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The Ho people are a tribe of people belonging to the Indian state of Jharkhand.
They are the fourth most numerous scheduled tribe Jharkhand after Santals, Oraons, and Mundas, and constitute around 10.5 percent of the total population in the state, numbering 7,087,068 (total in the state) in the 2001 census. Although not mentioned in the census highlights Orissa[2] or West Bengal[3] small groups could be present, as the territory they inhabit in Jharkhand borders these two states. According to an American publication, total number of people speaking the Ho language was 1,077,000 in 1997. There were 200,000 people speaking the language in Orissa.
As per the 2001 census, Hos have an overall literacy rate of 39.2% and a female literacy rate of 23.9%. This is against the overall literacy rate of 53.56% in Jharkhand, and a women’s literacy rate of 38.87% in Jharkhand. Both are amongst the lowest literacy rates in India.[9]
Percentage of school-going children in the age group 5 –14 years was 37.6. This is a far cry from UNESCO’s call of education for all by 2015.
Among the Hos 19.7% have completed schooling and 3.1% are graduates.
In the 2001 census, 91 per cent of the Hos declared that they professed ‘other religions and persuations’.They follow the 'Sarna' religion. This means that they did not declare themselves to belong to any of the major religious groups and follow their own religious systems. Religion plays an important part in the life of tribals. Their beliefs in gods, goddesses and spirits are ingrained in them from childhood. The religion of the Hos resembles, to a great extent that of Santals, Oraons, Mundas and other tribals in the region. All religious rituals are performed by the village priest, deuri. However, he is not required to propitiate malevolent spirits or deities. The spirit doctor deona takes care of this.
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