Proliferation of Tribal Migrants and Repercussion: Case Study from the Tribal Areas of Sundargarh District, Odisha (India)

Abstract

The trends of migration introduce since human history, determined by their socio-economic conditions, culturally connection, political impediments and habitant circumstances. Migration is an inevitable element of human life, mostly believed to take place in search of a better livelihood, employment opportunities etc. But, a country like India, experiences different folds of human mobility due to its acute population, economic disparities and lack of employment opportunities. The study has structured the attitude of Tribal labour migrants of Sundargarh District, Odisha, a highly tribal populated region, a symbol of naturally attached to their land and forest. It has taken effort to trace down different driving factors leading to perpetual tribal migration from their ancestral land to different urban regions of the country. It has further analysed the socio-economic conditions at the place of their origin and destination to understand different nature and trends of migration among the rural tribals. This study has conducted intensive fieldwork in four selected blocks of Sundargarh district of Odisha, and primarily recorded to examine the socio-economic conditions of the tribals and their perception regarding migration. It also reveals some of the experiences of the respondents concerning their migration. The study finally finds that the migration among tribals is more a result of compulsion than a choice to have a better livelihood. Indeed, these poor tribals not only experience a tough life but also often prone to human rights violation in their new destination, just earn to tide over their distress situation, but no ways help to accumulate capital.