THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECT AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

OF TRIBES IN UTTARAKHAND: A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

1
Divyanshi Dubey, 2 Dr M.P. Singh

[email protected]
1
Research Scholar, Department of Geography, D.A.V. (P.G.) College Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
2
Associate Professor, Department of Geography, D.A.V. (P.G.) College Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract
Human is a social animal. He lives in a society. Every part of the earth's surface is different
from others which tends human group to accept such lifestyle, food, customs, and behavior
that is different from others. The Paper highlights socio-economic conditions with
demographic characterizes of tribes in Uttarakhand. As regarded tribes are aborigines of
country and are also inhabited in Uttarakhand for a long period. Every tribe in this state
related to kingdoms in past, they are the owner of cultural, social, and religious heritage but
now they are struggling for their cultural, political, and social identity, they have lost their
identity and also vanity. Their cultural and social aspects are different but their economic
statuses are the same. They live in poverty; depend on forest products, agriculture, and non-
regular works. The tribes comprise the most unconsidered section of our society, who have
been economically exploited and socially recognize for ages. This embarrassing situation has
been largely responsible for their current undersized poverty, illiteracy, and overall
backwardness. The intensity of problems of different tribes can be understood from their
socio-economic and demographic profiles. Socioeconomic differences between different
tribal communities also bring out some insights into existing poverty and imparity. The paper
discusses the social, economic, and demographic aspects of the Tharu Tribes of Uttarakhand.

Keywords: socio, economic, cultural, religious, demographic

Introduction
Tribal is said to be the original inhabitants of India before the settlement of Aryans. The
Aryans forced them to move in to separate regions. Most of these tribes live in impalpable,
remote regions and hilly areas. The ratio of scheduled tribe population to total population in
India has increased to 8.6% in 2011 from 8.2 % in 2001. One distinguishing feature of tribes
is that most majorities of them live in expanded habitations located in the interior and remote
regions. Tribes were for the first time defined in the history of the Indian census not based on
religion but the basis of their origin in 1941. Tribal is no similar group of people but
different, each tribe having its cultural tradition, social practices. These tribes have been
isolated by the mainstream. The Scheduled Tribes, the most suffering a lack of proper care of
our society have been subjected to economic exploitation and social differentiation for ages.
The age-old absorption and discrimination of the tribal have cut them from the mainstream of
socio-economic development. This is unfortunate to a large extent responsible for their
poverty, illiteracy, and overall backwardness. Due to geographical insulation, they have been
separated from the rest of the community as a result of which they have been forced to lead a
life of social and economic suppression. An idea of the malignancy of the problems facing
Scheduled Tribes can be collected from the demographic profile which indicates that India
has the largest tribal population in the world.

Objectives
1) To find the socio-economic status of the tribes in Uttarakhand
2) To find the socio-cultural aspect of tribes

Methodology
The study is based on secondary sources of data, derived from the Census of India, 2011, and
the socio-economic statistical magazine of Uttarakhand. The special pattern of sex ratio and
literacy in Uttarakhand is representing through the maps and graphs. Arc GIS software used
for preparing the map various statistical techniques we used with the help of M.S Excel.

Study Area
Hilly region of Uttar Pradesh state was curved out on 9th November 2000 as a new state
Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand is a state with 13 districts, 110 tehsils, 95 blocks, and 16674
villages. The state is a heavily forested and extremely hilly region in the Central Himalayan
zone. It is located between latitudes 28º 43' – 31º 27' N and longitudes 77º 34' – 81º 02' E
covering a geographical area of 53,483 km2. This state has different kinds of geographical
conditions and vast bio-diversity ranging from the snow peaks of the Himalayas to the sub-
tropical Terai region. Tons River separates it from Himachal Pradesh in the northwest; Kali
River separates the region from Nepal in the east, snow-capped peaks of the Himadri,
marking the Indo-Tibetan boundary. Terai region separates it from Uttar Pradesh in the south-
west and a short border with Haryana in the west. The Population of this state according to
the census of 2011 is 10,086,292. Out of these, the males represent 5,137,773 and females
comprise 4,948,519. The state had a growth rate of 18.81% over the last census. The sex ratio
in Uttarakhand is 963, and the population density is 189 per sq. km.
 Location Map of Uttarakhand Districts

