Tracing The economic trajectories of the Paniya tribe: Historical dependency and contemporary challenges in Wayanad
Author(s): Dr. Biju P. V.
Authors Affiliations:
Principal, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Arts and Science College, Mathil, Payyannur, Kannur Dt., Kerala, India. (Ph. D in Political Science),
DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202511033 | Paper ID: IJIRMF202511033The Paniya tribe, one of Kerala’s most marginalized Adivasi communities, has historically been subjected to deep socio-economic dependence rooted in agrarian labour systems such as vallippani. Despite the formal abolition of bonded labour and the implementation of tribal welfare schemes, the Paniya of Wayanad continue to experience limited economic mobility, persistent landlessness, and structural exclusion. This study traces the historical evolution of the Paniya’ livelihood systems—from traditional bonded labour to modern wage work, sharecropping, and seasonal migration—and evaluates the impact of the Oorukoottam initiative on their economic quality of life. The results affirm that Oorukoottam has contributed positively to enhancing the Paniya’ economic conditions, although challenges such as landlessness, limited access to modern employment, and low financial inclusion persist. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening participatory governance, ensuring equitable resource allocation, and integrating traditional knowledge into sustainable tribal development strategies.
Paniya tribe, Oorukoottam, economic quality of life, tribal development
Dr. Biju P V (2025); Tracing the Economic Trajectories of the Paniya Tribe: Historical Dependency and Contemporary Challenges in Wayanad, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-11, Pp. 201-207. Available on – https://www.ijirmf.com/