Displacement Induced Alienation and Ecology: The Rise of Tribal Neo Poverty

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between displacement-induced alienation and ecology inthe tribal region due to development projects. It discusses the socio-cultural alienation of displaced people in tribal areas from a Marxian perspective, such as isolation from traditional social structure, informal economy, mutual cooperation and solidarity, beliefs and practices, and age-old relationship with nature. The advent of the development project led to ecological risk in the backward regions abundantly rich with resources inhabited by tribals, and the tribals had to face the wrath of environmental degradation. The article argues that in the process of social change due to development-induced alienation, it has given rise to ‘Tribal Neo-poverty’ replacing the poverty that existed previously among the tribals.