Fig 1

The Socio-economic status of the tribes in Uttarakhand

Most of the tribes were living in their isolated from the outside world until two or three
centuries ago. Tribes of Uttarakhand collect in all the districts of Uttarakhand. The Indian
Himalayan region covering completely twelve states of India is rich with a multiplicity of
ethnic communities and miscellaneous cultures. Out of 573 schedule tribes of India 171 are
inhabited this region. JAUNSARI, BHOTIA, THARU, BUKSA, RAZI are the main five
tribes of the state. As per census 2011, the total tribal population is 291,903. The decadal
growth rate from 2001-2011 is 13.96% and the total population resides in rural areas is 90.7%
and urban is 9.3%. In Udham Singh Nagar 42.14% Dehradun 38.25% Pithoragarh 6.69% and
Chamoli district 4.20% and others 8.72% tribal dwellers, Population of the tribes of
Uttarakhand can be represented in following graph Tharu tribal group is the largest group
residing all over the state.Their population is 91,342 (31.3%). They scattered in 141 villages.
They are cultivators. Jaunsari is 2nd largest group of tribes Jaunsar Babar in Chakrata tehsil is
their residing area. Their population is 88,664(30.4%) They are agriculturist. This group has
division based on the cast with the indigenous Kolta and Khasis. They scattered in 358
villages. Buksa is the next prominent group they constitute 54,037(18.5%) total population.
They scattered in Dehradun, Gadarpur, Ramnagar, Kashipur, and Bajpur, their 2.1%
population residing in urban areas. The next group is Bhotia which constitutes 13.4% of the
total population is 39,106 in numbers. They scattered in 291 villages in Uttarkashi and
Chamoli district. They are primarily pastoralists and have 27.8% urban population. They
have common Tibetan mangolidies. Masche, Shaukas, and Jadho are a subgroup of them.
Lastly, the smallest group of Uttarakhand is Razi or Vanrauts which constitutes 690(0.2%) of
the total population. They reside in the forest of Indo Nepal border it is little non-tribal
community which descendants of pre-historic Kiratas, who were early settlers of
Uttarakhand.

Table 1: Scheduled tribes population and its distribution in the state, 2011
S.N. Districts Total % of dist. Scheduled %ST % Dist. ST
Population Pop. in Tribe Population Population
state Population In Districts In Total ST
Population Population Population
1 Uttarkashi 330,086 3.27 351,2 1.1 1.20

2 Chamoli 391,605 3.88 122,60 3.1 4.20

3 Rudraprayag 242,285 2.40 386 0.2 0.13

4 Tehri 618,931 6.13 875 0.1 0.29

5 Dehradun 169,6694 16.82 111,663 6.6 38.25

6 Pauri 687,271 6.81 221,5 0.3 0.75

7 Pithoragarh 483,439 4.79 195,35 4.0 6.69

8 Bageshwar 259,898 2.57 198,2 0.8 0.67

9 Almora 622,506 6.17 128,1 0.2 0.43

10 Champawat 259,648 2.57 133,9 0.5 0.45

11 Nainital 954,605 9.46 749,5 0.8 2.56

Udham
12 164,8902 16.34 123,037 7.5 42.14
Singh Nagar
13 Haridwar 189,0422 18.74 632,3 0.3 2.16
Total 100,86292 99.95 291,903 2.9 99.92
Note Computed from Census of India 2011

About two-third of tribal population (69%) of the state is residing in five districts only,
Haridwar (18.74%), Dehradun (16.82%), Udham Singh Nagar (16.34%), Nanital (9.46%) and
Pauri (6.81%). Tribal population is not uniformly distributed within the state and it is more
concentrated in few districts. About (7.5%) of Udham Singh Nagar population was classified
as scheduled tribes, followed by districts Dehradun (6.6%), and Pithoragarh (4.0%). However,
about (80.39%) of the total tribal population is residing in Udham Singh Nagar (42.14%) and
Dehradun (38.25%) districts only (Table 1). The proportion was even less than one percent in
Almora, Begeshwar, Champawat, Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Tehri districts. Five different
population groups are notified as scheduled tribes in Uttarakhand and all were enumerated in
census 2011. A brief ethnographical description of these five notified scheduled tribes in
Uttarakhand, Buksas and Razis are classified as primitive tribes. Primitive tribes are the most
backward tribes with low literacy or stagnant population, low agricultural levels, and
economically backward before technology. They become the most discriminating class among
the Scheduled Tribes and it is necessary to accept priority for their safety to check their
security and the declining trend of their development. Most of the tribal population of the
state belongs to Tharu and Jaunsari tribal group and residing in the Udham Singh Nagar and
Dehradun district. The district-wise distribution of tribes shows that Tharu is predominating in
Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts. Jaunsari is an important group of Dehradun.
Bhotias are predominating tribal groups in Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and
Uttarkashi districts. The Buksa is a leading tribe in the districts Pauri, Dehradun, Haridwar,
Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar.

