In this article we are going to know the List of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and also the population of each Scheduled Tribe as per the 2011 census.
There are 45 Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra and their total population in 2011 is 1.05 crore. Before knowing the list of STs in Maharashtra, let us briefly understand what is a scheduled tribe or ST.
Scheduled Castes and Tribes: Among the classes declared by the President of India as backward under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution of India, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are considered more important in terms of numbers and the extent of their problems.
Apart from this, it is left to the state governments to decide which other classes are to be accepted as backward classes. Apart from this, the Government of Maharashtra has recognized two more classes as backward. These include [1] liberated castes and nomadic tribes (VJ-NT) and [2] newly initiated Buddhists (Neo Buddhists) and the economically backward.
Scheduled Tribes: Scheduled Tribes have different names like Adivasis (आदिवासी), Aborigines (मूलनिवासी), Primitive Castes and Tribes, Wild Castes and Girijans (गिरिजन ). Among them, the name ‘Adivasi‘ (or ‘tribal’) is more prevalent in national parlance. Scheduled Tribes (STs) are also known as ‘Anusuchit Jamati’ in Marathi, and ‘Anusuchit Janjati’ in Hindi.
List of Scheduled Tribes with Population
Earlier the number of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra was 47, but in 2003 two of them (No. 12 and 45) were omitted. And now the number of scheduled tribes in the state is 45.
Following is the list of 45 Scheduled Tribes of Maharashtra State, and the population of each Scheduled Tribe as per the 2011 census.
Sr. No. | Scheduled Tribes | Population |
1 | Andh | 4,74,110 |
2 | Baiga | 333 |
3 | Barda | 1,247 |
4 | Bavacha, Bamcha | 345 |
5 | Bhaina | 270 |
6 | Bharia Bhumia, Bhuinhar Bhumia, Pando | 1,348 |
7 | Bhattra | 66 |
8 | Bhil, Bhil Garasia, Dholi Bhil, Dungri Bhil, Dungri Garasia, Mewasi Bhil, Rawal Bhil, Tadvi Bhil, Bhagalia, Bhilala, Pawra, Vasava, Vasave | 25,88,659 |
9 | Bhunjia | 2,136 |
10 | Binjhwar | 8,567 |
11 | Birhul, Birhor | 145 |
12 | Omitted | - |
13 | Dhanka, Tadvi, Tetaria, Valvi | 35,104 |
14 | Dhanwar | 4,094 |
15 | Dhodia | 17,520 |
16 | Dubla, Talavia, Halpati | 18,697 |
17 | Gamit, Gamta, Gavit, Mavchi, Padvi | 67,796 |
18 | Gond, Rajgond, Arakh, Arrakh, Agaria, Asur, Badi Maria , Bada Maria, Bhatola, Bhimma, Bhuta, Koilabhuta, Koilabhuti, Bhar, Bisonhorn Maria, Chota Maria, Dandami Maria, Dhuru, Dhurwa, Dhoba, Dhulia, Dorla, Gaiki, Gatta, Gatti, Gaita, Gond Gowari, Hill Maria, Kandra, Kalanga, Khatola, Koitar, Koya, Khirwar, Khirwara, Kucha Maria, Kuchaki Maria, Madia, Maria, Mana, Mannewar, Moghya, Mogia, Monghya, Mudia, Muria, Nagarchi, Naikpod, Nagwanshi, Ojha, Raj, Sonjhari Jhareka, Thatia, Thotya, Wade Maria, Vade Maria | 16,18,090 |
19 | Halba, Halbi | 2,61,011 |
20 | Kamar | 1,391 |
21 | Kathodi, Katkari, Dhor Kathodi, Dhor Kathkari, Son Kathodi, Son Katkari | 2,85,334 |
22 | Kawar, Kanwar, Kaur, Cherwa, Rathia, Tanwar, Chattri | 26,354 |
23 | Khairwar | 1,843 |
24 | Kharia | 745 |
25 | Kokna, Kokni, Kukna | 68,7431 |
26 | Kol | 6,874 |
27 | Kolam, Mannervarlu | 1,94,671 |
28 | Koli Dhor, Tokre Koli, Kolcha, Kolgha | 2,20,074 |
29 | Koli Mahadev, Dongar Koli | 14,59,565 |
30 | Koli Malhar | 2,82,868 |
31 | Kondh, Khond, Kandh | 515 |
32 | Korku, Bopchi, Mouasi, Nihal, Nahul, Bondhi, Bondeya | 2,64,492 |
33 | Koya, Bhine Koya, Rajkoya | 388 |
34 | Nagesia, Nagasia | 133 |
35 | Naikda, Nayaka, Cholivala Nayaka, Kapadia Nayaka, Mota Nayaka, Nana Nayaka | 22,307 |
36 | Oraon, Dhangad | 43,060 |
37 | Pardhan, Pathari, Saroti | 1,45,131 |
38 | Pardhi, Advichincher, Phans Pardhi, Phanse Pardhi, Langoli Pardhi, Bahelia, Bahellia, Chita Pardhi, Shikari, Takankar, Takia | 2,23,527 |
39 | Parja | 315 |
40 | Patelia | 2,574 |
41 | Pomla | 44 |
42 | Rathawa | 488 |
43 | Sawar, Sawara | 348 |
44 | Thakur, Thakar, Ka Thakur, Ka Thakar, Ma Thakur, Ma Thakar | 5,67,968 |
45 | Omitted | - |
46 | Varli | 7,96,245 |
47 | Vitolia, Kotwalia, Barodia | 448 |
1,05,10,213 |
- Read also: List of scheduled caste in Maharashtra and their population (in Marathi)
Population of Scheduled Tribes
As per 2011 census, the population of Scheduled Tribes in India is 10,42,54,613 (10.43 crore) which is 8.61 percent of the total population of India.
