Bhunjia

The Bhunjia are a scheduled tribe found in the state of Orissa in India. There homeland is the Sunabeda plateau which is roughly between 21? 25? North and 21? 30? north latitude and 82? 35? East longitude. It was a part of Khariar Zamindari, which formed the eastern and the southeastern region of Raipur district of Chhatisgarh division in Central Province till 1 April 1936, when it was transferred to Orissa on its creation. It is now in Komna block of Nuapada district in Orissa. Nearly 62 tribal groups are living in Orissa, out of which 10 tribal groups may be identified in Nuapada. The Bhunjias, a primitive tribe of Orissa, are found in Nuapada. Nuapada is considered as the homeland of the Bhunjias. 75 percent of the total population of this tribe lives here. They are living in the uphill range of Sunabeda plateau in Nuapada. According to the 1981 Census the population of Bhunjia was 7000 and now it must be around 10000. Accordingly 75 percent of populations i.e. about 7500 Bhunjias are living in Nuapada. According to the tribe, the term Bhunjia means growing out of land or origin from the earth.