Regional Disparities in the Socio-economic Status of Tribal Women in India: Evidence from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5)

The socio-economic status of tribal women in India continues to reflect deep regional disparities despite sustained policy efforts towards inclusive development. Differences in education, health and nutrition, employment status, access to basic amenities and asset ownership highlight persistent inequalities across states. The study adopts a quantitative exploratory research approach. A socio-economic index is constructed using principal component analysis to examine regional disparities in the socio-economic status of tribal women across Indian states. Using secondary data from the National Family Health Survey-5 and the Census of India, the current analysis integrates multiple indicators of education, health and economic participation into a single composite measure. The findings reveal pronounced regional disparities, with a clear divide between high-performing northeastern and smaller states and low-performing states in central and eastern India. The results further indicate that differences in social structures, demographic composition and governance frameworks, particularly variations in matrilineal traditions, tribal concentration and constitutional protections, contribute to these regional disparities. The study highlights the need for region-specific policy interventions to promote equitable socio-economic development and the empowerment of tribal women in India.