Paper short abstract:

Insights as to why and how even after recognition of rights from the government and intentional support from donors and resource providers the indigenous organizations especially youth groups struggle to meet their socio-economic needs while also being custodians of their indigeneity.

Paper long abstract:

Despite constitutional recognition of indigenous land ownership and cultural rights in Nagaland, India, since 1964, indigenous communities and their youth face significant challenges in achieving sustainable development. While policymakers and conservation experts acknowledge the role of indigenous governance and youth movements in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, the reality tells a different story. Nagaland remains economically dependent, with 88% of its revenue coming from government and external aid, alongside having the second-highest unemployment rate in India. Pressured by economic insecurity, youth are driven to convert forests into monoculture palm and rubber plantations, degrading ecosystems and exacerbating vulnerabilities such as water shortages, soil erosion, and landslides. These conditions force many to migrate to cities, where they face hardships as urban poor, leading to a decline in both youth and community well-being. The paper will examine examples of both successes and failures among indigenous communities and youth organizations as they combat this systemic decline. It will highlight locally led, research-based solutions, efforts to reinvigorate traditional physical spaces for reclaiming indigenous knowledge and practices, and the initiation of economic activities within their territories that engage and employ local youth. By delving into scenarios where systems failed these communities, as well as instances where they leveraged their agency to own both the problem and the solution, the paper will provide insights into the post-rights reality. This will demonstrate that autonomy and rights, while critical, are insufficient without systemic support to address the intertwined socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by indigenous communities.