Nomad's Settlement: A perspective of settlers Talkhab settlement (Ilam Province)

Nowadays, various factors such as collapse of tribal structures and systems, deterioration of grasslands, lack of decent educational system for the children, and shortage of healthcare facilities have caused tribal living extremely challenging. To help avert the process, experts have proposed different approaches among which settlement plan rendered as most appropriate. As a whole, nomad’s settlement fundamentally transforms one of the intrinsic characteristics of nomads that differentiate them from either rural or urban societies for whatever reasons such as political, social or economic development. Talkhab in Ilam province has been a site to tribal settlement plan, which has been conducted by Housing Foundation at to help manage tribal affairs. This article intends to evaluate physical-spatial impacts of the settlement plan in Talkhab as felt by nomads themselves regarding housing, sewage system, pathways and infrastructure and services quality. It also evaluates how the plan affected their livelihood and satisfaction as well as their participation. In order to make the inquiry practical, descriptive-analytic method via field studies including questionnaires, interviews, observations have been used and the results were finally put in SPSS for further statistical analysis. The results suggest that the settled tribe members are generally pleased with the plan including its implementation, allocation, and availability of some services. However, certain issues such as financial support, other infrastructural services (running water, healthcare facilities, sports, religious and commercial facilities), employment, the plan has fallen short of meeting their expectations. A number of guidelines are suggested based on the findings for better realization of the settlement plan. These include better planning of pathways, piping, sewage system, electricity and water services, user participation. More attention should be focused on sustainable ways of livelihood in settlement plans, more efficient financial support through the banking system for an affordable housing and suitable reimbursement policy.