Climate Change and Its Effect on Health and Livelihood of Tribal Community People in Odisha

Indigenous peoples get much of their living from farming and sustainable agriculture, which are vulnerable to climate change. Tribal groups are especially vulnerable to climate change because they rely on natural resources. This research provided adaptive solutions for coping with climate change's consequences on tribal cultures' resource bases, human suffering, and migration. Two hundred tribal families in four districts of western Odisha were interviewed and divided into focus groups. They depend on land, water, and forests. The correlation and importance of the Climate Change Index (σ), Livelihood Resource Base Index (η), Human Suffering Index (λ), and Migration Index (β) have been established. The study found that climate change has a greater impact on household resources, human distress, and migration than on community stress. Results indicate climate change has significantly impacted indigenous groups' livelihoods, suffering, and migration (p<0.01). The paper advises government, parliamentarians, and program implementers, including civil society organisations, to prioritise livelihood resource management. We must increase tribal groups' adaptive skills to cope with climate change, foster livelihood diversification, and establish climate-sensitive livelihood options. The study also suggests that government agencies, lawmakers, program implementers, and community organisations collaborate to preserve livelihood resources. The effort includes home-level adaptation, livelihood diversification, and climate-responsive livelihoods. Such efforts should reduce climate change's detrimental consequences on indigenous populations.