A Study on the Economic and Health Conditions of the Deccan Tribes - An Empirical Analysis

The Deccan Plateau is a key tribal area in India; many Scheduled Tribes live there, relying on forests, land, and traditional livelihoods. However, despite constitutional protections and numerous welfare programs, the tribal communities of the Deccan face persistent deprivation. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the health and socioeconomic conditions of the Gonds, Lambadas (Banjaras), Kolams, Chenchus, Koyas, Naikpods, and Yerukulas, the major Scheduled Tribes in the Deccan. Specifically, it analyses livelihood patterns, poverty, education, housing, social exclusion, nutritional status, disease burden, maternal and child health, mental health, and healthcare access. The Pearson correlation analysis clearly demonstrates that income/earnings play a significant and positive role in determining the quality of healthy life among Deccan tribes. Improving tribal health outcomes, therefore, requires not only healthcare interventions but also sustainable income enhancement and economic security. The Pearson correlation analysis confirms a strong interconnection between economic conditions, livelihood strategies, and natural resource dependence among Deccan tribes. The paper finds that poverty among Scheduled Tribes in the Deccan largely stems from structural problems such as historical dispossession, ecological marginalisation, and inadequate institutional delivery. In light of these findings, the paper forcefully concludes with a call for a rights-based, culturally sensitive, and community-driven development model, asserting that such an approach is essential to significantly transform the well-being of Scheduled Tribes and break the cycle of deprivation.