Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh in the heart of India

Madhya Pradesh (MP) is the state in central India and is the second largest state by area. With over 75 million inhabitants, it is the sixth largest state in India by population. The state is home to a large tribal population, cut-off from the mainstream development. MP has a Human Development Index of 0.375 (UNDP 2011), which is below the national average.

The Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute a significant portion of the population of the State. Madhya Pradesh has a tribal population of 12.2 million, 20.27% of the total tribal population of India. Dhar & Jhabua districts have more than 50 percent tribal population (Census 2011).

Historically, these communities lived depending on the farmland and forest resources meeting their subsistence requirements. However lately, with external influences and access to a market economy, there has been a constant shift in the interest of communities: increase in migration and increased pressure on local resouces & their conservation.