South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA)

Koraput district located on the backdrop of green valleys contemplating immaculate freshness was established on 1st April 1936. Decorated by dense forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys and dating springs, the district is very much influenced by its rare gifts of nature which have attracted some aboriginal races like the Gadabas and Bondas and gives them shelter in its lap. The district is bounded by Rayagada in the east, Bastar district of Chhattisgarh in the west, Nabarangapur district in north and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and Malkangiri district in its south. The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters, the present town of Koraput. The erstwhile undivided district of Koraput has been divided into four districts – Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nowrangapur in 1992.

Koraput is one of the southernmost districts in Odisha, India, located along the Eastern Ghats. It derives its name from the Koraput town which is the seat of the district administration. . Koraput is spread over an area of 8,807 sq kms with a population of 1,376,934.Koraput Map. Koraput is an Adivasi district, known for high concentration of Adivasi communities (tribes). As many as 51 are found in undivided Koraput district. These tribals have been grouped into three major classes Dravidian race represented by Kondh. Poraja, Gond and Koya, forming the major part of the population.Which includes Savara and Gadaba,Austro-Asian race: the Bondas, one of the most primitive tribes.Apart from these three, there are many others like Omanatya and Bhumia, whose origin is not clearly known.Each community has its own language, hailed as a great repository of ecological knowledge.

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Koraput one of the country’s 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).More than 70 % of the total population of the district of Koraput is Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. Out of the total population living in the district, 84 % of them live below the poverty line (BPL). The district forms part of the trio of one of the most backward region in India popularly known as the KBK districts.

Rayagada District :Rayagada is a mineral-rich district in the southern part of the state of Odisha, in India. The city Rayagada is its headquarters. Rayagada district got the status of a separate district with effect from 2 October 1992.[1] The population of this district consists mainly of tribals. The Kondhas or Kondhs form the majority of population followed by Souras. Apart from Odia, several adivasi languages like Kui, Kondha, Soura are spoken by the indigenous population of the district.The District occupies a total area of 7,584.7 km2. Rayagada is divided into eleven blocks.The district generates income mainly through agriculture based activities. Paddy, wheat, ragi, green gram, black gram, groundnut, sweet potato and maize are the major crops grown in the area.

Malkangiri District: This district was carved out as district from the undivided Koraput district on 2nd Oct, 1992. The administrative headquarters of this district is Malkangiri town.As of 2011 India census, Malkangiri had a population of 31,007. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Malkangiri has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 48%. In Malkangiri, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Malkangiri one of the country’s 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[2] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Nawarangpur District: Nabarangpur district was created on 2 October 1992 out of a previous subdivision of Koraput District. Until then Koraput District had been the second largest district in India. The history of Nabarangpur is inextricably interlinked with that of Koraput District, with which it shares its language, lifestyle, heritage, flora and fauna and climate.Most of its population is tribal, and most of the land is forested. Situated in the southwest corner of Odisha, it borders Koraput District. Nabarangpur district is situated at 19.14’ latitude and 82.32’ longitude at an average elevation of 1,876 feet (572 m).According to the 2011 census Nabarangpur district has a population of 1,218,762,roughly equal to the nation of Bahrain[4] or the US state of New Hampshire.This gives it a ranking of 390th in India (out of a total of 640).The district has a population density of 230 inhabitants per square kilometre (600/sq mi).Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 18.81%.[3] Nabarangapur has a sex ratio of 1018 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 48.2%.In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nabarangpur one of the country’s 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[2] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).