Displaced women of the Panna tiger reserve

ABSTRACT This study explores the experience of displacement from the perspective of women who have been or are about to be moved from their homes and sources of livelihood, to make way for the expansion of a wildlife reserve in India. We conducted this in the Nayi Basti (Nb) and Umravan (U) areas of the tribal belt around the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh state of India. Availability of common property resources significantly contributed to a better position for women in tribal society, despite their lack of access to modern health care and education. Displacement to plains and non-forest areas with no access to familiar means of livelihood, however, makes such communities vulnerable to psychosocial trauma and decline in social status. We conducted in-depth interviews with women respondents and key informants for this study to assess the levels of distress of women after they were displaced and obtained their perspectives, in particular, about the key psychosocial issues they faced after moving.