ABSTRACT
The role of neoliberal strategy of development in facilitating the profit-seeking behaviour of the corporates cannot be undermined. The lands that have been acquired for the development project was once a source of livelihood for the tribals. It was also serving the purpose of collateral, fallback resources. It had also acted as a means of economic and social power through which citizens could claim their rights. Hence, the land acquisition initiated for the development projects resulted not only in the permanent loss of livelihood but has also negatively impacted the achievement in human development among the tribes. This chapter examines, first, the impact of mining-induced displacement on human development among the rural tribal households of Odisha. While the secondary data (mostly time series) collected from MCL offices have shown an optimistic picture of growth among the tribes, the primary data collected from the field survey shows quite a dismal result with regards to tribal’s income, employment, land possession, agricultural and livestock production, physical assets, labour disposition, housing, health, education and other civil rights in the post-displacement period. Second, this chapter further argues that the haphazard implementation of the compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement policy marginalised the tribes. This chapter wants to add a perspective on mining-induced development and displacement by reviewing and analysing the issues and concerns of tribes impacted by mining projects in Odisha.
