Abstract

Indeed, India boasts the second-largest tribal population globally. Nevertheless, despite seven decades of independence, tribal communities continue to face significant disadvantages and social backwardness in various crucial domains including healthcare, education, employment, and empowerment. Among these critical areas, education stands out as a paramount necessity for the upliftment and progress of tribal societies. The state and central governments have launched numerous initiatives aimed at educating tribal communities. However, it is disheartening to note that a significant portion of these programs has fallen short, achieving only 10 percent of their intended targets. Consequently, a substantial number of tribal individuals are unable to access education at different levels. This educational disparity is primarily attributed to the high illiteracy rates prevalent among the tribal population when compared to the Scheduled tribes. In this regard, this comprehensive literature review aims to furnish a contemporary assessment of the present state and formidable obstacles confronting tribal education in India as well as the sate. It’s important to note that this paper relies entirely on secondary information gathered from a range of research studies conducted in Odisha and from various government sources. The findings derived from this review can offer valuable insights for the formulation and implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing tribal literacy and promoting inclusive growth prospects.