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The name of the district ‘Kandhamal’ is derived from the name of its major inhabitants Kandhas. Being Dravidians, they were in this hilly tract of the country before the advent of the Aryans. They have been classified under the ancient Gondid race of the Proto-Australoid group, which according to scholars like Risley, preceded the Aryans by many thousand years. The undivided district of Boudh Phulabani was created in the year, 1948 with two sub-divisions, Boudh and Kandhamal, having the headquarters at Phulabani. These two subdivisions formed two districts, namely, Boudh and Kandhamal vide Notification No.DRC-218/93/ 56413/R dated 22.12.1993 and Notification No.44250-DRC.136/94 dated 13.10.1994 respectively. The present Kandhamal district has been carved out of the erstwhile Boudh-Phulabani district, consisting of one Sub-division Kandhamal. The Marathas occupied the BoudhKandhamal region in 1800 A.D. and it remained under the rule of the Bhonsla Raja of Nagpur. But in the middle of the 19th century when Khonds rose in rebellion under Chakra Bisoyee, the Raja failed to enforce law and order in that territory and later the Kandhamals were brought under the administration of the British in February 1835. The Kandhamals were made a Subdivision of the district of Anugul in 1891 and in 1904 Phulabani was made the sub-divisional headquarters. The district Kandhamal is one of the centrally located districts of Orissa and lies between 19045' and 20030' North latitudes and 83045' and 84030' East longitudes. It is bounded by Baudh district on the north, Rayagada, Gajapati & Ganjam districts on the south, Nayagarh and Ganjam districts on the east and Kalahandi & Balangir districts on the west. The district having an area of 8021 sq. kms. is situated at a distance of 211 kms. from the state hqrs, Bhubaneswar. The district of Kandhamal is one of the new created districts carved out of the old Phulbani district. It has a population of 6.48 lakh of which 49.8 percent are males and 50.2 percent females. The area of the district is 8021 sq.km and thus density is 81 per sq.km. The population growth is 1.86 annually averaged over the decade of 1991-2001. Urban population of the district 132 Orissa Review (Census Special) December - 2010 constitute 6.8 percent of total population. The Scheduled Caste population is 16.89 percent of total population and major caste group are Pan Pano (77.92), Ghasi etc. (4.49) and Haddi etc. (3.96 percent) among the Scheduled Castes. Similarly the Scheduled Tribe population is 51.96 percent of total and Major Tribe’s group indicated lot percentage of the total Tribes are Khond etc. (93.33 percent), Gond etc. (2.99 percent) and Kotia (1.05 percent). Hindu population constitute 81.42 percent of total, Christians (18.2 percent) and Muslim (0.35 percent) are very insignificant group. The main towns of the district are Phulabani (NAC) (33,890), and G.Udayagiri (NAC) (10,204). The sex ratio for the population as a whole is 1008 females per 1000 males and that of 0-6 years 970 females per 1000 males. The age distribution reflects 0-4 year’s age group constitute 12.29 percent and the old age group (60+ and ANS) is 6.53 percent. The working age population (15-59 years) are 54.84 percent of total population. Total workers constitute 47.24 percent of the total population. Of the workers 57.52 percent are main workers and 42.48 percent marginal workers. The total literacy rate is 52.68 percent out of which male literacy rate is 69.68 percent and female literacy rate is 35.86. Looking at education levels attained, it is revealed that the literates 1.99 percent are without any level. Below primary levels constitute 36.99, Primary 29.63 percent and Middle group 14.45 percent. Those having Matric/Higher Secondary/Diploma are 13.51 percent and Graduate and above group 3.43 percent. The district has 1.45 lakh of households and the average household size is 4 persons per household. Permanent houses are occupied by only 21.4 percent of households, 58.5 percent houses occupied are temporary and 20.1 semipermanent houses. Total number of villages of the district are 2546 of which 2,379 villages are inhabited. The number of towns are two. Of the villages 95.08 percent have safe drinking water facilities. Electricity is available in 26.82 percent villages. Of the villages 23.58 percent use it for domestic purposes and 1.39 percent put it for agricultural use. Primary Schools are available in 59.98 villages but only 10.42 have a Middle School and 4.96 percent have a Secondary/Senior Secondary School, College having available only in 0.21 percent of villages. Communication facilities like Post, Telegraph etc. available in 21.65 percent of villages. Medical facility is available in 6.89 percent of villages. Bus services are available in 16.02 percent of villages but 18.16 percent villages have Paved approach road and 76.71 percent mud approach road. The district need substantial improvement in at least all development indicators except safe drinking water facility. Demographically it has higher growth rate compared to the state. Sex ratio reflects female advantage but the lower level in 0-6 years is an indication for major turnaround. Christian population are of substantially high proportion so also the Tribals. The district is one of the least urbanised. Improvement of literacy particularly of females is yet another concern area. The smaller size of the household relatively reflects tendency of breaking of families which may be a major concern area for development of the district.