INTRODUCTION:

The tribes and local forests are intimately correlated socially and economically, the tribes depend on forest their behaviours working convention and agriculture practices are in relation to the natural protection. They have developed their own methods of conserving many species which they felt are at the verge of extinction. Vindhyan region in India located between 24⁰45' to 25⁰45' N latitudes and 75⁰38' to 82⁰50' E longitude. The total area of the region is 38370 sqkm. This area is known for natural forests and tribes. The tropical deciduous forests of the area are full of biodiversity. The Vindhyan region is the area of tribe according to 2011 census the tribe population of the region was 28.3%. The 30 types of tribe include mainly Gond, Baiga, Kol, Panika, Khairwar, Pao, Majhi, and Agaria etc.

The present study, therefore, aim at highlighting the habitat, economy and society of the tribal of Vindhyan region of India.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To study tribal - environment relationship.

2. Investigation of new uses of plants or new plants of potential economic value.

LITERATURE SURVEY:

Works on habitat, economy and society of the tribe of Vindhyan region are not sufficient enough. Some ethnographies on the tribals, like The Kol tribe of Central India. (Griffith, 1946), A study of the tribal people and tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh (Dubey and Bahadur, 1967), The Kols of Patha (Hasan, 1972), The Baiga (Elvin, 1986), Madhya Pradesh Ki Jan Jatiyan (Tiwari and Sharma, 1995), Kol (Shandilya, 1999), Bulletins of the Tribal Research and Development Institute Bhopal, Dictionary of Indian Folk Medicine and Ethnobotany (Jain, 1991) etc. have been consulted mainly for getting insight into tribal socio-religious life, and the world-view about plant use and management.

The recent publications of Mishra (2015 a,b,c); Mishra (2017 a, b); Shrivastava and Mishra (2017), Singh et al. (2014),Dube et al. (2007), Mishra et al. (1993), Verma and Khan (1993), Dwivedi and Pandey (1992) etc. give supplementary information on ethnobotany among the tribals of the study area.

METHODOLOGY:

This work is the result of personal observation, interview and discussion made after carefully planned field work among the tribal localities of Vindhyan region. The observations recorded on environment and ecology, agricultural practices and agroecosystem, plant resources management, the people and their life so on. Informents are village head men; men and women working in the field, weekly market and other common place. Study areas are Bandhavgarh, Chitrakoot, Bagdara, Kusmi, Amarkantak, Panpatha, Semariya localities of Vindhyan region of Madhya Pradesh India.

DISCUSSION:

Topography:

Study area lies approximately between 20º 30' to 25º 45' N. latitudes and 75° 38' to 82º 50' E. longitudes, about 318.7 to 489 meter above sea level. It is the land of plateau, plains and hills. Generally the topography is uneven. Some perennial rivers and seasonal streams water the area. Son, Tamas, Banas, Ken, Narmada, Beehar, Bichhiya etc. are the major rivers of the area.

Soil:

This area of the region is made of stony and sandy soils, deficient of soil colloids, thus lacking in water holding capacity in one hand, and nitrogen and phosphorus components in other. The colour of soil is red or yellow due to frequently occurring iron, aluminium oxide and hydro-oxide. The soil is either normal or slightly acidic/ basic in nature .The greatest problem of the reason is the deficiency of colloids in the soil. Being the hilly area, insufficiency of colloids can not be resumed-through incoming drainage. When this area was covered with forests, the deficiency, partly, was compensated by organic membranes, but the illegal deforestation has resulted into the perpetuating losses.

Metrological data:

Currently the average rain fall is 1173 mm. per annum, out of which 80% is through summer mansoon. The highest temperature in summer is 46°c, and January the coldest month of winter has a lowest temperature of 0°c. The relative humidity is 69% in January and 83.6% in August. Thus the climate of this place is tropical.

Forests and Vegetation:

On the basis of forestry, Vindhyan region is a rich area. A total of 34.4 % (13148.51 sq. km.) area is occupied with forest. The tropical deciduous forests of Amarkantak, Bandhavgarh, Sanjay National Park Sidhi, Panpatha, Bagdara, Sanjay Dubri, Chitrakoot, Kusmi, Sarai etc. of the study area are well known for their quality, type and density.

