The Executive Summary of Inter Departmental Research Project

On

SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THREE MARGINALISED COMMUNITY VIZ. NEPALI, MISHING AND TEA GARDEN COMMUNITY OF RURAL ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TEOK REVENUE CIRCLE: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

  (Conducted by the Department of Commerce, Education, Economics and Political Science with the Students of B.A. and B.COM courses, C.K.B. College, Teok, Submitted to and

Funded by The Principal, C.K.B.College, Teok, with the

Seed Money during the Plan Period 2020-21.)

By

Department of Commerce, Education, Economics and Political Science

C.K.B. College, Teok

Jorhat, Assam

Pin-785112

Executive Summary

Title of the project:  SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THREE MARGINALISED COMMUNITY VIZ. NEPALI,

MISHING      AND TEA GARDEN COMMUNITY OF RURAL ASSAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TEOK REVENUE

CIRCLE: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Funded by:   Principal,C.K.B.College,Teok, with the Seed Money during the PlanPeriod 2020-21

Significance of the Study:The study on socio economic condition is extremely momentous for the rural society because outcomes of this aspect have quite a negative impact on the economic development of a country. The findings of the present work significantly lead to address the present situation prevailing in the area under study and thereby pave the way to take corrective actions.

Objectives of the Study: The specific objectives of the study are:

1.       To study the socio-economic characteristics of the families.

2.       To analyse the demographic conditions by level of income of sample population in the study area.

3.       To analyse the level of education among different income groups of population.

4.       To investigate the housing situation by level of income of the sample population in the study unit.

                The paper also aims to analyze some of the past research evidence on the effects associated with the socio economic condition of the rural society and seek to evaluate the state of present status prevailing in other parts of the country.

Methodology Used: The present study is based on both primary data and secondary data. The primary data have been collected through a well designed questionnaire format keeping in mind the objectives of the study.

                 The secondary data have been collected through books, reputed journals, government publications in both print and electronic media and websites etc.

Analysis and Interpretation of Data on the Basis of the Questionnaire Results: As indicated in the objective the purpose of the study is to provide the status of socio economic condition and to find out any identifiable gap that stands as significant barrier on the path of the development among the sample households, accordingly simple average method, graphs and diagrams are used to testify the questionnaire results keeping in mind the structure of the questions.

Research Questions: Since the structure of the questionnaire so designed to suit the socio economic survey, no hypotheses are permitted to be framed and tested. Instead, the study is addressed to seek answers to the following research questions-

1.       Do men and women have equal access to education?

2.       Do men and women have equal access to occupation?

3.       Do all groups (all three communities) respondents’ have equal access to education?

4.       Do all groups (all three communities) respondents’ have equal access to occupation?

Major  Findings:  NEPALI COMMUNITY:

1.                      37 out of 40 respondents (92.5%) from this community belong to OBC category.

2.                      The main reason behind this is that the Nepali community here in Assam are  mostly provided with OBC and General status whereas it can be found that in  places like Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling) etc. this community is provided with other reserved categories.

3.                      35 out of 40 head of the household (87.5%) are literate which signifies that they are more likely to contribute to the development of the socio-economic condition  of the community.

4.                      The sample community in this study was found to have a higher number of female members as compared to male members. This also reflects that the community has  a positive acceptance towards female births.

5.                      The sample household of Nepali community, the maximum household 75% are engaged in  cultivation and  only 2.5% head of the household are  engaged in service  sector. 

6.                       82.5% of the sample household has 1-5 bighas of land which is why they are more into cultivation.

7.                      The sample community in this study was found to have a higher number of female members as compared to male members. This also reflects that the community has a positive acceptance towards female births.

8.                       Out of 40 head of the household of sample community, 92.5% household have dairy,  And  82.5% have goatary, none have piggery and fishery. In Nepali community highest percentage of income generated from dairy, and gotary.

9.                      It shows that 100% head of the Nepali community have voting consciousness as  they actively participate in political and non-political activities.

10.                   All the conscious voters of this community have been participating in the Gaon Sabha organized by Gram panchayat from time to time.

11.                   All the respondents are conscious voter but none from them are having any membership in any political or non-political organizations. They are active but neutrally participate in these organizations as a responsible citizen.

MISHING COMMUNITY:

1.                      Out of 40 respondents, 57.5% are literate and 42.5% are illiterate. This literacy rate contributed to their socio economic status.

2.                      In the Mishing community of the sample head of the household, 55.4% are male and 44.96% are female.

3.                      So far as the Mishing community is concerned, only 2.5% of the sample community head has job, 92.5% are engaged in cultivation and 5.0% are daily wage earners. Interestingly, no household is involved in any business activity.

4.                      The income level of the sample community shows that only 37.5% of the head of the households have an annual income in between 10,000 to 20,000, 27.5% have an income between 20,000 and 40,000, 22.5% have an income of 40,000 to 60,000, 5% have an income between 60,000 to 80,000, another 5% have an income 80,000 to 1,00,000 and 2.5% have an annual income more than 1 lakh.

5.                      The land quantity of sample households shows that  5% have no land, 72.50% have

1 to 5 bigha land, and 22.50% have above 5 bigha land. Most of the Mishing

community of the sample household engaged in cultivation because they have their sufficient fertile land for cultivation.

6.                      In the sample households it is found that 47.50% are pucca and the 52.50% are kutcha house. This is because the Mishing community keeps their “Chang Ghar” as their tradition.

7.                      In the sample household, 100% people have the sanitary toilet facilities. It is because Govt. has provided the sanitary latrine facilities for the economically weaker sections.

8.                      Out of 40 household the 100% using tube well as a sources of drinking water. No household have the running water facilities because the running water provision by the govt. is under the process.

