Meena (pronounced [miːɳa]) is a tribe from northern and western India. The community is sometimes considered a sub-group of the Bhil community. The Meena were accorded the status of a Scheduled Tribe by the Government of India in 1954.
| Name | Meena |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [miːɳa] |
| Type | Tribal community |
| Region | Northern and western India |
| Associated community | Sometimes regarded as a sub-group of the Bhil |
| Scheduled Tribe status | Granted in 1954 by the Government of India |
The Meena are a community found primarily in the northern and western regions of India. While they have a distinct identity, certain ethnographic accounts have grouped them as a sub-group within the broader Bhil community, with which they share regional and cultural affinities.
In 1954, the Government of India formally recognised the Meena as a Scheduled Tribe. This designation entitles members of the community to constitutional safeguards and affirmative-action provisions available to Scheduled Tribes in India.
As a Scheduled Tribe spread across multiple states of northern and western India, the Meena form one of the larger tribal communities of the region. Their classification and relationship with the Bhil community has been a subject of ethnographic discussion.