixty two. Among the total 62 Tribes, 13 Ethno-cultural Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). In the later, these 13 Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) including Lodha tribe have been considered by Governments of India as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).In India, the people of Lodha tribe are living mainly in the forest covered boarder district of Midnapur in West Bengal, Mayurbhanj in Odisha and Singbhum in Jharkhand. The study of development and change of Lodha tribe / community of Mayurbhanj of Odisha is one of the important aspects of the whole tribal development of India. In Odisha, the Lodha is a small tribe and the people this Primitive tribe are mainly found resided in the Morada and Suliapada regions (Block) of Mayurbhanja. The Lodhas are the jungle inhabitants and they are residing in the remote areas of Mayurbhanj. The aim of this paper is to highlight the development and change of the people of Lodha tribe of Mayurbhanj in respect of their various aspects like economic, educational, religious practices, housing and settlement, health and sanitation, village council, etc. as far as practicable on the part of present author. For the writing of this article, both the primary and secondary sources are meticulously used by the author.