9.                      The entire 100% sample household has electricity facility.

10.                   The highest 72% household have scooter, following 60% have bicycle and a very few no of household having four wheeler for their personal use.

11.                   Out of a total 168 total population from the sample village, 22.99% have primary education, 37.36% have High school education, 28.26% have education up to 12^th standard, 16.16% have graduation, None  have post graduation and interestingly none from the sample having professional and any other educational qualifications.

12.                   Ouguri Mising goan shows that the 25% households using wood, 30% household using Gas, and 45% household using the both gas and wood for cooking purpose.

13.                   Out of 40 household 85% having bank account and 15% household not having any bank account.

14.                   Out of 40 household 87.50%% have dairy, 95% have poultry, and 47.50% have goatery and 27.50% have piggery. Fishery farming is zero percent because that area is totally flood affected.

15.                    It shows that 100% head of the household have voting consciousness.

16.                   In this village all the conscious voters have been participating in the Gaon sabha organized by Gram panchayat time to time. 15% have membership in political and non political organizations and 85% having no membership in any political organizations. These 85% people politically active but neutrally participating in these organizations as a responsible civil society.

TEA GARDEN COMMUNITY:

1.                      Out of 40 head of the households, 65% are literate and 35% are illiterate.

2.                      Out of total 137 populations, 56.93% are male and 43.07% are female.

3.                      Out of 40 households, 2.5% are job holder, 2.5% are engaged in business and 92.5% are daily wage labour and 2.5% are housewives.

4.                      The income level of the sample community is shows that 45% of the head of the households have an annual income in between 10,000 to 20,000, 27.5% have an income between 20 and 40 thousand, 15% have an income of 40,000 to 60,000, 2.5% have an income between  60,000 to 80,000. It is found that there are no respondent in the income group above 80,000 and above. Unfortunately 10% have no income.

5.                      Out of 40 household, 37.5% are landless and 62.5% have 1 to 5 bighas land and no one have the land above 5 bigha.

6.                      It is found that 62.5% respondents have their own house and another 37.5% resides in the company quarter.

7.                      It is found that out of 40 households, 92.5% respondents have kutcha house and only 7.5% respondents have pucca house.

8.                      Out of 40 households, 77.5% have sanitary toilets and 22.5% have no sanitary toilets.

9.                      Out of total 40 household, 42.5% have well, 32.5% have pond and 15% have running water as a source of drinking water.

10.                   100% household has the electricity facility.

11.                   Out of 40 household, 47.5% have T.V., 90% have bicycle, 15% have scooter and only 2.5% have four wheeler, and interestingly none of the household have radio, tape recorder, video player and auto. 

12.                   Out of 107 total populations from the sample village, 37.39% has primary education, 44.86% has high school education, 14.02% has education up to 12^th standard, 3.73% has graduation, and none has post graduation, professional or any other educational qualifications.

13.                   30% household uses wood, 2.5% household uses gas, and 67.5% household use both gas and wood as the fuel for cooking.

14.                    Out of 40 head of the household, 87.5% is having a bank account and 12.5% does not have any bank account.

15.                   Out of 40 household, 22.5% have dairy, 32.5% have poultry, and 25% have goatery and none among them have piggery and fishery farming because that area is totally flood affected.

16.                   It shows that 100% head of the households have voting consciousness.

17.                   All the conscious voters have been participating in the Gaon sabha organized by Gram panchayat from time to time.

18.                   It shows that none of the respondents have any membership of any political and non- political though all the respondents are conscious, 15% have membership in political and non-political organization.

Suggestions,Limitations and Conclusion:

                    The analysis described in this paper is necessarily limited. Further work is needed in order to carry out comparisons over different communities and different time periods. In this way it may be possible to assess more precisely the progress of a particular community or a particular area. It should be worth mentioning here that though the study is trying to analyze the socio economic condition of the study area, so many indicators still remaining out of the purview of the present study. Further the study is static in nature which is based only on one time period. So wide spread opportunities are there in the field for further research which may cover more and more indicators. Following are some important suggestions for the improvement of socio-economic condition of the locality under study:

ü      Providing primary health care services and create awareness about health among the villagers is a must.

ü     Job oriented programmes should be implemented in the village level.

ü      Introduction of various skill development programmes for the youth population is needed to reduce the burden of unemployment.

ü      Providing small loans to the villagers is also required to run various small and medium size enterprises primarily based on agriculture production.

ü  It is also suggested to introduce subsidised programmes for various activities, especially, agriculture, social services and credit.

ü  People under Below Poverty Line (BPL) should be marked properly and the functionality of the BPL card must be checked on a regular basis so that they enjoy the benefits provided by the Government.

So we can conclude here that the marginalised communities of Assam are located in geographically diversified areas from one another with its population, natural boundary, ethnicity and religion. Most of the ethnic group’s customs, habits, and social behaviors are diverse in nature from one another which influence drastically their socio-economic behavior. These are may be the reason for poor socio economic condition of the state more particularly the rural areas of Assam. On the other hand the problem of economic development of Assam did not get adequate attention of the policy makers and as a result the development programmes of the state definitely resulted in lopsided development.

Policy Suggestions: The first and foremost suggestion to the policy makers is that they must have to put first priority on social infrastructure apart from Economic Infrastructure. So government should have to identify selective area as well as selective indicators for boosting the overall socio economic condition of the people of these communities under study.

(Dr. Debananda Boruah)

Date:                                                                                                                          Supervisor,

Place:                                                               Associate Professor, Department of Commerce,

C.K.B. College, Teok.

                                                                                                                                                               Mr. Atul Rajowar, B.Com.5th Semester

                                                                                                                                                                Ms. Gitashree Borah, B.A. 5th Semester

Ms. Maina Doley, B.A. 5th Semester

Ms. Pallabi Bharali, B.A.5th Semester

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Principal Investigators