Though once known for practicing polyandry, the tribals of Himachal Pradesh (HP) have come a long way. The socio economic caste census for rural areas released on Friday has reflected that tribals of HP are the best off among Scheduled Tribe (ST) households in India.
Tribals in HP are found in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba districts. The tribes of HP are-Gaddis, Gujjar, Bhoti, Kinnauras, Jhadh Khampa, Lamba, Pangwalas, Swampla, Bhera, Damba and Joba tribes. There are 77,522 rural ST households in HP.
The census has divided the rural households on income basis in 3 categories- monthly income of highest earning household member less than `5,000, earning between `5,000-`10,000 monthly and earning more than `10,000 monthly. HP has maximum ST rural households, at 21.37%, among all the states, which have income more than `10,000 per month. Only, Lakshwadeep, which is a union territory, has 42.49 % households in this category.
HP tribals have maximum irrigated land in India among all the states and union territories. As much as 46.72% tribal households own irrigated land. It is followed by Uttrakhand which has 42.83% tribal households having irrigated land.
As far as owing cars are concerned, HP tribals are at 3rd place in the country. Goa leads the chart with 8.15% households having four wheelers followed by Punjab with 8.12% households and then HP with 7.63% households. But Punjab has only 160 tribal households in rural areas and only 13 of them own a car. On the other hand, Goa has 2,315 households with car out of 28,415.
{{/usCountry}}As far as owing cars are concerned, HP tribals are at 3rd place in the country. Goa leads the chart with 8.15% households having four wheelers followed by Punjab with 8.12% households and then HP with 7.63% households. But Punjab has only 160 tribal households in rural areas and only 13 of them own a car. On the other hand, Goa has 2,315 households with car out of 28,415.
{{/usCountry}}While, HP has 5,918 households with cars out of 77,522.
Among salaried government jobs too, HP tribals are ahead among all the states with 23.72 % such households.
Tribes in Himachal districts
Tribe District
Gaddi Chamba and Kangra district
Gujjar All over state
Kinnauuras Kinnaur
Jhadh Khampa, Lamba, Lahaula Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur
Pangwala Pangi of Chamba district
Bhoti, Swampla, Bhera and Damba, Joba Lahaul and Spiti