Abstract

India is one of the emerging economic superpowers of the world. After the liberalization and structural adjustments of 1990s, the Indian economy has emerged stronger than before. It has enormous potential which is recognized by the current political leadership and the corporations who see a high profit value in India’s cheap labor and natural resources. The indigenous people in India are one of the most deprived sections where the rates of poverty, malnutrition and displacement are the highest. Historically oppressed by the State and its agents—they have been the victims of the development process. Currently there has been a widespread resistance movement by the tribal population aimed at the State. The purpose of this paper is twofold: 1) it delves into a deeper understanding of the history of the indigenous people and the policies of development in India. 2) It contextualizes the current state of civil war that is ongoing in these tribal areas and critically analyzes gender in that background with regards to internal displacement, economic security and threat to life and safety.