Sustainable Livelihood Analysis of Tribes in Visakhapatnam District: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This comprehensive review examines the sustainability evaluation frameworks and methodologies applied to tribal community livelihoods in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. The meta-analysis synthesizes findings from 30 research studies conducted between 2010-2024, focusing on socio-economic, environmental, and cultural dimensions of tribal sustainability. The review identifies key challenges including deforestation, loss of traditional knowledge systems, inadequate access to healthcare and education, and economic marginalization affecting tribal communities. Primary tribal groups examined include Bagata, Gadaba, Khond, and Valmiki communities residing in the Eastern Ghats region. The analysis reveals that while government interventions through Forest Rights Act implementation and livelihood schemes have shown moderate success, significant gaps persist in holistic sustainability assessment frameworks. The study employs a systematic literature review methodology, analyzing quantitative and qualitative research approaches used in previous studies. Findings indicate that integrated assessment models incorporating traditional ecological knowledge with modern sustainability indicators provide more accurate evaluations of tribal livelihood sustainability. The review concludes that future research should prioritize participatory evaluation methods, long-term impact assessments, and development of culturally sensitive sustainability metrics to effectively measure and enhance tribal community resilience in Visakhapatnam District.