From Margins to Mainstream: The Impact of the India Eco-Development Project on Tribal Well-Being in Kumily, Idukki

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_5How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Tribal; Livelihood Security; Empowerment; Periyar; Paliyan; Mannan

Abstract

The study examines the impact of the India Eco-development Project (IEDP) on the tribal communities in Kumily, Idukki. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Significant improvements in physical infrastructure, such as housing, sanitation, and road access, were noted. However, social infrastructure development was mixed. While the IEDP fostered community participation and empowerment through the establishment of Ecodevelopment Committees (EDCs), persistent challenges remain, particularly concerning gender roles, education, and healthcare access. Although healthcare facilities have improved and infant mortality rates have declined, serious illnesses still necessitate long-distance travel to hospitals, and issues like alcohol abuse among youth remain prevalent. While the project supported women's empowerment initiatives, empowerment levels varied, with some women assuming greater responsibilities and others remaining constrained by traditional roles. These findings highlight the need for integrated public policies that address both physical and social infrastructure to achieve truly sustainable and inclusive development outcomes in protected area communities.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Abhidha Anil
AU  - Annapoorna V. Kartha
AU  - Davis J. Alappat
AU  - Mudam Dinesh
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/06/24
TI  - From Margins to Mainstream: The Impact of the India Eco-Development Project on Tribal Well-Being in Kumily, Idukki
BT  - Proceedings of the IBA IEA Conference on Economics and Public Policy (Ecofluence 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 76
EP  - 94
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_5
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_5
ID  - Anil2025
ER  -