Mankidia Tribe Gains Habitat Rights in Odisha
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Community | Mankidia |
| Status | 6th Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha to get habitat rights over forests |
| Occupation | Semi-nomadic; traditional skills include rope making, trapping, and eating monkeys; primarily food gathering and hunting |
| Language | Speak Munda language; some conversant in Odia |
| Worship | Believe in malevolent and benevolent spirits and Gods; supreme deities are Logobir and Budhimai; worship ancestors |
| Location | Found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal |
| Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 | Recognizes rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities; ensures livelihood, habitation, and socio-cultural needs; includes Title rights, Use rights, Relief and development Rights, Forest Management Rights |
| PVTG Details | 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes; spread over 18 states and one UT; Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs (more than 2.5 lakh) |