Three types of forests found in the study are as under –

1. Teak forests – In Maikal peaks of Amarkankac and Mukundpur (Satna)

2. Sal forests – Mainly in Sidhi and Shahdol districts, and

3. Mixed forests – spread at many areas of Kamore, Son par hills of Sidhi, Satna and Rewa districts.

According the to revised classification of forests by Champian and Seth, the study area has following types of forests and floristic composition :

I. Northern tropical dry sal forest

II. Northern tropical dry peninsular sal forest

III. Northern dry mixed deciduous forest.

Tribes of Vindhyan region:

The word 'Tribes' has been derived from 'Tribus'. According to anthropologists a tribe is an association of group of families with a common name. Its members inhere (live) in a particular area of land, speak common language and maintain the developed inhibitary rule of marriage, profession or enterprise, in addition explain the personnel duties in a well developed manner. India is the second largest tribal populated country of the world and Vindhyan region is a home of many tribes, which are widely distributed in hilly tracts of the region.

Settlement pattern:

All the tribal areas of the region present similar settlement pattern. They build their houses in close proximity to the place of work e.g. at fields, gathering areas, rivers etc. and prefer to live close to their relatives and friends. The houses close to the fields facilitate them to have a watch on crops.

Tribal Village:

Tribal villages are usually in open space. They built 'kachha' houses in the form of cluster because they like to live in groups and these tribes populated pockets are called 'tola'. Several 'tolas' constitute a village. The houses mainly 'kachha' type consist of 'sar' (cattle room), 'cell' (room), 'kothwa' (guest room), kitchen etc. The houses are made of thick mud walls; roof is usually of bamboo, thin branches of trees and grasses. The roof is covered by country tiles. The walls are white washed with 'chhuhi' (white clay) and the floor with 'gobar' (cow–dung). Colours prepared out of local plants is used for painting the house walls.

Articles and Utensils:

House utensils are 'jatawa' (flour mill), 'chakari' (grind stone), 'kadhi–musal' (mortal), 'tummi' (bottle gourd), 'badhni' (broom stick), 'supa' (winnowing fan), 'topari' (boskect) etc.

Kichen utensils include 'tathi' (plate), 'lota' (pot), 'kadahi' (couldran), 'karchhuli' (ladle), 'gagara' (jar), 'balti' (bucket), 'earthen chulha' etc.

Agricalture equipments are named as 'hal' (plough), 'kudal' (hoe), 'tanga' (axe), 'khurpi', 'sabri' etc.

Hunting equipments are 'bagudh', 'dhandhari', jal', 'gulla',' vanshi'.

Average daily routine of a Tribe:

Men:

4 - 6 AM	Wakeup, feed the cows and bullouks, chop the bit of wood.
6 - 7 AM	Eat some food usually 'basi', if there is work, go to the field till 12 AM or in the forest for wood, grasses and other forest produces.
12 - 1 PM	Bathe and wash clothes.
1 - 2 PM	Mid day meal, usually of freshly cooked rice, dal, vegetable, chapati, occasionally and when available consume fish or meat.
2 - 7 PM	Work again.
7 - 8 PM	Return home, sit around the fire at home and chat.
8 - 9 PM	Evening meal.

The Women:

4 - 8 AM	Wakeup, mill rice / grind the wheat, fetch water, clean utensils, sweep the house, cook for mid day.
8 - 12 AM	Eat some things, go to the field till 12 AM or forest for fire wood.
12 - 1 PM	Bathe and wash clothes.
1 - 2 PM	Mid day meal.
2 - 6 PM	Work again.
6 - 8 PM	Return home, fetch water, cook evening meal.
8 - 9 PM	Evening meal.

Note: When they have no land or the land is meagre, they work as hired labourers. The per day wages in May 2016 in Molhai village of Ramnagar locality in Satna district, were Rs.200 for men and Rs.150 for women.