Table 2: Tribal Groups in Uttarakhand

S.No. Name of the Tribes Districts
1 Tharu Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital
2 Jaunsari Dehradun, Uttarkashi
3 Buksa Dehradun, UdhamSinghNagar, Nainital, Haridwar,
Pauri
4 Bhotia Almora, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar,
Uttarkashi
5 Razi Pithoragarh, Champawat

According to census 2011, Tharu is the largest tribe in Uttarakhand. They account for
(31.3%) of the total tribal population is the Tharu tribe. Jaunsari is the second-largest tribe in
Uttarakhand (30.4%) of total tribal population, Buksa (18.5%), Bhotia (13.4%), and The Raji
tribe (0.2%) of the total tribal population.

Table 3: Tribal Population in Uttarakhand, 2011

S.No. Name of the Total Percentage Rural Urban
Tribes Population of the
of the Tribal
Tribes Population
1 Tharu 91,342 31.3 95.2 4.8
2 Jaunsari 88,664 30.4 93.2 6.8
 3 Buksa 54,037 18.5 97.9 2.1
4 Bhotia 39,106 13.4 72.2 27.8
5 Razi 690 0.2 87.8 12.2
6 Unclassified 18,064 6.2 74.6 25.4
Total 291903 100.00 90.7 9.3
Source: Census of India 2011

Tribal Population in Uttarakhand

Unclassified,
Razi, 690 18,064

Bhotia,
39,106
Tharu, 91,342
Buksa,
54,037
Jaunsari,
88,664

Fig 2

In Uttarakhand, tribes mostly live with 90.7% and 9.3% urban in rural areas. Bhotia has
recorded a 27.8% urban population. 12.2% of them come forward with the city dwellers. On
the other hand, Buksa and Tharu are mainly living in rural areas, with only 21% and 4.8% of
the urban population respectively. Most of the tribal population is concentrated in four
districts Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, and Chamoli. These four districts of
Uttarakhand give about 94 percent of the total tribal population.

Total tribal literacy in Uttarakhand has been recorded at 63.2%, which is much higher than
the national average (47.1%). There is a wide gender gap in the literacy of the tribes, the male
literacy rate is 76.4% and the female literacy rate is 49.4%. The highest proportion of male
literates in the tribal population has been recorded in Almora district (93.3%) and the lowest
ratio (46.3%) in the Hardwar district.

Table 4: Tribe Wise Literacy Rates of Uttarakhand

TRIBES MALE FEMALE TOTAL

LITERACY % LITERACY % LITERACY %

Tharu 80.4 53.1 67.0

Jaunsari 71.7 44.8 58.9
Buksa 66.0 32.4 49.9
Bhotia 91.5 69.1 79.9
 Razi 47.2 22.5 35.8
Total 76.4 46.4 63.2
Source: Statistical survey of Uttarakhand 2011

The Bhotia tribe has the highest literacy rate of 79.9% among the five scheduled tribes of the
state. Male literacy rate (91.5%) and female literacy rate (69.1%). The Razi tribe has the
lowest literacy rate of only 35.8%. Male literacy rate (47.2%) and female literacy rate
(22.5%).
According to the 2011 census, 76.6% of the tribal population aged 5–14 years are attending
educational institutions. Of which the Bhotia tribe has the highest population of 86.4%, Tharu
82.3%, Jaunsari 75.1%, Buksa 63.7%, and the lowest 50% of the Razi tribe.

Tribe wise Literacy Rates of Uttarakhand

Total Literacy % MALE LITERACY % FEMALE LITERACY %

91.5
80.4 79.9
71.7 69.1
67 66
58.9
53.1 49.9
44.8 47.2
32.4 35.8
22.5

Tharu Jaunsari Buksa Bhotia Razi

Fig 3

The above bar diagram represents the comparative literacy level of the tribes. Out of a total of
63.2% literacy, female literacy is 49.45% Infant mortality is found to decrease significantly
because of literacy. The work participation rate in women is 31.9%. The sex ratio, an
indicator of gender gap mortality, reflects the status of social, cultural, maternal, and child
health care programs present in the population. The distribution of men and women in tribal
is also high.

