{"id":117952,"date":"2026-08-08T11:45:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=117952"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:15:10","slug":"tribes-of-mizoram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/tribes-of-mizoram\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribes of Mizoram, Culture, Population, Major Tribes, Schemes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Tribes of Mizoram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are at the heart of the state\u2019s identity and way of life. The population is largely made up of <\/span><b>Scheduled Tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each with its own unique <\/span><b>culture, traditions, language, and customs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These tribes share a strong sense of <\/span><b>community, unity, and respect for tradition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is reflected in their daily lives. Despite modernization, they have successfully preserved their <\/span><b>rich heritage and social values<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making Mizoram one of the most culturally vibrant states in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Tribes of Mizoram<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mizoram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a tribal-dominated state located in the southern part of <\/span><b>Northeast India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, known for its rich cultural diversity and strong community traditions. According to the <\/span><b>2011 Census<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the state had a population of about <\/span><b>10.97 lakh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, out of which nearly <\/span><b>94.43% (10.36 lakh people)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> belong to <\/span><b>Scheduled Tribes (STs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tribal population in Mizoram has shown significant growth, with a <\/span><b>23.45% increase between 2001 and 2011<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The state officially recognizes <\/span><b>15 different tribal communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reflecting its diverse ethnic composition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among these, the <\/span><b>Lushai (Mizo) tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the largest, making up around <\/span><b>70.9%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the total tribal population. The <\/span><b>Chakma tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the second largest group, contributing about <\/span><b>9.35%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Other important tribes like <\/span><b>Pawi (Lai), Lakher (Mara), Kuki, and Hmar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> together form a considerable share of the population.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Religion plays an important role in the lives of people in Mizoram. A large majority of the tribal population, about <\/span><b>90.07%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, follow <\/span><b>Christianity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>Buddhism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the second most practiced religion (around <\/span><b>8.78%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), mainly followed by the <\/span><b>Chakma community<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tribes of Mizoram can broadly be divided into <\/span><b>Mizo tribes and non-Mizo tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The term <\/span><b>\u201cMizo\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comes from two words &#8211; <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cmi\u201d (people)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201czo\u201d (hill or highland)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which together mean <\/span><b>\u201cpeople of the hills\u201d or \u201chighlanders.\u201d<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the word \u201cMizo\u201d is not limited to a single tribe. It is a <\/span><b>collective or umbrella term<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> used for groups that share <\/span><b>similar culture, traditions, and historical background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In this way, it acts as a <\/span><b>unifying identity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for many tribes in the state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, some smaller sub-tribes have gradually <\/span><b>merged into larger groups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, adopting their customs, language, and way of life. As a result, a few tribes have <\/span><b>lost their separate identities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the major tribes in Mizoram today include <\/span><b>Mizo (Lushai), Pawi (Lai), Lakher (Mara), and Chakma<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each contributing to the state\u2019s unique cultural richness and heritage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mizoram does not have any officially recognized <\/span><b>Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Major Tribes of Mizoram<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Major Tribes of Mizoram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> play a vital role in shaping the state\u2019s <\/span><b>culture and identity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The population is largely made up of <\/span><b>Scheduled Tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each with distinct <\/span><b>traditions, languages, and social practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Prominent groups like the <\/span><b>Lushai (Mizo), Pawi (Lai), Lakher (Mara), and Chakma<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are discussed below, highlighting their key features and cultural significance. Some of the Major Tribes of Mizoram are discussed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Lushai Tribe<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Lushai Tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (also called <\/span><b>Lusei<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the <\/span><b>largest Mizo tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mainly found in <\/span><b>Aizawl<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Lunglei<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> districts of <\/span><b>Mizoram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term <\/span><b>\u201cLushai\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a British-adopted version of the original <\/span><b>\u201cLusei\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They migrated from <\/span><b>Myanmar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the <\/span><b>17th-18th century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> along with other <\/span><b>Mizo sub-tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society was clan-based with <\/span><b>6 chief clans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>10 commoner clans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; the <\/span><b>Sailo clan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dominated and held <\/span><b>hereditary chieftainship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Duhlian dialect<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became the <\/span><b>lingua franca<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Mizos and belongs to the <\/span><b>Kuki-Chin group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the <\/span><b>Tibeto-Burman family<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>British colonial rule (1890s)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Christian missionaries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> brought major changes, leading to widespread <\/span><b>conversion to Christianity by the 1930s<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional practices like <\/span><b>Zu (rice beer)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Zawlbuk<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>animal sacrifice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> declined; replaced by <\/span><b>tea, modern education, and YMA (Young Mizo Association)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family system is <\/span><b>patrilocal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>patrilineal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>ultimogeniture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (youngest son inherits), later partly replaced by <\/span><b>primogeniture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under British rule.