Overview

Livelihood, Marginalisation, and the Development Paradox among Tribal Communities offers a comprehensive exploration of the persistent socio-economic, cultural, and political marginalisation of tribal communities in India, with a focused case study on the Kani communities of Kuttichal Grama Panchayat, Kerala. Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of social exclusion, subaltern, and intersectionality, the book critically interrogates the paradox of development, wherein state-led welfare initiatives coexist with enduring deprivation and marginalisation. The study situates tribal marginalisation within both global and national contexts, highlighting the structural inequalities Indigenous and tribal peoples face in accessing resources, education, livelihoods, and the benefits of development. Drawing on extensive field-based research across 27 settlements, the book explores how multiple intersecting social, economic, and political factors constrain agency and shape opportunities. It also scrutinizes the implications of the Kerala Model of Development, revealing how the state's high human development indicators can obscure persistent inequities among tribal populations. A key strength of this work lies in its integrative approach, combining micro-level ethnographic insights with macro-level policy analysis. This work elucidates the livelihood-development paradox, exposing the disjunction between policy intentions and the lived realities of the Kani communities. The volume is an invaluable resource for academics, students, policymakers, and development practitioners in Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, and Tribal Studies who are committed to advancing social justice and more equitable models of Indigenous development.

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9789347436635

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Nithya N.R is an Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Kerala. She is serving as the Honorary Director of the V.K. Sukumaran Nayar Chair for Parliamentary Affairs and Joint Director of the International Centre for Marxian Studies and Research. Dr. Nithya obtained her M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kerala and was an ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellow. She is a member of several university committees at the University of Kerala. She has made notable contributions to academic governance, curriculum development, and higher education quality assurance. She is a member of the Research Admission and Advisory Committee for Research Scholars, as well as the Board of Studies in Political Science at the University of Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru Open University, and the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Dr. Nithya supervises election surveys conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi. She specialises in Political Theory, Post-Colonial Studies, Human Rights and Public Administration. Committed to social inclusion and civic engagement, Dr. Nithya coordinates Tribal Adoption, Constitutional Literacy, and Human Rights Awareness initiatives at the University of Kerala. She has participated and presented papers in International and National Seminars, published Books with National publishers, contributed chapters in Edited Books and published articles in reputed and UGC Care-listed journals. In addition to her research pursuits, she serves as a peer reviewer for academic journals indexed in the UGC-CARE and Scopus databases.

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