Socio-Cultural Aspect of Tribes

The socio-cultural aspect includes several factors such as traditions, rituals, customs,
education level, religious practices, etc. Socio-cultural practices and norms are a factor in
'ethnicity', socio-cultural, and physical housing past and the present life pattern of the tribal
community. The ethnic background tribe regards its history of development and its upcoming
journey through various geographical areas and its most stable current traits often reflect
those experiences. At one extreme we have the most populous Tharas who believe in their
migration from the mainland of west-central India and the upcoming mix with The Indo-
Nepal Taras, as they live in most of the Indo-Tibetan lowlands from Tanakpur Khatima to the
eastward belt; His extended period of Holi celebrations recalls that compatibility. At the
second extreme are various ethnic sub-groups, placed under the common letter 'Bhotia', most
of their previous compatibility stretching areas beyond the high Himalayan pass, molten and
shaped by their shared practice of trans-Himalayan trade. Quite different from Tibetans living
in the Sutlej River-shed, the various ethnic minorities forged, quite strongly so, the climate
could imagine the harshest of human beings than ever surmounting and alive, and their
diversity is an eloquent proof of social cohesion and social engineering. Many socio-cultural
norms, seen in the various valleys of Kumaon-Garhwal 'bhot', actually indicative of their
grizzly compatibility, dating back to the former Buddhist period of western Tibet, or
migrating from erstwhile princely states or Kumaon-Garhwal or western Nepal. Many past
and present social practices and norms are a mixture of social customs and the practices of
the communities they came into contact with during their existence through time. However,
their most stable socio-cultural customs and practices, interestingly enough, are not finding
similarities in their very own, areas that lie in their north or south. These customs and social
norms have gradually and locally evolved, they have been inspired and inspired by the rigid
and remote dwellings they were destined to inhabit and the mode of livelihood was inspired
to believe for their survival throughout a few generations. The community's strongest social
practice and customary management, has not only escaped any parallel throughout
Uttarakhand but the development of a so-called modern PRI. Many social practices gradually
lose ground, such as the joint-family system, the polyandry, the only historical period of our
ancient history, returning to the Mahabharata period. More importantly, these practices either
exist or existed in most mountainous communities, which has made terrible economic sense
in mountain regions lacking agriculture. Culturally speaking studies have established that
Jaunsari culture represents the entire religious field complete which western India passed.
Buksa, Zaid, and Ban Razi appear to possess the minimum socio-cultural diversity seen in
any tribal group. However, it is hoped that the two 'vanishing' tribal groups of Ban Raji and
Buksa will soon have individuals from among their communities who will be in a location to
share whatsoever variety is in these two groups. Yet, this feature of monochromatic 'diversity'
with the highlights and scrutinizes the amazing diversity displayed by the five tribal groups of
Uttarakhand.

Conclusion
In Uttarakhand, close by is the volumetric population of scheduled tribes. Now remain Tharu,
Jaunsari, Bhotiya, Buksa, Razi. They remain above all the districts of Uttarakhand, but their
major concentration (94% population) is in District Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun,
Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Nainital. There are different views on their origin and history. One
view about their history is that they migrated from Rajasthan to Terai areas during the crime
and settled. Another idea is that Buksa comes from Monogolid stock and there is generally
nothing with the people of UP or Rajasthan. In plausibleness they are dwarf in stature, their
face is too wide across the cheeks and their noses are depressed. Their eyes are small; the
opening of the eyelids being narrows linear and horizontal. Women's features are similar to
men's horizontal, but they are curvier. The complexion of both men and women is wheatish
with dark wheatish. The religious faith of Buksa is Hindu. Uttarakhand is a state with terrible
traditional and cultural values. Apart from this, it has also martial importance too. Aboriginal
people are mainly suffering from poverty and migration. The above analyses revealed that the
tribal population in the State of Uttarakhand is not evenly distributed; most of Tharu and
Buksa is concentrated in Udham Singh Nagar district. Bhotia is mostly scattered throughout
the state, while Jaunsari and Razi are in few areas.
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