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Women traditionally had no inheritance rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but later <\/span><b>legal reforms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allowed them property rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marriage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves <\/span><b>bride-price (formerly mithun, now cash)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is now conducted under <\/span><b>Christian rites<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agriculture (jhum\/shifting cultivation)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the main occupation, though <\/span><b>economic diversification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is increasing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Mautam famine (1959)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> led to <\/span><b>insurgency (1966)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the <\/span><b>Mizo National Front<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ending with the <\/span><b>1986 Peace Accord<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Village grouping during insurgency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> disrupted traditional <\/span><b>social harmony<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and changed community structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tribe has a high <\/span><b>literacy rate (95.6%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though <\/span><b>higher education levels remain low<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. Pawi Tribe<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Pawi (Lai) Tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> forms about <\/span><b>5% of Mizoram\u2019s population (51,406)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as per the <\/span><b>2011 Census<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are mainly concentrated in <\/span><b>Lawngtlai District<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and around <\/span><b>Phawngpui (Blue Mountain)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with many also in <\/span><b>Chin State (Myanmar)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lawngtlai town<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the seat of the <\/span><b>Pawi (Lai) Autonomous District Council<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almost all Pawis are <\/span><b>Christians (99.28%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with a high <\/span><b>literacy rate (91.6%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Villages are located on <\/span><b>hilltops (2500-4000 ft)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a <\/span><b>moderate climate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have <\/span><b>four main dialects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><b>Khuofo, Thantlang (Mizoram)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Halkha (Haka), Laizo (Myanmar)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the <\/span><b>Tibeto-Burman language family<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally <\/span><b>no script<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, later written using <\/span><b>Roman script<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by <\/span><b>Christian missionaries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many Pawis now speak <\/span><b>Duhlian (Mizo dialect)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to <\/span><b>missionary influence and education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Church (Biakin)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the central institution; <\/span><b>pastors and elders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are key leaders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional dances like <\/span><b>Rawkha Tlak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Chawnglaizawn<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> declined but are now being <\/span><b>revived<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society follows <\/span><b>monogamy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>patrilocal residence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>patrilineal descent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionally, <\/span><b>the eldest son inherited property<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but now <\/span><b>property is shared<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including with <\/span><b>daughters<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The economy is based on <\/span><b>land and forest<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mainly <\/span><b>jhum (shifting) cultivation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Land is <\/span><b>community-owned<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the <\/span><b>village council allocates plots annually<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>3. Lakher Tribe<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Lakher (Mara) Tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a <\/span><b>Scheduled Tribe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mainly inhabiting the <\/span><b>Mara Autonomous District Council (Mizoram)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with populations also in <\/span><b>Chin State<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Rakhine State (Myanmar)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The name <\/span><b>\u201cMara\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> replaced <\/span><b>\u201cLakher\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> officially in <\/span><b>1978<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; earlier names included <\/span><b>Shendu, Zho, Tlosai, Khongzai<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per <\/span><b>2011 Census<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, population is <\/span><b>42,855 (4.13%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Mizoram.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The region has <\/span><b>50 villages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>59 village councils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>Saiha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the capital.