Development at the Margins: Adivasi Struggles in Mali Parbat

The development narrative in regions like Mali Parbat, Odisha, reveals a paradox where bauxite mining promotes economic growth yet marginalises adivasi communities who have historically safeguarded the area. For these indigenous peoples, Mali Parbat signifies their ecological sustenance and cultural identity. Large-scale mining threatens vital ecosystems and heightens social and economic vulnerabilities. Resistance movements challenge state-led development that neglects indigenous rights and ecological integrity, advocating for justice and a sustainable, community-driven development model. This commentary argues that the conflict in Mali Parbat is not merely an environmental dispute but represents a broader crisis of extractive development, where constitutional protections, indigenous self-governance and ecological sustainability are subordinated to resource extraction.