Development Projects And Displaced Tribals: An Empirical Study

Abstract

More than 2 crore people have so far been displaced on account of development projects in this country. In the state of Odisha, approximately 10 lakh people have so far been physically uprooted losing their home and hearth and shattering their culture as well as kinship linkages built over several centuries. Conservative estimate reveals that about 30 percent of the total displaced people belong to the tribal category in Odisha. Further it has also been revealed from the empirical studies that majority of the people displaced on account of development projects have invariably failed to restore and regain their former standards of livelihood. There has been trend change of displacement in Odisha from the first decade of 21st century onwards. In fact, with the introduction of industrial promotion resolution 2001, large number of industrial houses have shown interest in the state and about 50 Business Houses have started setting up their establishments, mostly in the tribal pockets. Thus, more and more number of tribal people will be affected as well as displaced now onwards. Conservative estimate reveals that on account of these ongoing as well as pipeline projects, more than 80 percent of the total displaced and affected will be from the tribal category alone. It is an admitted fact that Tribals are more vulnerable in the wake of industrialization and they need a separate deal to ensure restoration of their livelihood in the newly relocated sites. Keeping the aforementioned situation in view, this book has been entirely devoted to some empirical studies and articles by very important as well as experienced R&R specialists and it is hoped that the papers which have been included in this edited volume can be extremely helpful and provide clues for formulating appropriate strategies for sustainable livelihood restoration of the displaced tribals on account of development projects in the state of Odisha and elsewhere in the country.