International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

A Comparative Study on Changing Demographic Scenario of Tribal Population with Reference to Tripura’s Population

The present paper is an effort to highlight and compare the demographic scenario and behaviour of tribal and non-tribal people of Tripura (North-East India) by using various indicators based on secondary data collected from various sources and in some extent primary data (where not available). Topographically Tripura is hilly with inter-valley plain-land between two hill ranges and most interestingly tilla-lunga features. The climate of Tripura is tropical sub-humid character with abundance rainfall. The study discloses that the non-tribal people in Tripura are increasing at faster rate than the tribal people and the share of non-tribal people in comparison with total population are mounting (near about 69%, 2011) decade by decade. Though Tripura is tribal dominated state as a nature in the past but due to ‘Tripura’s Kings Intervention’, non-tribal people (Bengali) were started to come and settle here. This wave was continued in the time of partition (1947) also. After that this wave was also persistent in the time of 1971, at the birth of Bangladesh from Pakistan. That was the time when huge influx of population as refugees’ came to Tripura and ultimately settle here and at present also that wave is continuing as illegal migration is still taking place but Govt. doesn’t have any documentation regarding this matter. With these reasons, the share of tribal population is decreasing (about 31%, 2011) in comparison with the total population of Tripura. Now Tripura is no more a tribal dominated state in North-East India. Moreover the tribal culture and society is influenced and dominated by the non-tribal culture and society. Even the economy and political power is also in non-tribal hands. With these differences and unevenness, the tribal and non-tribal people are living in harmony and peace with the helping hands of Government of Tripura, so called Communist Government.