Reconstructing Development through Kerala's Women-Led Environmental Movements

Abstract

In India's post-independence development trajectory, development-induced displacement has continued to be a problem, especially for indigenous and forest-dependent people. Dams, industrial projects, mining, and infrastructure development are examples of large-scale interventions that frequently cause ecological degradation, land dispossession, and disruption of traditional livelihoods. Tribal communities, whose social, cultural, and economic existence is intricately linked to regional ecosystems, bear a disproportionate amount of these effects. Kerala offers a unique setting for examining the linkages among gender, development, and the environment within this broader national framework.To understand how ecological concerns, displacement, and survival struggles shape collective resistance, this study examines three significant environmental movements in Kerala. Drawing on human ecology and ecofeminist perspectives, the study emphasises how environmental degradation translates into daily vulnerabilities for indigenous populations, especially women. The close relationship between women and nature is exemplified by the leadership of women such as Mayilamma and Geetha, where social justice and communal existence depend on environmental preservation.The study also situates these movements within Kerala's development narrative, highlighting the state's efforts to strike a balance between ecological sustainability and economic growth through decentralised governance, environmental regulations, and public engagement. Initiatives such as Kudumbashree and local self-governments demonstrate that policy procedures are beginning to acknowledge women's ecological knowledge. The study concludes that Kerala's women-led environmental movements offer important lessons for environmentally sensitive areas, as they are collective declarations of ecological justice, gender equity, and sustainable development rather than mere opposition to development.