Southern Zone & Eastern Zone

Southern Zone This region comprises the Nilgiris together with the adjoining hilly regions in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which are the homeland of probably the smallest, the most backward and the most isolated tribal communities on the mainland. Among the prominent tribes of this zone are the Toda, Koya, Chenchu and Allars. Todas are a pastoral people who practise buffalo herding. Allars are cave dwellers, who also live on tree tops. Chenchus are a very backward tribe who survive mainly on hunting­gathering.

The major problems of the' tribes of the southern region are shifting cultivation, economic backwardness, isolation, lack of communication and threat of extinction of languages.

Eastern Zone This zone includes West Bengal, Orissa and parts of Orissa and tribes such as Paraja, Kondhs, Bondas, Bhumij, Gadabas, Bhuinyas and Saoras. During the last century, the Kondhs were known for their rituals of human sacrifice (which was banned by the British). Saoras are known for their magical expertise. The major problems of the tribes of the eastern zone are economic backward­ness, exploitation by forest officials and contractors, land alienation, prevalence of diseases and displacement due to industrial projects.