Literacy attainment among the Birhor,a primitive tribe of Madhya Pradesh : Findings from a sample survey in Raigarh district

Abstract

Educational attainment among the Birhor, a primitive tribe studied in Raigarh district, Madhya Pradesh, has considerably improved over the last 30 years, and especially during the last decade and a half. More particularly, the pace of increase in female literacy has been very promising. However, drop outs are higher among Birhor as compared to non Birhor children. Among the Birhor, enrolment is far better among boys as compared to girls, which is not the case among the Non Birhor. Of the Birhor girls, those of higher birth order are more likely to attend school. Their elder sisters, it seems, are burdened with sibling care and household work.