NAVIGATING THE CHANGES AND ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RUBBER PLANTATIONS ON SHIFTING CULTIVATORS COMMUNITIES IN TRIPURA

The rubber plantation is a growing sector in Tripura. The shifting cultivators are generally tribals. The involvement of these shifting cultivators in this sector is increasing in the state. It has been observed that there is a significant impact of rubber plantations on the level of living of the shifting cultivators in Tripura. The Human Development Index, Physical Quality of Life Index, Gender Development Index, and Level of Living Index of the shifting and rubber cultivators show this significant impact of rubber plantation on the level of living of the shifting cultivators. There are also significant inter-district variations among the shifting cultivators and the rubber cultivators in the state. Therefore, rubber plantation can be a way out to rehabilitate the shifting cultivators. It is recommended that the government should intervene to mitigate the challenges of this sector in general and to popularise rubber cultivation in specific terms. This paper is an attempt to highlight the impact of rubber plantations on the level of living of the shifting cultivators in Tripura.