Disability among Tribal Communities in Odisha: A Biocultural Review of Health, Marginalization, and Social Inclusion

Author(s)	Mr. Kamalakanta Satapathy, Ms. Soumyashree Panda, Lipsamayee Pradhan
Country	India
Abstract	Disability among tribal communities in India remains an underexplored area within anthropology, disability studies, and public health research. This review examines disability among tribal populations in Odisha through a biocultural framework that integrates biological, socio-cultural, environmental, and structural dimensions. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from anthropology, sociology, public health, and disability studies, the paper explores how poverty, malnutrition, disease burden, limited healthcare access, social stigma, and geographical isolation shape disability experiences among tribal groups. Odisha, home to one of India’s largest tribal populations, provides a significant context for understanding the intersection of disability and social exclusion. The review identifies major research gaps, including limited ethnographic evidence, inadequate district-level documentation, and insufficient interdisciplinary studies. It argues that disability must be understood as a product of interconnected ecological, social, and political factors rather than solely as a medical condition, emphasizing the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive interventions.
Keywords	Disability, Tribal Communities, Odisha, Biocultural Anthropology, Social Exclusion, Indigenous Health, Disability Studies
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-15

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