Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
In the modern world, the demand for mineral products is significantly increasing, which attracts many investors to invest in mineral extraction. Most of the mineral deposits are in tribal-dominated areas that are being affected by resource extraction activities. Odisha, a mineral-rich state, has become a favourite destination for investors. Most of the local livings are tribals who depend on the hill’s natural resources as their traditional livelihood. The local tribals protested for their rights in religious places near the mine to protect traditional livelihood and to save the natural environment. This article attempts to understand how the local indigenous groups and others are motivated to join the resistance movement and also examines the present status of pushing factors. It also focuses on how the indigenous groups, activists and other organizations made the movement successful. Eventually, the state government had to withdraw the project because of the strong leadership, selfless dedication and sacrifice of local tribals, well-planned strategies of the activists and global–national–local supports to save the environment.
Author Archives: Baijayanti Rout
Local Economy and Forest-based Livelihood in Gandhamardan Region of Western Odisha
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Natural forests play a key role in maintaining the planet’s ecosystems and are also crucial to rural livelihoods, particularly in less developed nations. Indigenous groups still need access to contemporary conveniences and possibilities for employment in remote parts of less developed nations. As a result, the use of forests significantly contributes to household subsistence and income. The economic impact of forest resources on the millions of rural households close to forests has recently been the research focus. This study aims to quantify the distributional influence of forest revenue on economic inequality among rural families in the Gandhamardan Hill area of the Balangir and Bargarh districts of Odisha. It also sought to ascertain absolute and relative forest income. The primary data or information were gathered by utilizing focus groups, direct interviews, structured household-level surveys, and key informant interviews. The results showed that 61.9% of the households in the sample engaged in activities related to the forest. Most of the local population participates in agriculture and forestry as the main source of livelihood. After agriculture revenue, forest income represented the second-most significant income portfolio. The income share for bushmeat was larger than the income share for other forest products. The economic disparity among the studied families was reduced by forest income. Therefore, restricting forest access would negatively affect rural people’s welfare and widen economic gaps. The knowledge from the current study is crucial for creating sustainable forest management policies and strategies that will preserve and increase the economic value of using forests without jeopardizing biodiversity preservation.
Natural forests play a key role in maintaining the planet’s ecosystems and are also crucial to rural livelihoods, particularly in less developed nations. Indigenous groups still need access to contemporary conveniences and possibilities for employment in remote parts of less developed nations. As a result, the use of forests significantly contributes to household subsistence and income. The economic impact of forest resources on the millions of rural households close to forests has recently been the research focus. This study aims to quantify the distributional influence of forest revenue on economic inequality among rural families in the Gandhamardan Hill area of the Balangir and Bargarh districts of Odisha. It also sought to ascertain absolute and relative forest income. The primary data or information were gathered by utilizing focus groups, direct interviews, structured household-level surveys, and key informant interviews. The results showed that 61.9% of the households in the sample engaged in activities related to the forest. Most of the local population participates in agriculture and forestry as the main source of livelihood. After agriculture revenue, forest income represented the second-most significant income portfolio. The income share for bushmeat was larger than the income share for other forest products. The economic disparity among the studied families was reduced by forest income. Therefore, restricting forest access would negatively affect rural people’s welfare and widen economic gaps. The knowledge from the current study is crucial for creating sustainable forest management policies and strategies that will preserve and increase the economic value of using forests without jeopardizing biodiversity preservation.
Environmental Movements in Odisha: A Perspective on Mining
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
This article attempts to discuss various protest movements especially issues related to mining in Odisha. Although Odisha is a mineral-rich state, the article only discussed the environmental movement interlinked with mining in Odisha. This article also focuses on the nature, strategies, outcomes, and situations of different environmental movements in Odisha. The important environmental movements interlinked with mining issues are discussed such as the Kalinganagar movement, the anti-POSCO movement, Kashipur (UAIL) movement, the Niyamgiri movement, and the BALCO movement of Odisha.
