state as well as the country. Though their population is unevenly spread throughout the State,
their main concentration is in south Odisha. Geographically, their stronghold lies in the central
region (Boudh & Kandhamal districts), Rayagada region (Rayagada district) and south-western
part (erstwhile Kasipur and Mahulpatna areas) of Eastern Ghats Region.
The word ‘Kandha’is derived from the Telugu word Konda which means a small hill as well as the
hill men. Originally they were hill dwellers. Kandha is the name the non-tribal people have given
them and in course of time, the tribesmen have accepted the name. But they identify themselves
as ‘Kui loku’ “Kui enju” or “Kuinga” because they speak ‘Kui’ or ‘Kuvi’ language belonging to
Dravidian linguistic group. ‘Kui’ and ‘Kuvi’ are two regional linguistic variations. While ‘Kuvi’ is
spoken by a majority of the Kandha of undivided Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangir districts, ‘Kui’,
is spoken by the Kandha of Phulbani district. Kuvi appears to have original structural composition
while Kui, an acculturated and transformed form of Kuvi language.
On the basis of the socio-cultural characteristics, the Kandha may be divided into several sections
such as; Desia Kandha, Dongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha, Sitha Kandha, Buda Kandha, Pengo Kandha,
Malua Kandha, etc. Among the several sections of the Kandha communities, two sub-sections such
as Kutia Kandha and Dongria Kandha have been identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
