Muduligadia as an Eco-Village Experiment: Opportunities and Limits of Contextual Replication

This case study examines the transformation of Muduligadia, a small forest-fringe village located near the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha, India, into the state’s first officially recognized eco-village. In 2011, Muduligadia consisted of 27 households facing severe livelihood insecurity, seasonal flooding, low literacy levels, and high dependence on forest resources. By 2019, the village had grown to 35 households and developed a diversified local economy centered on eco-tourism, organic agriculture, waste management, and community-led environmental stewardship. Central to this transformation was the formation of the Eco-Development Committee, which functioned as a local governance institution facilitating collective action, conflict resolution, and coordination with government programs. Through initiatives such as LPG adoption, sanitation improvements, community-managed eco-tourism at the Satkosia Sand Resorts, and organic farming practices, Muduligadia reported reduced dependence on forest extraction while generating new income streams. Village committee records and media reports suggested that household incomes increased following the expansion of eco-tourism and related livelihood activities, while villagers and local reports associated improved sanitation and cleaner cooking fuel adoption with better household health conditions. Local accounts and village records also suggested modest reverse migration as some households returned following the emergence of new livelihood opportunities. Drawing on concepts from commons governance, institutional theory, and the sustainable livelihoods framework, this case analyzes the institutional mechanisms that enabled Muduligadia’s transformation. It also critically examines the conditions under which elements of eco-village models may or may not be adapted across rural contexts. While Muduligadia demonstrates how community institutions can enable environmental stewardship and livelihood diversification, its success is shaped by context-specific factors including strong local leadership, small population size, and tourism potential. The case invites students and policymakers to examine how grassroots governance, state support, and local ecological conditions interact in shaping sustainable rural development.