Social Study of Mahadev Koli Tribes in Akole Tahsil, District-Ahmednagar, Maharashtra

There are number of issues related to the tribal societies. The tribal people are sandwiched between low level of human resource development and erosion of forest resources on which they are traditionally dependent. Therefore, it is necessary to find out strength and initiatives of these people and provide support for their survival and development. For this it is necessary to carry out detail study of the tribal society and geographical environment of their native villages. The present work attempts for understanding the land and people in the tribal areas by selecting a district. There are about 47 tribes declared as scheduled tribes in the state of Maharashtra, according to the Gazette notification (1991). In the Ahmednagar district, Akole and Sangamner tahsil have tribal communities’ viz. Mahadev Koli, Katkari, Bhill and Thakar. Geographically, this part of the district is the foothill zone of the Western Ghats. Akole is a Tahsil place in Ahmednagar District. It is surrounded by number of small and big hills and mountains. Mahadev Koli tribal community is educationally, socially, culturally, politically and economically backward.