Dang is a tribal city, which is located in the Dang district in the state of Gujarat in India. The administrative headquarters of the district is situated in Ahwa. It has an area of 1764 km² and a population of 186,729 (as per 2001 India census). The city mostly consists of forest area with three major rivers, Puma, Ambika and Sarpagandha, flowing in the region. Dang lies about 200 kilometers north of metropolitan Mumbai.
Dang exists in the Saputara range on the eastern side near the hills of Thane district and forests. The forests of Dharampur of Valsad district lies to its east. The Vansda-Dang forests are present in the east of Bilimora, where as to the west is the straight coastline and forest strip.
Dang is also known as ‘The Dangs’ which literally means a hilly terrain. There is also another representation of the word Dangs, which means a place of Bamboo. In ancient Indian scriptures, Dang was known as Dand Aranyaka, meaning Bamboo Forest. Dang was even known as “Dakaranya or Dandak” during the period of Ramayana.
Dang is a vital city of Gujarat from various points of view. It is a hilly forestland and the Adivasi (tribal) life adds one more dimension to Gujarat's existing diverse lifestyles. Although the city no longer represents its former glory, the nearby natural beauty is still the same like before. The city’s backward tribal population, mostly Bhil community, is deserted but has made tremendous progress in recent times.
Surpassing 1788 Sq. Km. in a scenic valley popular for its spacious and huge teak forests, Dang is a city that has an overall literacy rate of 38%, which is the second lowest among 24 districts in Gujarat. Almost 100% of the population lives in the countryside who are considered to be just above the subsistence level by cultivating local variants of millet and other seed crops. However, Dang is also a district in itself with nearly 311 villages electrified and connected with optimum number of black top roads. Dang is regarded as the abode of tribal’s which are- Varli, Kukna, Bhil, Nayaka and Kotvariya. The city exists amidst completely covered dense forests named- Mahal, Kalibal, Galkund, Don, Waghai and Pipaldahad.
Dang is 100% tribal district declared by the Economic Times and also it was one of the most backward districts among top 20 in India detailed in the bulletin of Planning Commission. But Dangis (word in commonplace known for local residents) have begun shedding extreme poverty by choosing mixed crops in their formal agricultural procedures. Dangis are far beyond the other tribal’s of India. They have implemented innovative ways of cultivating their farms and youth of the community has begun selecting jobs in service sector. Moreover, most of the tribal’s in eastern segment do relocate in search of better jobs, yet their thirst for education; lifestyle and search for consistency have made them to move up the ladder in an ascending manner.
Dang contains several protected forests that the Dangis are allowed to use for cultivation and residence. An attempt to bring latest cash flow to tribal’s from sustainable use of resources has been formalized successfully, through the MALIKI scheme of cultivating and ensuring the logging and plantation of teak and bamboo variants, on a rotational mode to increase conservation and make forest trees based incomes realizable. There is an enhanced requirement to settle their immediate problems connecting to higher education, technical education and issues connecting the areas of new creation of opportunities in the services sector.