Assessment of Livelihood Security of Tribal Farmers: A Case Study from Tribal Area of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The Govt. of India focusing on the strategy for improving the livelihood security of the tribal farmers, who are still untouched by the lifestyle of the modern world. Therefore, an attempt was made through this study to find out the extent of livelihood security the tribal farmers through their different means of livelihood generation. The present study was conducted in purposively selected districts from most tribal populated area of Madhya Pradesh. A total of four blocks were selected, and from each block two villages were randomly selected. Thus, a total of eight villages were selected and from each selected village 15 respondents were selected, Thus, a total of 120 respondents were selected. To measure the livelihood security of the farmers, an index developed by Eqbal (2015) used with modifications. The index was based on 7 sub- indicators of Livelihood Security i.e., Food security, Economic security, Health security, Social security, Infrastructural security, Educational security, institutional security. Majority (57.00%) of the respondents were having low level of extension contact in the study area. The overall extent of Livelihood Security was found as majority of the respondent in case of Food Security (47.50%), Economic security (52.50%), health Security (43.33%), Institutional Security (40.83%) comes under Low category, in case of education security (49.17%), infrastructure Security (46.67%) respondents come under medium category, whereas 51.67 per cent of respondent in case of Social Security comes under High category and overall Livelihood Security index 48.33% of the respondents comes under low category.