<P> 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 . </P>
the kbk belt is an endemic poverty zone located in
The districts of Southern and Western Odisha