LIVELIHOODS AND DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS OF THE RURAL VILLAGES: A CASE OF MAMIT DISTRICT IN MIZORAM

Abstract

In the era of rapid urbanisation and a globalised economy, rural areas often find itself entangled in a cycle of change and development affecting the overall livelihood of the rural population. The fast changing nature of development in the rural and urban areas has culminated into a system of economy where vicious circle of poverty still operates in rural areas. The level of living of the people shifts in an opposite direction wherein rural areas are deprived of many basic amenities and opportunities compared to their urban counterparts. Even after the introduction of PURA scheme, rural villages are lacking in almost all areas of development leading to widespread poverty and slow rate of human capital formation. This paper brings out the status of developmental indicators in and around Mamit district of Mizoram and the livelihood conditions of the people therein. It is very disheartening to see that even after seventy four years of independence and thirty four years of attaining its statehood, the rural villages are still lacking in many areas like education, public health facilities, market, availability of banking, internet facilities, skill development etc,. All these factor has led to the over dependence of the rural population on agriculture and its allied sectors making it difficult to achieve sustainable livelihood.

Key Words : Livelihood, globalised, development, capital formation, deprivation, opportunities, poverty, PURA, sustainable.