Division of Labour:

There is division of labour. Food gathering, hunting, ploughing, construction and repairs of house, sacrificing before the deity, watching crop etc. are attended by men. Fetching water, cooking, cleaning, plaster the floor, feed and care of the children, grinding the wheat etc. are performed by women. Other agricultural operations are met by both. Boys herd cattle and goats in the forest, and girls gather cow-dung for use as fuel.

Social Environment:

The tribe's family is patrilineal. After marriage, the girl leaves the parental home and lives in the husband's house. Besides fulfilling the biological functions, the family fulfils also the economic function of securing food, shelter and material comforts for its members and the function of transmitting social heritage. The girl child is as welcomed in the family as the male child.

Leadership:

Tribes have a strong Panchayat, their heads are called 'Mukhia' and the decisions of the Panchayat for the settlement of disputes are reinforced strictly as they are regarded as final and binding. The Panchayat is the custodian of tradition and customs. Its main concern is to maintain the security and solidarity of the tribes.

Economic status of tribes:

The tribal people of the study area practice a varied range of occupations like hunting, fishing, ploughing and agriculture as their main stay. Regardless of their principal mode of subsistence, all of them collect and consume major and minor eatable forest products. Their economy depends solely on forests, as their houses, tools, vessels, ornaments and even the objects of worship and rituals are largely made out of plant materials; few tribal groups are engaged in making baskets, mats and brooms from bamboos. Other groups such as Baiga, Panika and Gond go to collect minor forest products and practice barter economy in weekly markets for their houses hold and day to day needs.

Listed below are some important plants of economic, commercial and industrial values. Balanced exploitation of these can help them to achieve economic prosperity and consequently a better standard of life. They are listed according to priority of economic products presently exploited by them :

Table 4: Some important plants of economic, commercial and industrial values:

Name of Plants	Local Name	Economic Products
Oryaza sativa	(Dhan)	Paddy
Tritricum aestivum	(Gehun)	Seed for food
Madhuca longifolia	(Mahua)	Flower, seeds, oil
Bambusa arundinacea	(Bans)	Basketry
Buchanania lanzan	(Char)	Seeds
Phoenix acaulis	(Chhind)	Broom and mat making
Butea monosperma	(Chhola)	Plate making and lac
Bauhinia vahlii	(Mahul)	Plate making
Hibiscus cannabinus	(Amari)	Cordage
Mangifera indica	(Aam)	Fruits
Tamarindus indica	(Imli)	Fruits
Annona squamosa	(Sitaphal)	Fruits
Carrisa carandas	(Karonda)	Fruits
Zizyphus sps.	(Ber)	Fruits
Syzygium cuminii	(Jamun)	Fruits
Diospyros melanoxylon	(Tendu)	Leaf, fruits
Artocarpus heterophyllus	(Kathal)	Fruits for vegetable
Aspragus racemosus	(Satawar)	Tuber for vegetable
Dioscorea hispida	(Biachandi)	Tuber for vegetable
Chlorophytum tuberosum	(Safedmusli)	Tuber for medicines
Cassia tora	(Chakauda)	Seeds
Acorus calamus	(Buch)	Root for medicine
Emblica officinalis	(Amla)	Fruits
Terminalia sps.	(Kahua,Harra,Bahera	Fruits,tannin,medicine etc.
Embelia robusta	(Baibidang)	Fruits for medicine
Curuma angustifolia	(Tikhur)	Rhizome for 'tikhur' prep.
Litsia glutinosa	(Maida)	Bark
Shorea robusta	(Sal)	Oil seed and gum
Acacia catechu	(Khair)	Bark for 'khair' prep.
Sterculia urens	(Kulu)	Gum
Acacia nilotica	(Babool)	Gum
Azadirachta indica	Neem	Seeds (Nimoli)
Limonia acidissima	Kaitha	Fruits
Randia dumetorum	Mainhar	Fruits
Ricinus communis	Rendi	Seeds
Schleichera oleosa	Kusum	Gum, lac, seed
Prosopis cineraria	Khejra	Pods
Bombox ceiba	Semal (Kapsa)	Seeds
Soymida febrifunga	Rohina	Fruits
Bauhinia purpuria	Koilar bhaji	Leaves
Thysanolaeno maxina	Phool bahri	Broom

This list of economic plants will be incomplete without a mention of the important wood-yielding trees of the area. Shorea robusta (Sal) is the most important among them. Acacia nilotica,(Babool), Anogeissus latifolia (Haldu), Bambusa arundinacea (Bans), Gmelina arborea (Sivan), Pterocarpus marsupium (Bija), Tectona grandis (Teak), Terminalia sps. (Saj, Kahua, Bahera, Asan), etc. also are commonly used.

