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The spatial distribution of tribal population as incurred from the map is concentrated in limited pockets of small clusters. In total, south India is home to 104 tribal communities. There is large variation in the population size and distribution of these communities. Of the 104 tribal communities, three tribes are common to all four states viz., the Kammara, the Kattunayakan and the Konda kapus. The dialects of the tribes of South India fall within the Dravidian language family. The only exception lies in the north east of Andhra Pradesh where we find Munda speakers classified as an Austro Asiatic language.
The tribal population in Andhra Pradesh is
6.3% of the total population, which is the largest in South
India. The map shows significant concentration clusters in Tamil
Nadu, however, the tribal population in the state forms only
1% of its total population. On the other hand the tribal population
of Karnataka corresponds to 4.3% of the total population. Kerala
has a tribal population of 1.1% of its total population.
In understanding the spatial distribution
of tribal communities it is relevant to look into factors of
environment, which is in turn linked to non-tribal infiltration.
Forest and hilly regions show high tribal concentration. On
the other hand availability and feasibility of land for agriculture
and the scope for industry (presence of minerals, power stations,
paper, spices, tea and coffee, etc) have a negative impact on
tribal concentration. The relation between environment and tribal
concentration is emphasized in the occupational pattern where,
you find a predominant number of tribal communities traditionally
subsisting on hunting and gathering, pastorals and shifting
cultivation. Today subsistence is largely through agriculture
and agricultural and plantation labourers. However, the traditional
occupations have not disappeared but supplement the recent occupations.
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