Chhattisgarh Agriculture & Tribal Struggles: A  Critical Study

Sujita Sinha

Sujita Sinha Research Scholar, Department of Geography, ISBM University, Gariaband, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

This article delves into the intricate relationship between the evolving agricultural landscape of Chhattisgarh and the socio-economic challenges faced by its tribal communities. It examines the historical context of tribal dependence on natural resources, particularly water, forests, and land, and how modernization and developmental projects have disrupted traditional agricultural practices. Through a critical analysis of government policies, local conflicts, and the impact of climate change, the study highlights the increasing vulnerabilities of tribal populations. It further explores the role of tribal women in agriculture, the challenges in education and healthcare, and the representation of tribal issues in media and cinema. The article emphasizes the need for sustainable agricultural practices, the preservation of tribal languages and cultures, and the empowerment of tribal communities through political representation and legal rights. It argues for a holistic approach that integrates traditional knowledge with modern advancements to ensure the well-being and resilience of Chhattisgarh’s tribal societies.

References

1. Berkes F. Sacred Ecology: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Resource Management. London: Taylor
& Francis; 2012.
2. Niezen R. The Origins of Indigenism: Human Rights and the Politics of Identity. Berkeley (CA): University
of California Press; 2003.
3. Cruikshank J. The Social Life of Stories: Narrative and Knowledge in the Yukon Territory. Lincoln (NE):
University of Nebraska Press; 1998.
4. Morphy H. Aboriginal Art. London: Phaidon Press; 1998.
5. Wolfe P. Settler colonialism and the elimination of the native. J Genocide Res. 2006;8(4):387–409.
6. Coulthard G. Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition. Minneapolis (MN):
University of Minnesota Press; 2014.
7. Chambers R. Rural Development: Putting the Last First. Harlow: Longman Scientific & Technical; 1983.
8. Bryant RL, Bailey SG. Third World Political Ecology.
London: Routledge; 1997.
9. Howard C. Women and Plants: Gender Relations in Biodiversity Management and Conservation. London:
Zed Books; 2003.
10. Stephens C, Nettleton C, Porter J, Willis R. Disappearing, displaced, and undervalued: a call to action for
indigenous health. Lancet. 2005;366(9492):1331–3.