Educational deprivation in primitive tribal groups: A case study of Karnataka

India is one of the major countries having large concentration of tribal groups in the world. Among the tribals, the primitive tribal groups (PGTs) are highly vulnerable. These groups are still isolated from the mainstream of civilized society. They are small in number and are still having pre-agricultural technology. The rate of literacy among them is extremely low. The Government of India constituted several committees to suggest measures for the welfare and development of the tribes during different plan periods. Both the government and non-governmental organisations have implemented several policies and programmes for the upliftment of the tribals. But the result is not very significant and encouraging because of rigid traditional aspects of the tribals. Sometimes their dwelling places would be beyond reachable. The present paper examines the educational status and understand the reasons for low rate of literacy in two identified primitive tribal groups of Karnataka State viz. Jenu Kuruba and Koraga.