Thus, it is evident that the environmental and cultural factors play a great role in the life and progress of tribal groups. It is difficult to imagine forests without tribals and vice-versa. Conclusively, it is obvious that the local forests have their own importance in the habitat, sociology and economy of these tribes.

Socio-cultural Importance -:

Almost all plants of economic and religious uses have some social significance. But some of them have very significant socio-cultural importance. Liquor distilled out of the flower of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) is the most important binding factor in any social gathering. ‘Dhan’ (paddy) is the most important basis of all their social relationship. They celebrate the festivals of new crops. Their social meetings are invariably held in the village meeting place neem under a (Azadirachta indica) tree.

Tribal management of plant resources:

For the rural tribal people, almost all their activities are directed towards meeting their food requirements. So, their concept of plant management is essentially a subsistence management. Except for the fact that they preserve many of the economically important plants, there is not any significant conservational strategy that may lead to economic boom and prosperity. The same is true for the agricultural strategies. They continue age - old practices. The implements and agricultural techniques they employ are also not very profit-generating. Hence, there is a gradual decrease in crop production, whereas due to an increasing population (in general) there is increased demand for food.

Conclusively, as the tribal life is forest based, hence these people practice judicious use of the plant resources and conserve many plant species.

CONCLUSION -:

The data and analysis presented so far led to the following conclusions:

· The tribal plant-use is essentially subsistence-oriented and it needs modern and scientific approach for sustainable development.

· The tribals have inherited a certain sense of conservation, but the demand and exploitation of plant resources is inversely proportional to the conservation and regeneration efforts.

· Their cultivation practices are conventional; consequently, the production is gradually declining, while the demand is ever on the increase.

· For the economic-uplift and improvement in quality of life, an organised plant-use strategy is to be developed. If their resources are pooled together and harnessed properly, the tribes can come up in life, preserving their culture, traditions and also natural resources.

This study brings to light some aspects of plant-related economy and culture of the tribes and suggests some means to improve the quality of their life, if they are promoted by the governmental and other local voluntary agencies (NGOs).

REFERENCE:

1. Elwin V. (1986): The Baiga. Gian publication house New Delhi pp 1-550.

2. Dubey, B.K. and F.Bahadur (1967): A Study of the tribal people and tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh. Tribal Res.Deve. Institute Bhopal.pp 1-177.

3. Dubey P.C., Mishra S.N., Tiwari Arjun (2007): Loss of Biodiversity with reference to important medicinal plants in Vindhyan region and their threat assessment. Jour. of Tropical Forestry Vol. 23 No. I and II P. 108-127.

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6. Hasan A. (1972): The Kols of Patha. Kitab Mahal, Allahabad.

7. Jain S.K. (1991): Dictionary of Indian folk medicine and Ethnobotany. Deep Publication, New Delhi 1-311.

8. Mishra Skand Kumar. (2015 a): Conservation and Management of Plant Resource by tribe of Vindhyan Region of Madhya Pradesh.Res.Jour.of Pharnacognosy and Phytochemistry.7 (3): July-Sept., 2015,pp.1-4.

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15. Singh Prachi, Sahu Sherendra, Mishra Skand K., Singh Neeta (2014): Potential of Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Tribals in Sidhi District of Madhya Pradesh. Research Journal of Science and Technology, 6(4): October- December, 2014, pp. 180-184.

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Received on 10.02.2018 Modified on 18.04.2018

Res. J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2018; 10(3): 98-102.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2018.00018.6

Habitat Economy and Society of the Tribal of Vindhyan region of India

The present study, therefore, aim at highlighting the habitat, economy and society of the tribal of Vindhyan region of India.

Topography:

Tribes of Vindhyan region:

Socio-cultural Importance -: