A STUDY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF TRIBES IN THE NILGIRI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu, one of the major states of southern zone in India, consist of 36 important groups live in different district. According to the census of 2011, the scheduled Tribe population in Tamil Nadu constitute 1.10%of the total population. The Tribal Topography in Tamil Nadu broadly divided into three categories viz., 1) Tribal concentration areas 2) Dispersed tribal area and 3) Primitive tribal areas. According to the Ministry of tribal Affairs, Nigiri district had the highest percentage of tribal population area in Tamil Nadu came under the primitive tribal areas because of the presence of six primitive tribal groups (PTGs) viz., Todas, Kotas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Irulas and Kattunayakans. Each of these tribes maintain unique cultural traits. All these tribes coexisted locally in a loose caste like community organisation. In our study facilitates to understand the social development of the six primitive tribal groups in Nilgiri district and provide an overall pictures of development initiatives by the government of India and Tamil Nadu Government for the upliftment of these tribal people and also focus on the status of theses tribal how they empowered themselves through self-help groups and other organisations. The study reveals that a number development programme, schemes, policies have been introducing to improve the well-being of tribal people.