Impact of displacement and rehabilitation on the social structure of the Paraja tribe of Odisha

Abstract

Development induced displacement of human communities is one of the major social destructive processes happening all over the world. Among the various impacts of large development projects, the displacement by large river valley projects in forested and tribal areas is a devastating one. Keeping this in mind, this research paper tries to explore and understand the changes that have taken place within the social structure of the Paraja community due to the displacement caused by the Upper Kolab Multipurpose Dam Project in Koraput district of Odisha. It further studied the holistic Paraja tribe in the realm of their socio-economic, political, and religious organizations, the changes that have occurred in the family, marriage, and kinship structure of the Parajas after displacement and rehabilitation from the upper Kolab Project. Changes also occurred in the occupation, income level, consumption pattern, and assets of the Parajas after their rehabilitation to a new place and the impact of displacement on Parajas’ traditional political organization and religious customs and traditions.