Research Projects

Mining has historically been a major driver of economic development in resource-rich regions like Odisha, India, contributing significantly to state revenue and employment. However, the increasing rate of mine suspensions-owing to lease expirations, regulatory gaps, and environmental non-compliance-poses emerging challenges, particularly for Adivasis (Scheduled Tribe) communities living near these mining regions. These suspensions result not only in the loss of mining-linked employment but also in long-term ecological degradation, social dislocation, and a breakdown of traditional livelihoods. While existing scholarship has examined the impacts of active mining, the post-suspension realities remain underexplored-especially in Odisha, where over 270 mines have ceased operations and disproportionately affect tribal communities. This interdisciplinary research aims to investigate the economic, social, and environmental consequences of mining suspension on Adivasis populations in Odisha. Anchored in the integrated impact assessment framework of Worlanyo & Jiangfeng (2021), the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how mine closures disrupt livelihoods, degrade common property resources (CPRs), alter local health conditions, and trigger demographic shifts such as outmigration. To test this, the study will adopt a mixed-methods design across four highly affected districts-Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, and Kalahandi-chosen based on their concentration of suspended mines and significant Adivasi populations. A total of 3,600 Scheduled Tribe households residing in mining-adjacent zones will be surveyed using structured questionnaires. Additional qualitative data will be collected through FGDs and KII to contextualize local perceptions and adaptive strategies. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and logistic regression. A robust Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model will estimate treatment effects by comparing actual outcomes in suspended-mine regions against counterfactual scenarios. Environmental analysis will include the testing of 360 samples (water, air, soil) using standard physico-chemical and heavy metal parameters. Concurrently, health screenings will be conducted to correlate environmental data with public health outcomes. Significance and Innovation: This project fills critical research gaps in post-mining transition studies, particularly for tribal regions. It shifts the policy discourse from merely regulating operational mines to planning for the socio-economic and environmental aftershocks of mine closure. By foregrounding issues of livelihood resilience, environmental justice, and community vulnerability, the study advances fundamental understanding in development studies, public health, and environmental governance. The insights from this research will support the formulation of targeted post-mining rehabilitation frameworks, influence District Mineral Foundation (DMF) policy design, and guide sustainable economic transitions for marginalized communities. In doing so, the project contributes not only to academic knowledge but also to actionable governance models for post-extraction societies-an increasingly urgent domain in global mining regions. This study is the first of its kind to systematically assess the post-suspension impacts of mining on Adivasis communities in Odisha by integrating socio-economic, environmental, dimensions. This project investigates the understudied consequences of mine closures-such as livelihood collapse, ecological degradation, and community dislocation-through a mixed-methods approach. It innovatively applies the quantitative and qualitative methods to capture counterfactual scenarios and treatment effects of mining suspension for a better policy suggestion.