Mankidia Tribe

Current Context :  Recently, Mankidia community becomes 6th PVTG to get Habitat Rights over forests in Odisha.

Odisha’s PVTG Demographics:

• Home to 13 PVTGs, the highest among Indian states, inhabiting 1,683 villages in 14 districts.
• Population: 7,73,092 in 1,79,742 households, according to the SCSTRTI report.

Approval for Other PVTGs in Odisha:

• Habitat rights granted to six PVTGs: Paudi Bhuyan, Juang, Saora, Chuktia Bhunjia, Hill Khadia, and Mankidia.
• Odisha leads in recognizing habitat rights for the highest number of PVTGs among all Indian states.

ABOUT MANKIDIA TRIBE :

• Ethnic Identity: The Mankidia belong to the Austro-Asiatic group and are a semi-nomadic segment of the Birhor tribe recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in
• Livelihood:
• Primarily engaged in food gathering, hunting, and forest-based activities.
• Known as one of the least-studied forest-dwelling and wandering communities in India.
• Habitat and Lifestyle : Live in small groups in temporary settlements called Tandas.
• Kumbhas are their temporary dome-shaped huts made from leaves.

• Language : Munda language; some are also familiar with Odia. 

Beliefs and Worship:

• Reverence for both benevolent and malevolent spirits, with Logobir and Budhimai as their primary deities.
• Ancestor worship is practiced for health, success in hunting, and forest-based prosperity.
• Geographical Distribution: Predominantly found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.