Factors Influencing Socio-Economic Status of the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) and Plain Tribes in Andhra Pradesh (A Logistic Regression Analysis)

The existing literature on the socio-economic and living conditions of tribes in India and in Andhra Pradesh particular provided several factors that are directly and indirectly responsible for the socio-economic backwardness, poverty and indebtedness among different Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) and plain tribes. In this context The study of inter-tribe relations has assumed great importance of the student of economic dynamics in the post independent India. This study provides a basis for enriching the existing theories of inter-tribal and intra-tribal pattern of life and economic conditions. In view of the lags in the earlier studies the present study endeavors to examine the occupational and employment pattern, levels of income and expenditure, the incidence of poverty and indebtedness together with other socio economic characteristics of Kondh, Porja, Bagata and Konda Dora tribes with different relational aspects in the interior areas of Paderu and Chintapalle mandals in the Visakhapatnam district. The main focus of this study is to examine the factors influencing inter tribe variations relating to the determinants of the relative socio-economic backwardness of the selected PTGs when compared to plain tribes. Similarly intra tribe variations on the front of factors determine the relative socio economic backwardness of the tribes among the PTGs and plain tribes with the help of logistic regression model. For convenience this study is organised in five different sections viz., Section I which is introductory to the study and the objective, methodology and theoretical framework of the logistic regression analysis have also been presented in the same Section, SectionII which analyses the inter tribe variations in the factors influencing the socio economic conditions of both the PTGs and Plain tribes. The intra tribe variations among the PTGs and among plain tribes are presented in the SectionIII and Iv respectively. In the Section -V the findings of the study, conclusions and policy implications are presented in the last section. The study ultimately concludes that that intra tribe variations are prevalent within the selected PTGs as well as among the selected plain tribes relating to socio economic conditions in the study area. Hence, the PTGs households living in the interior hill areas need much intensive development policy package for their fast socioeconomic transmission.