Dynamics of Development In Livelihood and Poverty In Rural Jharkhand

Aims and Objectives: The research aims to understand the specific causes of backwardness in rural Jharkhand, analyze changes in living standards and well-being over the past fifteen years, and deliberate on emerging challenges along with strategies to address them.

Methodology: The study involved a primary survey focusing on the economic characteristics of villages and households in rural Jharkhand. Fieldwork was conducted between August and September 2018. A multi-stage, stratified sampling design was employed to select the villages and households for the survey.

In addition to the quantitative survey, a qualitative component was included, featuring focus-group discussions in most of the study villages. The survey encompassed approximately 1,300 households across 24 villages, spanning 8 blocks in 7 districts of Jharkhand.

 Findings:

• 20% of households are structurally chronic poor, 27% structurally transient poor, 26% stochastic transient households, and 28% stable non-poor.
• 18% of total workers are migrant workers.
• 29% of income sent as remittance; highest among Muslims and OBCs, lowest among STs.
• Workforce participation rate among females aged 15 years and above was 26%, with a gender gap of 30 percentage points in 2018.
• Increased male migration has led to women playing a more significant role in managing households and land, reflected in higher female workforce participation rates.
• Women have a greater share in casual wage labor, similar to men.
• PDS, ICDS, and MDMS are considered the most important government programs in rural Jharkhand.
• Child dropout is a serious issue; only 71% of children aged 15-17 years are enrolled in school.

Recommendations:

• Address poverty and livelihood challenges with targeted interventions for structural chronic poor and transient poor households.
• Enhance support and protection for migrant workers and their families.
• Promote gender equality and reduce the gender gap in workforce participation.
• Strengthen government programs like PDS, ICDS, and MDMS to improve their effectiveness.
• Implement measures to reduce child dropout rates and increase school enrollment among older children.