DEVELOPMENT AND RESISTANCE: ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE STATE AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES OF ODISHA IN INDIA (original) (raw)

Odisha is one of the backward States of India. It however possesses vast deposits of various valuable minerals and other resources, which remained unutilized and underutilized due to various reasons. The State saw the setting up of large development projects like multipurpose river valley projects-Hirakud Dam, Rengali, Upper Kolab, Indravati, Subarnarekha etc. Large industries -Rourkela Steel Plant, NALCO, HAL, POSCO and the like. Besides several private sector projects have either set up or signed MoUs with the State Government to start their units which include industrial giants Tata, Jindal, Birla, POSCO and others. But what is painful is the large-scale involuntary displacement of weaker sections, particularly the tribals. Statistical data indicates that a large portion of the project affected families belong to the tribal group. Since the tribal belt is invariably rich in mineral deposits, they are affected much by the ongoing power, mining and industrial projects. Therefore these weaker section communities are opposing the ongoing projects. As a result there emerges an encounter between the State and affected Communities.