Pratichi Institute in collaboration with the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, had undertaken the work of preparing a detailed report on the socio-economic, political and cultural profile of the 40 notified Adivasi tribes of West Bengal that constitute 47 per cent of the overall Scheduled Tribe population. This research project aspired to present the perspectives of the Adivasi communities. One of the strategies was to use researchers and investigators from such backgrounds. The report has attempted to address the wide knowledge gaps – among both specialized academics and the general public – regarding who these Adivasis are, where they live, what they do, their socio-economic status, their distinctive cultural and linguistic practices. Wide socio-economic variations between the different Adivasi groups and within the specific Adivasi communities, despite having been shown in the Census data, have hardly attracted any attention either in public policy or in general discussion.
