Abstract

Livelihood studies emerge as the hallmark of social sciences, particularly in the domain of tribal who happen to be the most backward and marginalized (Sahoo, 2015). Livelihood is not only the way of earning a living but also the very means to live a life. However, in the process of earning a livelihood, a man comes across a number of livelihood challenges, both socio-cultural as well as environmental. In this context, the present study focuses upon the myriad livelihood challenges as faced by the Dongria Kondhs, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), residing in the Niyamgiri hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats in the state of Odisha. The study throws light on the traditional ways of living and livelihood; the changes brought there in by different cultural and natural stimuli, causing serious hardships and the potential livelihood challenges like vulnerability to climate change as well. The current research, applying the human ecological approach,was carried out covering all aspects of the Dongrias with far reaching implications for further research and actions to be initiated by the concerned authorities.

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