Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This paper, based on an empirical study, focuses on how development measures and associated environmental impacts have brought drastic changes in the lives of tribal women in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, India. The economy of Bastar district was majorly based on agriculture and forest produce. In the last few years several industrial projects have come up. Forest degradation due to mining and other development projects has significantly depleted the ecosystem rendering the tribal population more socially and economically vulnerable. The impact has been higher on tribal women. Traditionally the tribal woman had decision making power in the family as the community sustained itself on the natural resources. Non-timber forest produce formed a major source of income for tribal communities under study. Tribal woman, earlier the family decision maker who controlled production as a part of its economy, are now prohibited from owning land without the support of male family members. The increased government control of forests and minor forest produce are adversely affecting livelihoods, especially women. Further, with transfer of land ownership by government to male members, woman seizes to be the main decision maker in the family economy. Due to change in economics aided by development, she lacks the freedom to spend money as per her wishes. With this shift of authority the instances of alcoholism and wife abuse are also on the rise. Thus, there is deterioration in status of tribal women viz. from higher to lower status and from independence to complete dependence.