Social Ecology and Rural Development in Northeast India: Challenges & Opportunities in Manipur

Abstract

This paper focuses on the critical depletion of social ecology in relation to developmental works carried out especially in Manipur. It points out that due to the increasing developmental demands and deforestation, the rural people, whose main source of income depends on natural resources like forests produce are threatening their very own survival. The then existing thick and dense forests with diverse flora and fauna has substantially declined due to overwhelming demand of supply like timber and firewood for various developmental purposes affecting the social ecology, food-chains and even leading to scarcity of drinking water. It also points out the deprivation of the rural tribal people, failure and weaknesses on the part of the government machineries in protecting and uplifting the rural people, its environment and the need for proper study to preserve the rural forests. It seeks the government’s intervention in controlling the reserved and protected tribal forest areas of Northeast India. The paper also stresses on the preservation of indigenous plants and the use of selected plants for the afforestation programs in the region.