Educational and Economic Backwardness of Scheduled Tribe Women in Marathwada: Causes

This paper examines the educational and economic challenges faced by Scheduled Tribe (ST) women in Marathwada, a region in Maharashtra, India. Drawing from Primary and secondary sources, it identifies key factors such as geographical isolation, poverty, cultural norms, and inadequate infrastructure contributing to their backwardness. Despite government initiatives, persistent gender disparities in literacy and employment limit empowerment, with female literacy rates often below 65% and economic reliance on subsistence agriculture. Child marriage is very common in Scheduled areas in marathwada. Transportation facilities are very less connected to urban areas. Majority of ST people are unemployed and depends on hunting and fishing.