Critically examine how the displacement of tribal communities due to hydroelectric river dam projects has affected the women in local context. Illustrate with suitable ethnographic examples.

Economic Impacts

Displacement severely disrupts the traditional economic activities of tribal women. Many tribal economies are based on forest produce collection, shifting cultivation, and small-scale agriculture – activities where women play a crucial role. Dam construction leads to loss of access to forests, agricultural land, and water sources. Resettlement often fails to provide adequate alternative livelihood options, leaving women economically marginalized.

• Loss of Traditional Skills: Women’s skills in traditional crafts and resource management become less relevant in resettlement areas.
• Increased Economic Dependency: Without alternative income sources, women become more dependent on male family members, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation.
• Wage Labor Exploitation: Often, the only available employment is low-paying, unskilled wage labor, exposing women to harsh working conditions and low wages.

Social and Cultural Impacts

The displacement process dismantles the social fabric of tribal communities, and women bear a significant burden. Traditional social support systems, kinship networks, and community institutions are weakened. This leads to increased social isolation and vulnerability.

• Breakdown of Social Networks: Resettlement scatters communities, disrupting women’s access to traditional support networks for childcare, healthcare, and emotional support.
• Loss of Cultural Identity: Displacement can lead to the erosion of traditional cultural practices, knowledge systems, and languages, particularly impacting women who are often the primary transmitters of culture.
• Increased Gender-Based Violence: Economic hardship, social disruption, and increased stress can contribute to a rise in domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence.

Health Impacts

Displacement has detrimental effects on the health of tribal women. Loss of access to traditional healthcare systems, coupled with inadequate healthcare facilities in resettlement areas, leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

• Malnutrition: Loss of food security and access to traditional food sources leads to malnutrition, particularly among women and children.
• Waterborne Diseases: Poor sanitation and contaminated water sources in resettlement areas increase the incidence of waterborne diseases.
• Reproductive Health Issues: Disruption of healthcare services and increased stress can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Mental Health: The trauma of displacement and the loss of livelihood and social support can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.

Political and Decision-Making Impacts

Tribal women are often excluded from decision-making processes related to displacement and resettlement. Their voices are rarely heard in negotiations with government officials and project developers.

• Lack of Representation: Women are often underrepresented in tribal councils and other decision-making bodies.
• Limited Access to Information: Women may have limited access to information about their rights and entitlements.
• Difficulty in Accessing Compensation: Compensation for land and property is often registered in the names of male family members, leaving women with limited control over the funds.

Ethnographic Example: The Sardar Sarovar Dam Project (Narmada Valley)

The Sardar Sarovar Dam project on the Narmada River displaced over 32,000 families, a significant proportion of whom were tribal. Ethnographic studies by researchers like Smitu Kothari (2003) revealed that women faced immense hardship. They lost access to forests, which were their primary source of fuel, fodder, and medicinal plants. Resettlement sites lacked adequate water supply and sanitation facilities, increasing their workload and health risks. Furthermore, women were largely excluded from the rehabilitation process, and their concerns were often ignored by authorities. The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) highlighted the gendered impacts of the project and advocated for the rights of displaced women.

Ethnographic Example: The Subansiri Large Hydroelectric Project (Arunachal Pradesh)

The Subansiri project displaced communities from the Galo tribe. Studies show that women experienced a significant increase in workload due to the loss of traditional agricultural practices and the need to find alternative sources of income. The disruption of traditional social structures also led to a decline in women’s status and decision-making power within the community. The project also led to increased instances of sexual violence against women due to the influx of migrant laborers.