The districts of Southern and Western Odisha are regarded as the most backward region by the planning commission, which re-designated some of these districts as KBK (Kalahandi - Balangir - Koraput). During 1992 - 93, the three larger districts were re-organized into eight districts viz. Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabrangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nuapada, Balangir and Sonepur. These eight districts comprise 14 Subdivisions, 37 Tehsils, 80 CD Blocks, 1,437 Gram Panchayats and 12,293 villages. The eight districts which form the KBK region account for 19.72 % of the population and occupy over 30.59 % geographical area of the State. Around 90 % of the people of this region still live in villages. Female literacy is only 24.72 %. As per the 1997 census of BPL families, about 72 % families are below poverty line among those who live in this region which was 82 % during 1992 census. More specifically, 49 CD Blocks of KBK districts are regarded as "very backward '' and 28 CD Blocks are considered as "backward ''. Persistent crop failure, lack of access to the basic service and entitlements, starvation, malnutrition and migration are the leading manifestations in the region.
the kbk belt is an endemic poverty zone located in
The districts of Southern and Western Odisha