Harnessing Technology for Land Rights and Empowerment of Tribal Women in Odisha

Abstract

The advent of Globalisation and the Liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, particularly for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) underscored the need for India’s readiness to provide the FDIs with resources. Ensuring the continued economic development of India relied heavily on allocating resources to support FDI prospects. Due to limited technical advancement, India encountered obstacles beyond macroeconomics, particularly concerning poverty and inequities. The Eleventh Five Year Plan aimed to achieve significant progress in infrastructure development, including power, roads, transport, ports, and airports. It also focused on promoting growth in manufacturing, information technology (IT), information technology-enabled services (ITES), and the financial sector. The absence of systematic and suitable documentation across many sectors resulted in bureaucratic inefficiency and delays in numerous procedures, ultimately leading to corruption. This was also evident in the condition of the land records in the country, which exacerbated inequities across all levels, especially among tribal communities. Although there is documentation of interventions involving the use of technology for other developmental projects, such as women's empowerment, the use of technology to secure land rights for women has not been thoroughly examined. This paper discusses significant insight gathered through an exploratory study on land rights and the empowerment of tribal women in Odisha. The findings are based on the primary data gathered from 250 Indigenous women who possess land titles in Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj. Further, secondary field data from other implementing agencies in the state provides insight into how technology supports women in overcoming obstacles and safeguarding their land rights.