Land alienation and indebtedness are among the most serious socio-economic problems affecting tribal communities in India. These issues have significantly influenced their traditional way of life, economic security, and cultural identity. Anthropologists have studied these problems in the context of historical processes, colonial policies, market penetration, and changing patterns of resource ownership. Land has traditionally been the primary source of livelihood, identity, and social organization among tribal communities. Tribal societies generally followed community ownership or customary rights over forests and agricultural land. With the introduction of private property systems during the colonial period, these customary rights were weakened. The British forest policies restricted tribal access to forests and declared vast areas as reserved forests. As a result, many tribal communities lost control over their ancestral lands. After independence, rapid industrialization, mining, construction of dams, infrastructure projects, and urban expansion led to large-scale displacement of tribal populations. Although development projects aimed at national growth, they often failed to provide adequate compensation, rehabilitation, or alternative livelihoods. Consequently, many displaced tribal families became landless laborers or migrated to urban areas in search of employment. Land alienation also occurs through illegal transfers of tribal land to non-tribals. Despite legal safeguards in several states prohibiting such transfers, loopholes