The Jatapu people are a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Jatapus are an Adivasi tribe and are traditionally pastoral farmers. Through acculturation the Jatapus speak Odia and Telugu and have in many ways adopted the culture of the surrounding Odia people and Telugu people. There were over one million Jatapus in 1991. Jatapu people were earlier primarily forest dwellers and were evidenced in the hill areas in Vizianagaram district particularly in the Mandals of GL Puram ,Kurupam and Komarada along with their populations present in the neighbouring state of Odisha with populations residing in the Rayagada and Gajapati districts. Some of the alternate and interchangeable names by which the Jatapu are also known as are Chatriya; Jadapu; Jatapu Dora; Khond; Kui Dora; Kuvinga; Pandara Kula; Samanthula; जातापू They largely speak in Kuvi amongst themselves and also are users of the Odia, Telegu langauges to communicate with local communities.