Breaking of poverty through sericulture among the tribe-A Socio-Economic study of Dharamjaigarh block of Raigarh Dist, CG, India

Abstract

The present strategy of rural development in India mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programmes of wage and self-employment. Poverty is biggest challenge in India. Poverty is a social phenomenon in which a section of society is unable to fulfill even its basic necessities. Solution of rural poverty and unemployment can come from land and water based jobs, which even today employ six times. The farmers are encouraged to take up non-agriculture practices. In this context sericulture is a better option because it is labor intensive industry. It provides direct or indirect employment to about 7 million people in India. Sericulture requires low investment and offers high profit. It also provides regular income to farmers throughout the year unlike most other agricultural crops. Sericulture plays a vital role in the flow of income from the urban rich sections of the society to the rural poor. There are more than 58 countries practicing sericulture in the world. India is the only Country in the world to produce all the four known varieties of silk including Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga. In Chhattisgarh Tropical Tasar and mulberry are reared on commercial scale. Tasar is realy named as Kosa. Sericulture is being practiced by the tribal of traditional Districts of Baster, Raigarh, Bilaspur and Surguja. The study area has about 364 acres under mulberry cultivation. Total area covered under tasar centers is about 3153.25 acres. Tasar rearing in forest are covered 4729.88 acres. The total beneficiaries are 5739 out of them 3347 are tribal in the district. In the block only 18 (18%) beneficiaries out of 100 adopted the sericulture as main occupation and rest 82 (82%) as secondary occupation. Out of 100 respondents in block 32% received employment for duration of 100-150 days and 64% for a period of 151-200 days and 3% of 201-300 days and the 1% for more than 300 days. The total monthly income obtained from all sources to the families involved in sericulture occupation is average 3840/-. The total monthly expenditure is about 2380/-. The respondent tribe of study area collects forest minor products and thus they earn income about 5950/- once in year which is a satisfactory amount for poor families. Before having sericulture occupation, the economic condition of 72% of the respondent was normal, 8% was bed and 20% was very miserable. The average annual income from the old occupation was Rs. 19350/. The change in annual income is reported app. Double which is good in amount.