SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TRIBAL REMITTANCE AND NTFP GATHERERS FAMILY OF SCHEDULED AREA DISTRICTS OF ODISHA

Abstract

The deadly virus COVID-19 pandemic created emergency situation throughout the world by bringing worst misery to the health, economy, livelihood, occupation and social life of the people. The virus infected more than 24.9 crores of population and 50.0 lakhs precious human life were lost with a huge damage of economy and livelihood. Millions of people become unemployed and thousands of migrants returned their home for joblessness. To reduce the rate of infection the worldwide lock-down and shut-down situation arrested the production, economic activity and market, which affected highly to the small and middle income households. Like other remittance and wage labour households the tribal migrant families were also the worst sufferer by the pandemic situation and most of them returned to home for joblessness. After returning home, majority of the tribes once again adopted their traditional source of livelihood i.e., agriculture, forest, livestock, etc. to repair the economy. To assess the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 and role of NTFP on tribal livelihood a study was conducted in seven forest dependent villages of Kandhamal district and found that NTFP has largely supported the livelihood of both low income and migrant tribal families. The changing Government policy on listing of more NTFP commodities and price revisions under MSP scheme worked like an economic panacea for the forest dependent poor tribal families. However, the inuence of middlemen and absence of TDCC reduce prot margin of NTFP gatherer families, which needs to be addressed through proper monitoring, intervention and policy resolution.