INITIAL REPORT OF MALKANGIRI DISTRICT

1. Background

The land of dense inaccessible forests, small but beautiful rivers, undulating
plateaus and splendorous rich tribal culture, Malkangiri has its history of human
civilization enrooted to as long as 2500 years back. Prior to the modern
civilization, many mythological episodes took place in and around
Malkangiri.During the reign of Lord Ramachandra, Malkangiri occupied an
important place in the entire ‘Ramayana’. It was the holy river ‘The Tamasa’ and
its environs which encouraged Saint Valmiki to express his internal feelings in
the form of ‘The Ramayana’, the holiest book of the Hindus. This place was
known as “Malyavantagiri” in the Ramayana. Tamasa, the river, flowing out of a
cave has derived its name from a tribal word ‘TANSA’, which means cave. Banks
of this river witnessed the creation of the largest mythology, the Ramayana. One
ancient Shiva Temple now submerged in the Chitrakonda Reservoir was known
as the second Lingaraj of Odisha. This famous Shiva Temple was visited by Sri
Chaitanya Deva during his visit to Nandapur. Existence of a number of Shiva
Temples in and around Malkangiri signifies the fact that the ancient Kings were
Shaivists.

2. About District

Malkangiri District is named after its headquarters town, Malkangiri. During

formation of Odisha Province in 1936, Malkangiri was a ‘Taluk’ of Nabrangpur
sub–division of Koraput District of Odisha. In 1962 it was upgraded to a
subdivision of Koraput District. The present Malkangiri got its identity as an
independent district due to reorganization of districts of Odisha as per a
notification on 1st October, 1992 and with effect from 2nd October 1992.
Covering an area of 5,791 sq. kms, it lays between 17 degree 45’N to 18 degree
40’N latitudes and 81 degree 10’ E to 82 degree E longitude. This District is
sparsely populated with not much of a difference between the numbers of males
and females. Almost the whole of the district is a vast dense jungle, with a very
small percentage of the population residing in the urban areas. The district is
divided into two distinct physical divisions. The eastern part is covered with
steep ghats, platues and valleys, sparsely inhabited by primitive tribes, notable
among who are Bondas, Koyas, Porajas and Didayis. The District is moderately
literate, with the number of literate males far out numbering the number of
literate females. The climate in the district is generally cold during winter and
hot in summer with temperature ranging from 13 degree C to 47 degree C. The
average annual rainfall is about 1700 mm. Relative humidity is generally high,
especially in the monsoon and post–monsoon months. During the rainy season,
most areas of the District become impassably swampy and heavy floods isolate
it from the outer world. This district lies within the malaria prone belt.

3. Demographic Details
Description Number Description Number
Area 5791 Sub-Divisions 01
No. of Tehsils 07 No. of Zilla Parishad 01
No. of Panchayat 07 No. of Gram 111
Samiti Panchayat
No. of Municipal 1 No. of Notified Area 1
Corporation Council
Total Population 109092 No. of Villages 1055
Total Males 54770 Total Females 54322
Urban Males 3507 Urban Females 3320
Rural Males 51263 Rural Females 51002
Males (SC) 7305 Females (SC) 6967
Males (ST) 21738 Females (ST) 23584
Literacy Rate Males 59.07 Literacy Rate 40.14
Females
Sex Ratio 1020 Density 106
(Females per 1000 (Total Persons Per
Males) sq. km)

The literacy percentage of the district covers 48.54. There were 821 primary
schools, 369 middle schools, 128 secondary schools, 01 diploma colleges, 26
general colleges in the district.
[Source: District statistical Handbook, Malkangiri, Odisha]

4. Livelihood
5. Industry

The main objective of the District Industries Centre (DIC) is to promote and facilitate the

growth of Micro, Small and Medium enterprises as well as Handicraft and Cottage

industries.

Industry by 2010-11:
SN Head Particulars
1. REGISTERED INDUSTRIAL UNIT 1901
2. REGISTERED MEDIUM & LARGE UNIT Nil
3. EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES 7307
4. EMPLOYMENT IN LARGE AND MEDIUM INDUSTRIES Nil
5. NO. OF INDUSTRIAL AREA/GROWTH CENTRES Nil
6. TOTAL INVESTMENT IN PLANT & MACHINERY IN SMALL SCALE 6862.77
INDUSTRIES
7. TOTAL INVESTMENT IN MEDIUM & LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIES Nil
(Source: Directorate of Industries, Government of Odisha, Cuttack and District at a Glance, 2020
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Odisha)

Details of existing Micro & Small Enterprises and Artisan Units:

Type of Industry No. of units Investment (in lakh) Employment
Food & Allied 137 1092.92 644
Chemical & Allied 4 9.68 14
Electrical & Electronics 2 1.7 5
Engineering & Metal based 35 145.32 163
Forest and Wood based 4 9.75 17
Glass and Ceramics 5 83.86 39
Live Stock & Leather 0 0 0
Paper & Paper Product 3 8.27 13
Rubber & Plastics 5 9.83 19
Textiles 44 101.46 262
Misc. Manufacturing 10 36.18 45
Repairing & Servicing 241 480.76 797
(Source: Directorate of Industries, Government of Odisha, Cuttack)
6. Potentials areas

7. Prospects of Capacity Building/ Skilling programme

1. Cyber Café
2. DTP & Screen Printing
3. Repairing of TV & Electrical Appliances
4. Laundry & Cleaning
5. Watch/Clock Repairing
6. Beauty Parlour
 7. Modern Garage
8. Photo Binding
9. General Fabrication

8. Connectivity
By Air:-

By Rail:-

By Road:-
9. District Map