This article attempts to discuss various protest movements especially issues related to mining in Odisha. Although Odisha is a mineral-rich state, the article only discussed the environmental movement interlinked with mining in Odisha. This article also focuses on the nature, strategies, outcomes, and situations of different environmental movements in Odisha. The important environmental movements interlinked with mining issues are discussed such as the Kalinganagar movement, the anti-POSCO movement, Kashipur (UAIL) movement, the Niyamgiri movement, and the BALCO movement of Odisha.
How did COVID-19 Pandemic Affect the Rural (Tribal) Livelihoods? A Case Study of Khaprakhol Block
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The COVID-19 epidemic has devastated human existence over the planet, shocking people with the new sickness and almost bringing countries to their knees. It was a never-before-seen scene of limited human movements and changing behaviours. Although the good consequences benefit the environment and wild animals by reducing pollution, the adverse effects have a direct impact on the economic status of human beings. The situation was new to all living beings, and difficulties were generated globally, irrespective of rural and urban. The study attempts to discover the key problems of the rural people faced during the lockdown and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their livelihoods. This article also aims to figure out the difficulties faced by rural living for their livelihood. This study is based on primary data and the data collected from the rural living of Balangir (khaprakhol block) district of Odisha. The data collection method was based on random sampling, and a total number of 100 rural living households were interviewed. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and suitable statistical tools. The outcome of this study is that rural living has faced movement difficulties and trouble for getting work. It has been witnessed that they could not get the marketing facilities to sell their agricultural products. Moreover, rural households were paid higher prices for daily stuff in their locality or village shops. As a result, it was a terrible period for them since employment and money resources made it possible to cope with the increased market price of everyday items. Though the study area is near the forest area and situated in the foothill of Gandhamardan hill, most of the local people depend on forest products as their source of income. The collection of forest products is also affected badly during the collection season by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Regardless of the movement concerns, they were unable to work. Due to employment loss, the disturbance altered the dietary and nutrition profile of rural residents. At the same time, they claimed that MGNREGS work was ongoing but that it was not preferable to work owing to late payment to the bank account. Finally, this article focuses on the rural residents’ livelihoods, which were negatively impacted by the lockdown, and job loss was a constraint for them during the lockdown.
The COVID-19 epidemic has devastated human existence over the planet, shocking people with the new sickness and almost bringing countries to their knees. It was a never-before-seen scene of limited human movements and changing behaviours. Although the good consequences benefit the environment and wild animals by reducing pollution, the adverse effects have a direct impact on the economic status of human beings. The situation was new to all living beings, and difficulties were generated globally, irrespective of rural and urban. The study attempts to discover the key problems of the rural people faced during the lockdown and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their livelihoods. This article also aims to figure out the difficulties faced by rural living for their livelihood. This study is based on primary data and the data collected from the rural living of Balangir (khaprakhol block) district of Odisha. The data collection method was based on random sampling, and a total number of 100 rural living households were interviewed. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and suitable statistical tools. The outcome of this study is that rural living has faced movement difficulties and trouble for getting work. It has been witnessed that they could not get the marketing facilities to sell their agricultural products. Moreover, rural households were paid higher prices for daily stuff in their locality or village shops. As a result, it was a terrible period for them since employment and money resources made it possible to cope with the increased market price of everyday items. Though the study area is near the forest area and situated in the foothill of Gandhamardan hill, most of the local people depend on forest products as their source of income. The collection of forest products is also affected badly during the collection season by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Regardless of the movement concerns, they were unable to work. Due to employment loss, the disturbance altered the dietary and nutrition profile of rural residents. At the same time, they claimed that MGNREGS work was ongoing but that it was not preferable to work owing to late payment to the bank account. Finally, this article focuses on the rural residents’ livelihoods, which were negatively impacted by the lockdown, and job loss was a constraint for them during the lockdown.