Tribal Development and Economic Marginalization in Thiruvannamalai District: Bridging the Policy-Implementation Divide

Abstract

This paper examines the economic marginalization of tribal communities in Thiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, through a policy-oriented and historically informed lens. Drawing on secondary data, official reports, and academic literature, it critiques the structural and institutional barriers that hinder the effective implementation of tribal development schemes. Particular attention is given to gendered impacts, localized governance failures, and the persistent policy-implementation divide. The study advocates for participatory, ecologically sensitive, and gender-inclusive approaches to development, contributing to broader debates on inclusive growth by applying the frameworks of social exclusion and capability deprivation