Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability Among the Chothe Tribe of Manipur

ISBN: 978-93-7143-285-6 110 Chapter - 7 Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability Among the Chothe Tribe of Manipur Rimkung Mami Chothe Department of Anthropology, South East Manipur College, Komlathabi, Chandel District Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The Chothe tribe of Manipur represents a small yet significant indigenous community whose socio-economic transitions over recent decades mirror the broader challenges of balancing development and environmental sustainability in Northeast India. This study examines the economic transformation, occupational mobility, and changing educational patterns among the Chothe people, with a particular focus on gender differences in employment and literacy. Using field-based data collected through household surveys and interviews, combined with secondary sources such as Census reports and regional anthropological studies, the paper explores how modernization, formal education, and state-led development initiatives are reshaping the Chothe economy. Despite gradual diversification from agriculture to service and self-employment sectors, traditional ecological knowledge continues to influence environmental attitudes and local sustainability practices. The findings reveal that while educational advancement has improved women’s participation in non-agricultural activities, Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability 111 men still dominate in formal employment sectors. The study underscores the importance of integrating indigenous values with sustainable livelihood programs to ensure ecological balance and socio-economic resilience among the Chothe tribe. Keywords: Chothe tribe, Economic transition, Environmental sustainability, Gender roles, Education, Livelihood change, Tribal economy 1. Introduction Indigenous and tribal communities in Northeast India have long operated within ecological niches, maintaining livelihoods that balance resource use, customary norms, and social cohesion. However, over the past few decades, many of these groups, including the Chothe tribe of Manipur, have begun to navigate a transition from subsistence economies toward diversified, market-oriented livelihoods. This transformation is not simply economic; it is deeply entangled with culture, environment, knowledge systems, and power relations. The Chothe tribe is recognized as one of the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur and is mainly concentrated in the Chandel and Bishnupur districts (Cheithou Charles, 2010). They are identified as a Tibeto-Burman (Kuki-Chin) speaking group, practicing a distinct social and economic lifestyle. According to Chothe oral histories and studies, they are sometimes linked historically to “Purum” identity but maintain clear distinctions in cultural institutions and traditions (The Chothe : A misnomer …, n.d.). Genetic studies suggest that about 2,440 individuals of Chothe reside in eleven villages of Chandel and one village in Rimkung Mami Chothe 112 Bishnupur (Singh et al., 2007). Such small population size places them among the more vulnerable tribal groups in the region. Traditionally, Chothe livelihoods were based on shifting cultivation (jhum), collection of forest products, hunting, gathering, and household crafts. Agricultural cycles were tied to fallow periods which allowed forest regeneration, soil recovery, and biodiversity maintenance. Customary institutions regulated land access, forest use, and interhousehold reciprocity. Much of their ecological knowledge (e.g., plant uses, medicinal herbs, rotational cycles) was passed down orally through generations (Cheithou Charles, 2010). Traditional norms also regulated harvest seasons, sacred groves, and taboo species, thereby embedding conservation into everyday practice. Yet, this equilibrium is now under strain from multiple forces. Schooling, formal education, road connectivity, and state development programs have exposed Chothe communities to regional markets, wage labour, and non-agricultural opportunities. In the broader Northeast context, cross-tribal studies indicate that education is a key driver of occupational diversification among Scheduled Tribes, enabling mobility beyond subsistence sectors (Marchang, 2020; Marchang & Reimeingam, 2019). However, these shifts also unsettle customary norms, alter power structures, and risk eroding traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Development-induced interventions, whether infrastructure or resource projects, are often blamed for accelerating socio-cultural transitions, accentuating acculturation, and diminishing tribal identities (Chhandama, 2025). Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability 113 Among tribal populations in Northeast India, gender disparities in education and income remain persistent challenges. Women often lag behind men in access to schooling, which limits their participation in non-farm sectors. Changes in occupational structure that favour formal employment or wage labour tend to advantage those already educated or socially well-connected, thereby reinforcing inequalities within tribal communities. Thus, in the case of the Chothe, economic transformation is not simply a matter of shifting crops or incomes. It entails a delicate negotiation between old and new: between customary ecological ethics and market logic; between oral knowledge systems and formal science; between male-dominant wage sectors and women’s roles in gardening, forest collection, and household production. The success or failure of sustainable development in such contexts depends on how well the new can be integrated with the old. This study aims to examine how the Chothe tribe navigates this transition. Specifically, it seeks to document patterns of educational attainment and occupational diversification, analyze the socio-cultural forces driving change, assess impacts on environmental sustainability and ecological knowledge, and propose policy pathways that strengthen resilience without undermining identity. 2. Methodology The study adopted a qualitative and descriptive research design to understand the economic transition and environmental sustainability among the Chothe tribe of Rimkung Mami Chothe 114 Manipur. Both primary and secondary data were used to construct a holistic view of the community’s livelihood transformation, educational status, and ecological practices. The methodology followed the ethnographic traditions of tribal studies in Northeast India, emphasizing community participation, oral narratives, and observation (Elwin, 1959; Roy, 2019). Primary data were collected through field visits to selected Chothe-inhabited villages in Chandel and Bishnupur districts, where the tribe is predominantly settled (Singh et al., 2007). Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory observation were conducted among farmers, women’s groups, youth, and village elders. Informants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring representation of both genders, age groups, and occupational categories. This approach provided an in-depth understanding of community perceptions regarding livelihood change, education, and environmental concerns. The survey instrument recorded household information, education levels, income sources, land use and ecological practices. Gender-disaggregated data were collected to compare men’s and women’s educational and occupational status were analysed. Observational notes were taken on agricultural cycles, forest resource collection, and community rituals linked to ecological conservation. Secondary sources were gathered from government publications such as the Census of India (2011), Manipur State Development Report (Planning Department, 2016), and published research by scholars on the tribes of Northeast India Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability 115 (Marchang, 2020; Roy, 2019). Academic papers on tribal livelihood, education, and shifting cultivation in Manipur were also consulted (Chandramouli, 2011; Singh & Devi, 2015). Archival sources from the Anthropological Survey of India and previous ethnographic studies provided a comparative historical background (Elwin, 1959; Hodson, 1911). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and interpretive thematic analysis. Quantitative data (e.g., educational and occupational distribution) were processed to obtain percentage distributions, shown in the accompanying tables. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups were coded around recurring themes such as economic diversification, environmental knowledge, gender roles, and market integration. The combination of numerical and narrative data aimed to provide a balanced socio-ecological interpretation of how the Chothe community adapts to modernization while maintaining elements of traditional sustainability. This methodological approach aligns with indigenous research paradigms that value community voices and cultural context (Smith, 2012; Datta, 2018). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study respected the community’s privacy and cultural norms, ensuring that sensitive information especially about sacred sites or rituals was treated with confidentiality. The research adhered to ethical guidelines for social research on indigenous populations (American Anthropological Association, 2012). Rimkung Mami Chothe 116 3. Results and Discussion The Chothe tribe’s economy has undergone a multifaceted transformation over the past few decades, shifting from subsistence-based livelihoods rooted in shifting cultivation (jhum) and forest gathering to a more complex structure integrating agriculture, wage labour, government employment, and small-scale business. This transition reflects broader trends observed among tribal populations in Northeast India but also exhibits unique characteristics rooted in Chothe ecological values, gender relations, and community organization (Marchang, 2020; Roy, 2019). Education has emerged as one of the most decisive factors influencing economic transition among the Chothe. Traditional Chothe society emphasized oral transmission of knowledge including agricultural timing, weather prediction, herbal medicine and spiritual practices tied to land and forest. With the expansion of formal education, particularly after the 1990s through state initiatives and mission schools, literacy and educational attainment have significantly improved, though gender disparities persist. The educational attainment levels and occupational status of Chothe men and women based on field data from villages in Chandel and Bishnupur districts were highlighted in Table 1,2and 3. Table 1: Distribution of Educational Status of the Chothe Women All age Total No. of Illitera te Prima ry Midd le H/ S H/S ec Gradu ate & above Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability 117 cohor ts wom en Total 844 78 183 157 14 8 162 116 % age 100 9.2 21.7 18.6 17. 5 19.2 13.7 Table 1 illustrates that approximately 9.2% of Chothe women remain illiterate, while 19.2% completed higher secondary and 13.7% attained graduation or higher. These figures signify increasing educational participation among women, a positive indicator of gender inclusion in the community’s development process. Table 2: Distribution of Educational status of Chothe Men All age cohor ts Tot al No. of Me n Illitera te Prima ry Midd le H/ S H/Se c Gradua te & above Total 757 65 158 176 14 3 109 106 % age 100 8.6 20.9 23.2 18. 9 14.4 14.0 Table 2 shows, the literacy rate among men is relatively higher than among women, with 91.4% attaining some form of education. The trend toward secondary and tertiary education Rimkung Mami Chothe 118 indicates the Chothe tribe’s gradual shift toward formal employment opportunities. The data indicate that educational levels among both men and women have improved substantially, with less than 10% of either group remaining illiterate. However, women’s participation in higher education remains slightly lower compared to men. This aligns with studies on tribal education in Northeast India, which attribute gender disparities to sociocultural norms, early marriage, and household responsibilities limiting female mobility.The relatively high percentage of secondary and graduate-level education among Chothe youth (around 19% and 14% respectively) suggests increasing exposure to modern sectors and government employment. As Marchang (2020) notes, such trends reflect a generational shift among tribal youth who seek salaried employment over agricultural labour. Yet, this educational advancement is uneven across villages, those closer to roads and urban centers such as Chandel headquarters display higher literacy rates and better access to schooling, whereas remote settlements continue to rely on community-run primary schools with limited facilities. Table 3: Distribution of Occupational Status of Men and Women Occupational status Women (N) Women (%) Men (N) Men (%) Cultivator 240 28.4 208 27.5 Business 55 6.5 80 10.6 Self employed 155 8.3 181 23.9 Economic Transition and Environmental Sustainability 125 villages demonstrates the community’s capacity for collective ecological governance and adaptation to modern conservation frameworks. The Chothe experience underscores the broader lesson that development cannot be measured solely by economic indicators. True sustainability requires the integration of cultural values, ecological balance, and social equity. Strengthening traditional knowledge systems, ensuring equitable access to education and employment, and promoting eco-friendly livelihoods are crucial steps for safeguarding both the material and spiritual well-being of the tribe. Ultimately, the Chothe’s ongoing negotiation between tradition and transformation offers valuable insights for indigenous sustainability in Northeast India. Their adaptive resilience grounded in culture, community cooperation, and respect for nature provides a model for reconciling economic modernization with environmental stewardship. Supporting these locally rooted strategies through participatory policy and inclusive governance will ensure that the Chothe people continue to thrive without compromising their ecological and cultural integrity. References 1. Cheithou, M. L. (2007). Tribal livelihood and forest dependency in Manipur: A case of the Chothe community. Imphal: Tribal Research Institute. 2. Cheithou, M. L. (2010). 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