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They belong to the <\/span><b>Kuki-Chin group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the <\/span><b>Tibeto-Burman family<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and are believed to have migrated from <\/span><b>Southern China via Tibet and Myanmar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><b>17th century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major <\/span><b>sub-groups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><b>Tlosaih-Siaha, Zyhno, Hawthai, Chapi, Vytu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each with distinct <\/span><b>dialects<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; <\/span><b>Tlosai-Siaha dialect<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> acts as <\/span><b>lingua franca<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Literacy rate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is <\/span><b>81.93%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>Mara language<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is used as <\/span><b>medium of instruction (up to class VI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before <\/span><b>British rule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there was frequent <\/span><b>inter-village conflict<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; British rule (till <\/span><b>1924<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) brought <\/span><b>peace, end of slavery, and economic changes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post-independence, the <\/span><b>chief\u2019s power declined<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and modern <\/span><b>administrative councils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were established.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society is <\/span><b>rural<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with strong <\/span><b>kinship ties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>community cooperation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family system is <\/span><b>nuclear<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>patrilocal residence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>patrilineal descent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; <\/span><b>father is head<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inheritance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> follows <\/span><b>primogeniture (eldest son inherits)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though the <\/span><b>youngest son gets a share<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With <\/span><b>Christianity (introduced 1907, fully adopted by 1959)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, major changes occurred: decline of <\/span><b>raiding, superstitions, and traditional hierarchy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adoption of <\/span><b>Western lifestyle and values<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while still retaining some <\/span><b>traditional customs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>4. Chakma Tribe<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Chakma Tribe (Changma)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the <\/span><b>second largest Scheduled Tribe in Mizoram (9.35%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are mainly settled in the <\/span><b>south-western and western parts of Mizoram<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, bordering <\/span><b>Tripura<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Bangladesh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have an <\/span><b>Autonomous District Council (since 1972)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the <\/span><b>Sixth Schedule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, headquartered at <\/span><b>Kamalanagar (Chawngte)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Chakmas migrated from the <\/span><b>Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bangladesh)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and belong to the <\/span><b>Tibeto-Burman group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ethnically), though linguistically different.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their language, <\/span><b>Chakma (Changma Vaj\/Kodha)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, belongs to the <\/span><b>Indo-Aryan (Southeastern Bengali branch)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, showing a shift from original roots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They primarily follow <\/span><b>Theravada Buddhism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mixed with <\/span><b>Hindu elements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (e.g., worship of <\/span><b>Lakshmi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and <\/span><b>traditional practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each village has a <\/span><b>Buddhist temple (Kaang)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>monks (Bhikhus)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lead religious ceremonies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite Buddhism, <\/span><b>animal sacrifice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is practiced to appease <\/span><b>spirits causing illness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society is divided into <\/span><b>clans (gojas)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>sub-clans (guttis)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with strict <\/span><b>endogamy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (no marriage within the same clan).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marriage (Chumulong)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is arranged, involves <\/span><b>bride-price (now symbolic)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and is performed by <\/span><b>Buddhist priests<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Polygyny<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is allowed but rare; <\/span><b>remarriage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>elopement (with fines)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are accepted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family structure includes <\/span><b>nuclear and extended families<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with growing preference for <\/span><b>nuclear families<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The majority live in <\/span><b>rural areas (only 0.8% urban)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, indicating <\/span><b>low development levels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Main occupation is <\/span><b>agriculture (shifting + semi-permanent cultivation)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with <\/span><b>no individual land ownership<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some have moved to <\/span><b>labor and white-collar jobs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but most remain in <\/span><b>farming due to limited opportunities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>literacy rate is low (45.3%)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>male 56.2%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>female 33.6%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><b>lowest among Mizoram tribes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Constitutional Safeguards for the Tribes of Mizoram<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strong Constitutional Protection: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tribes of Mizoram are safeguarded by special provisions in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Indian Constitution<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which help protect their <\/span><b>culture, land, and traditional way of