SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND LIVELIHOOD PATTERNS AMONG TRIBAL COMMUNITIES OF MADHYA PRADESH : A PRIMARY-DATA BASED STUDY

This paper examines the socio-economic status, livelihood strategies, and cultural continuity of tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh using primary field data collected from three districts. Drawing on mixed methods (household surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions), the study investigates education, health, landholding, natural-resource dependence, and adaptive strategies to contemporary pressures (market integration, land use change, state welfare). Quantitative findings from a survey of 200 households (across Gond, Baiga and Bhil communities) are presented alongside qualitative narratives that highlight local perspectives on change, identity, and policy impacts. Results show varied trajectories: while some households have diversified into wage labour and small-scale entrepreneurship, a significant proportion remain dependent on forest-based resources and subsistence agriculture. Education levels have improved compared with earlier decades, yet gaps persist in access to higher education and employment. Health indicators point to persistent malnutrition and limited primary healthcare reach in remote habitations. The paper concludes with policy recommendations that emphasize community-led natural resource management, targeted livelihood training, culturally-sensitive education, and improvements in health outreach. This manuscript is prepared as a model of a primary-data based research article; the primary data presented here are illustrative and structured so researchers can adapt the methodology, instruments, and analysis to their own fieldwork. References are cited in APA 7th edition.