Abstract The population of the STs in the state is 66.17 lakh (2001 Census) accounting for 31.76% of the total population of the state and 94.7% of which is rural in nature. The sex ratio among STs is 1012 females per 1000 males which is more favorable towards males. In terms of the concentration of ST population, the State occupies 6th position with 7.85% STs in the country. There are 42 different tribes including five Primitive Tribe Groups (PTGs) comprising about 12 lakh tribal families. Most of the natural resources including minerals are located in tribal areas. The decadal growth rate of population in the State during the period 19912001 is 24.3 percent, which is significantly higher than the all India rate of 21.3 percent in the same period. With the above background the present study enumerates the decadal growth rate of tribal population in Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma, Korea and Jashpur Districts in Chhattishgarh with the help of secondary data collection. The main aim of the study was to collect information about the factors of decadal growth rate of tribal population. It is necessary to find out the causes of high decadal growth rate to facilitate the local people to stop migration and increase socioeconomical development rate. Further, as noted in the paper, high decadal growth rate is found in north and south area of Chhattisgarh that is tribal zone and known as industrial zone of Chhattisgarh (North Chhattisgarh: Coal/Bauxite zone, South Chhattisgarh: Iron zone).According to observation of the study areas, the reasons of DGR (Decadal Growth Rate) may be migration, health issues, poor education, unemployment, naxalism, gender concern, discrimination, indebtedness, food security, globalization, high risk agriculture, some social and cultural issues, displacement, drought and famines and environmental imbalance etc. From some local problems and public health point of view, most of the health indicators and socio economic status are below national average and unsatisfactory. The human resources gap, poor physical infrastructure, inadequate health education and awareness, poor healthseeking behavior, and inadequate healthcare utilization compound the problem. Indicators related to health and health care delivery are outcomes of research in diverse fields other than the department of health. Putting them together and projecting them in a public health view point encourage others to focus on the neglected indicators/areas. However, further research is needed to have a clear database in this regard. It will be significant that the rural and tribal people will not go anywhere to search for survival opportunities, if they have proper livelihood and facilities at their habitat. The tribals are simple and unaware people; they need special attention by Government. Here it is not necessary to isolate them but it is the time to have familiar with them and their culture for their proper development.
Keywords: DGRDecadal Growth Rate; PTGSPrimitive Tribe Groups.