life<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while supporting their overall development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 371G &#8211; Protection of Traditions and Land:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This provision ensures that laws made by Parliament on matters like <\/span><b>religious practices, social customs, customary laws, and land ownership<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> do not automatically apply to Mizoram. Such laws can only be implemented if the <\/span><b>Mizoram Legislative Assembly agrees<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, thereby preserving the unique identity of the tribal communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/sixth-schedule\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Sixth Schedule<\/b><\/a><b> &#8211; Self-Governance (Article 244):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Under this provision, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/what-are-autonomous-district-councils-adc\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Autonomous District Councils<\/b><\/a><b> (ADCs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are established to give tribes the power to <\/span><b>govern themselves at the local level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In Mizoram, important councils include the <\/span><b>Lai, Mara, and Chakma Autonomous District Councils<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Powers of Autonomous District Councils:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These councils have the authority to make decisions on important local matters such as:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Land use and management<\/b><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/shifting-cultivation\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Shifting cultivation<\/b><\/a><b> (jhum)\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Forest resources (excluding reserved forests)<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Marriage, divorce, and inheritance laws<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Social customs and traditions<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0This ensures that decisions are made according to <\/span><b>local needs and customs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Traditional Justice System:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The councils can also set up <\/span><b>village courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to settle disputes among local people based on <\/span><b>customary laws and practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making justice more accessible and culturally relevant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Financial Independence (District Funds):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Each Autonomous District Council maintains its own <\/span><b>District Fund<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where it collects revenue from sources like <\/span><b>taxes, land fees, and markets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This helps in carrying out <\/span><b>local development activities independently<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Control Over Trade and Money Lending:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The councils can regulate <\/span><b>trading activities and money-lending by outsiders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prevent exploitation of tribal communities and ensure <\/span><b>fair economic practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protection of Identity and Culture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Overall, these provisions help protect the <\/span><b>distinct identity, traditions, and community systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the tribes, ensuring that modernization does not harm their cultural roots.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Government Schemes for Tribal Empowerment<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; This scheme focuses on holistic development of tribal villages by improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, covering around 63,000 villages and benefiting over 5 crore tribal people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ekalavya-model-residential-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Eklavya Model Residential Schools<\/b><\/a><b> (EMRS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Provides quality residential education to tribal students from Class VI to XII, with modern facilities aimed at improving academic performance, skill development, and access to higher education.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pm-janman-2\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan<\/b><\/a><b> (PM-JANMAN)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) by improving road connectivity, housing, electrification, healthcare, and basic services in remote tribal regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Enables meritorious tribal students to pursue higher education abroad, promoting global exposure and academic excellence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Promotes research, documentation, and preservation of tribal culture, traditions, and languages while supporting policy development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Ensures coordinated efforts across ministries for tribal welfare, focusing on filling gaps in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Fellowship for ST Students<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Provides financial assistance for higher education and research through a transparent digital system, encouraging advanced studies among tribal students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Offers concessional financial support to tribal individuals for self-employment and income-generating activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/trifed\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India<\/b><\/a><b> (TRIFED)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Promotes tribal products through marketing platforms, supporting artisans and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aadi Mahotsav and Cultural Initiatives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Organizes cultural festivals to showcase tribal heritage, promote handicrafts, and generate economic opportunities through cultural promotion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Aims to develop tribal-majority villages by providing basic infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, and housing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-health-mission\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>National Health Mission<\/b><\/a><b> (NHM) &#8211; Tribal Focus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Strengthens healthcare services in tribal areas, addressing major health issues and improving access to medical facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tribes of Mizoram include Mizo, Pawi, Lakher and Chakma, known for their rich culture, traditions and tribal heritage, protected by constitutional safeguards and councils.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":117896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5107,5108,9375,9374],"class_list":["post-117952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-indian-polity","tag-indian-polity-notes","tag-mizoram","tag-tribes-of-mizoram","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117952"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117981,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117952\/revisions\/117981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}