Katthiwada Development Block (KDB) is in the South of Jhabua District, M. P., bordering Gujarat. M.P. belongs to the group of lesser developed states in India, so called BiMaRU - Bihar (and Jharkand), Madhya Pradesh (and Chattisgarh), Rajasthsan, Uttar Pradesh (and Uttaranchal). Also the Tribal Belt of India passes through these states. Jhabua is among the more backward districts of M.P. and KDB again ranked at the bottom of Jhabua.

The Western spur of the Vindhya Mountains pass through KDB. So most of the block is hilly to mountainous terrain. Only a few villages are in the plains of Orsang River, draining to Narmada River.

KDB is among the development blocks with the highest percentage of tribals in its population from all over India. It consists of 125 villages in 49 Panchayats (village government), three of these villages are uninhabited. 85% are tribals (Bhilala, Dhanuk and Nayka), in three villages are Harijan colonies, the rest are Hindus, Muslims and Christians. In five villages the Haat Bazaar (weekly market) is held, where almost everybody from the surrounding villages is gathering for shopping and socializing.

Tribals - although officially considered as Hindus - have social and religious traditions destinctively different from mainstream Hinduism. The different tribes originate from individual forefathers and are positioned below the general caste system, just above the Harijans (Untouchables). They mainly dwell in remote, less fertile areas. Their main livelihoods are collection of minor forest produce, rainfed agriculture and unskilled labour jobs. For the latter they have to migrate, from Katthiwada mainly to Gujarat. Their educational level and health stati are very low, malnutrition is rampant.

The vast majority of the population earns its livelihood with agriculture, collection of forest produce and unskilled labour jobs. Up to almost 100% of the adults in some villages have to migrate during the year to earn their living. Governmental jobs like teachers, kindergarten workers, health workers, forest guards, police etc. are much sought after. But as the education level is so low the more demanding functions have to be filled from outside. There are some handicrafts like bamboo-processing for household needs, simple metal works, carpentry, tailors and pottery for household and worshipping. Small shops for everyday needs are in all villages. Tourism is negligible and industry non-existent. Katthiwada is known for its mango - in fact the world's biggest Mangos are growing here.

The public infrastructure is poor, although a steady improvement throughout the years is visible. Only few roads have an asphalt layer, which is quite often in a pitiable condition. Most of the villages are connected by dirt roads, several are still only reachable on foot paths. Electricity has not reached everywhere, in average the power cuts are longer than 12 hours per day and the voltage is low. Telephone services are also not reaching everywhere. Due to the lack of adequately trained teachers and malnutrition the learning results of the students are very low. The health services are not completely functioning as many posts are vacant and the remaining staff is overburdened. Governmental staff quite often still behaves with the population like the Britishers during their colonial time, corruption is rampant.