By: MANU NAIK, RANJAN KUMAR BEHERA
This research examines how the Juang tribe of Keonjhar, Odisha, has shifted from an environmentally conscious way of life – gathering forest products without cutting trees, such as through the swidden farming method known as podu – to relying on wage labor, typically working for employers in exchange for payment. Traditionally, the Juang depended on four sources of food: cultivation, hunting, fishing, and gathering, providing for their families through these means. As the forests around Keonjhar were cleared, access to these food sources diminished. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data to assess the impact of these changes on the Juang and the resulting transformation of their economy. Increased cash income from wage labor, expanded market opportunities, and government assistance programs have led to reduced food security, altered consumption patterns, and a decline in indigenous ecological knowledge. The research also documents changes in sociocultural relations, including shifts in women’s family roles and the declining importance of traditional exchange systems. As the Juang become more dependent on unstable income sources, their economic vulnerability increases. Therefore, as this transition continues, further research should aim to balance the opportunities and challenges it presents, with the goal of creating sustainable livelihoods.