The population of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is 1,05,07,000 (1.05 crore) which is 9.35% of the total population of the state. Maharashtra has 10.08% of the total Scheduled Tribes in India.
According to the 2011 census, 14 of the 45 Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra have a population of less than 1,000, while there are also 14 Scheduled Tribes with a population of more than 1,00,000.
According to the 2011 census, the three districts with the largest population of Scheduled Tribes are as follows:
- Nashik District (15.64 lakhs / 14.88%)
- Nandurbar District (11.42 lakhs / 10.86%)
- Palghar District (11.18 lakhs / 10.64%)
The three districts with the lowest population of Scheduled Tribes are as follows :
- Sindhudurg District (6,976)
- Sangli District (18,333)
- Ratnagiri District (20,374)
10 Largest Scheduled Tribes
As per the 2011 census, the list of the 10 most populous Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is as follows:
- Bhil – 25,88,659 (24.64%)
- Gond – 16,18,090 (15.40%)
- Koli Mahadev – 14,59,565 (13.89%)
- Varli – 7,96,245 (7.58%)
- Thakur – 5,67,968 (5.41%)
- Andh – 4,74,110 (4.51%)
- Kathodi – 2,85,334 (2.72%)
- Koli Malhar – 2,82,868 (2.69%)
- Korku – 2,64,492 (2.52%)
- Halba – 2,61,011 (2.48%)
- Also Read : What is the Mahar population in Maharashtra?
Reservation for Scheduled Tribes
Reservation in Education and Jobs: Maharashtra has a total of 62 percent reservation for Backward Classes (SC, ST, OBC+, EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs. 7 percent of them are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Political Reservation: Maharashtra has a total of 48 Lok Sabha constituencies out of which 4 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. 14 out of 288 assembly constituencies of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Religion of Scheduled Tribes
Scheduled Tribes follow different religions. However, most of the Scheduled Tribes in the state are Hindus. According to the 2011 census, the religion-wise population of Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra is as follows.
- Hindus : 1,02,18,315 (97.25%)
- Muslims : 1,12,753 (1.07%)
- Buddhists : 20,798 (0.20%)
- Christians : 20,335 (0.19%)
- Sikhs : 2,145 (0.02%)
- Jains : 1,936 (0.02%)
- Other Religions : 93,646 (0.9%)
- Non-religious : 40,285 (0.38%)
- Total : 1,05,07,000 (100%)
The proportion of scheduled tribes among religions in Maharashtra is as follows.
- Hindus : (11.39%)
- Muslims : (0.87%)
- Buddhists : (0.32%)
- Christians : (1.88%)
- Sikhs : (0.96%)
- Jains : (0.14%)
- Other Religions : (52.33%)
- Non-religious : (14.07%)
- Total : (100%)
- Read also: Religion of Scheduled Castes in Maharashtra (in Marathi)
What about the issue of Dhangar reservation?
Scheduled Tribes remain in the limelight in Maharashtra politics due to the demand for Dhangar reservation. The Dhangar community is the fifth largest caste in Maharashtra and Dhangars constitute about 3.5 percent of the population in the state.
The Dhangar community has been demanding reservation from Scheduled Tribes (STs). At present the Dhangar community has 3.5% reservation from the nomadic caste (NT).
In the list of scheduled castes in Maharashtra, the names of the tribes ‘Oraon and Dhangad‘ are at number 36.
Dhangad and Dhangar are the same and the word ‘D’ is used instead of ‘R’ in English. It is claimed by the Dhangar community that the community has not been included in the Scheduled Tribes due to the mention of ‘R’ instead of ‘D’.
The Dhangar community has claimed that whatever the pronunciation of Dhangar or Dhangad, its meaning is the same. However, Scheduled Tribes reject this claim.
Scheduled Tribes are strongly opposed to the Dhangar reservation demand. According to them, Dhangar is a ‘caste’ while they themselves are a ‘tribe’. Scheduled Tribes also say that Dhangad and Dhangar are different communities.
