Lodha

Lodha is one of the primitive tribe of Odisha. Because of their unusual social behavior and unacceptable profession they were declared as the criminal tribe by the British government. Though the incriminatory law was repealed in 1952, because of others perception towards them as criminal, they left helpless. Efforts have also been made to develop the inter community relations between Lodhas and other tribes to integrate them to normal social life. In general their settlements are nearby to the forests having adequate supply of water throughout the year.  All the Lodhas irrespective of their socio-economic status go to the forests to collect various forest products and edibles.