Political Sociology of Janjatiya or Indigenous Peoples’ Development from South Asian Societies

Open Session

The development of Janjatiya and Indigenous communities has been a central concern of states across South Asia. Governments have introduced policies, programmes, and institutional mechanisms aimed at improving livelihoods, ensuring social inclusion, and addressing historical marginalization. While state-led development initiatives have contributed to improvements in education, health, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities in many Janjatiya and Indigenous regions, significant disparities and governance challenges continue to persist across diverse contexts. Many Janjatiya and Indigenous communities remain on the peripheries of development, experiencing varying degrees of socio-economic inequality, political exclusion, displacement, and limited access to resources and opportunities. These challenges are shaped by complex interactions among state policies, governance structures, political interests, and local power relations.

The post-globalization era has further transformed the development landscape through the growing involvement of non-state actors like civil societies, development agencies, advocacy groups, and international institutions. These actors increasingly mediate relationships between the state and communities, influencing development priorities, implementation processes, and outcomes. Such developments raise important questions regarding governance, representation, participation, accountability, and the politics of development.

This panel seeks to critically examine the developmental trajectories, political mobilizations, governance processes, and power relations that shape the lives of Janjatiya and Indigenous peoples across South Asia. We invite contributions from scholars working in anthropology, tribal studies, sociology, policy studies, and development studies. Papers may engage with theoretical, methodological, and empirical dimensions of Janjatiya and Indigenous development, including issues of citizenship, resource governance, state–society relations, social movements, development interventions, and Indigenous futures.