The largest tribal population of the country resides in Madhya Pradesh. The rainbow tribal world of Madhya Pradesh has been especially attracting anthropologists, cultural scholars and researchers because of its specialties.
The tribes of the state have always been an inseparable part of the pride of the state with their multi-faceted culture, arts, customs and traditions.
In the past years, due to development works, there has also been a vast change in the social, educational and economic condition of the tribes of the state. Now they are in the mainstream with their constitutional rights while keeping pace with the modern times with their glorious traditions.
Being geographically located in the central part of the country, Madhya Pradesh touches the boundaries of the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Therefore, in the culture of Madhya Pradesh, the shades of lifestyle and culture of other border states are also visible. According to the list set by the Government of India, 43 Scheduled Tribes live in different areas with their similar tribe groups.
According to the 2011 census, the total population of the state is 7 crore 26 lakh 26 thousand 809, out of which 1 crore 53 lakh 16 thousand 784 are scheduled tribes. This population is 21.09 percent of the total population of the state.
Madhya Pradesh is the largest state of the country in terms of tribal population. According to the 2011 census, the population of scheduled tribes in India is 14 crore 5 lakh 45 thousand 716, which includes 1 crore 53 lakh 16 thousand 784 population of Madhya Pradesh. This population is 14.64 percent of the tribal population of the country. In terms of population in Madhya Pradesh, Bhil (Bhil, Bhilala, Barela, Pataliya), Gond (including similar group of tribes), Kol, Baiga, Saharia, Korku etc. are the main tribes respectively.
The population of these tribes (Bhil - 46.18 lakh, Gond - 43.57 lakh, Kol - 11.67 lakh, Korku - 7.31 lakh, Saharia - 6.15 lakh, Baiga - 4.15 lakh etc.) is about 92 percent of the total tribal population of the state. . Out of the total Scheduled Tribes, Baiga,
Among the major tribes residing in Madhya Pradesh, Agaria tribes who convert ore into iron by heating the furnace in the traditional method mainly in Shahdol-Mandla and special backward tribe Baiga - Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat, Anuppur, Umaria, Shahdol, Sidhi, Bhil. (including Bhilala, Barela, Patalia) - Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Khargone, Barwani, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Gond (including similar group of tribes) - Dindori, Mandla, Betul, Chhindwara, Seoni, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Katni, Shahdol, Umaria, Sidhi, Hoshangabad, Sagar, Panna, Damoh, Raisen etc., Kol - Rewa, Shahdol, Umaria, Jabalpur, Katni, Mandla, Dindori etc., Korku- (including group of tribes) Khandwa, Betul, Hoshangabad, Harda etc., Pardhan (including Pathari or Pathari Saroti)) - Mandla, Dindori, Seoni, Chhindwara, Jabalpur etc., Saharia (including Seharia, Sosia, Sore) - Guna Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Morena, Sheopur, Sehore, Vidisha, Gwalior etc., Bharia (including Bhumia, Bhuiar, Paliha, Pando) Major population resides mainly in Jabalpur, Katni, Shahdol, Umaria, Mandla, Dindori, Seoni etc. districts. Residence of the tribe of the special backward Bharia is minus in Patalkot from, The area of Chhindwara district.
