Geographic Area
Panchmahals District is situated in the eastern region of Gujarat. This district is ranked the most backward district of Gujarat and eighth of the country. The total population of the Panchmahals is 2 024 883 (Census 2001), which is 4 % of the total of Gujarats population. The population is predominantly rural and the area is characterized by erratic rainfall and undulating terrain with poor and shallow soil conditions. The average annual rainfall is less then 988 mm. A substantial amount of the working area lies in wasteland.
According to the District Gazetteer, the main tribe is Bhil. However, with the reclassification of castes and tribes, most of the tribal in the taluka consider themselves as falling in the category of OBC or Other Backward Castes. As is characteristic in most tribal areas, the homesteads are scattered. The typical village consists of six to eight hamlets (locally known as falias) and is often spread over 4-5 kilometers. The land holdings in the area are small, a majority of the villagers own less than one acre of land.