By: RAJNARAYAN MOHANTY, BASANTA KUMAR MOHANTA
The livelihood of a tribal community is always closely connected to nature and natural elements. Several factors are responsible for bringing both positive and negative effects to the livelihood of tribal people by influencing this alignment. The Lodhas are considered one of the most disadvantaged communities among the tribal groups and are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha. They primarily depend on the forest for their sustenance, and this socio-economic backwardness is mainly due to their heavy reliance on natural resources. During the British era, the lives of the Lodhas became even more vulnerable due to restrictions on forest access, which eventually led some to adopt criminal means for survival. As a result, the British labeled them a criminal tribe, a designation that was removed after independence. The current livelihood of the Lodhas remains largely dependent on forests and natural resources. However, some changes have occurred with the onset of urbanization and assimilation, as they have adopted various other means of livelihood. This study seeks to identify the livelihood patterns of the Lodhas in the study area and the factors responsible for these changes. The study is based entirely on primary data collected from two villages in Mayurbhanj district.
