LIVELIHOOD STATUS INDEX: POVERTY AND INEQUALITY ASSESSMENT IN GUJARAT

VIVEK PAL¹*, R.L. SHIYANI², N.J. ARDESHNA^3
1Research Associate Dairy Economics Statistics & Management Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
²Professor and Head Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, 362001, Gujarat, India
³Associate Research Scientist Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, 362001, Gujarat, India
* Corresponding Author : vivekpal_167@yahoo.in

Received : 02-02-2015     Accepted : 04-12-2015     Published : 21-12-2015
Volume : 7     Issue : 14       Pages : 863 - 870
Int J Agr Sci 7.14 (2015):863-870

Keywords : Economic development, GIS map, Human development, Model districts, Regional disparity, Social indicators, Tribal population
Academic Editor : Dr Satyanarayan K. Kothe, Dr. M. N. Swain
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

The study has measured the level of livelihood status of the peoples in Gujarat at region as well as district level. Using Prem Narayan’s methodology an integrated livelihood status index have been prepared by the optimum combination of five different sub-indices of Agricultural Status, Infrastructure Status, Health and Sanitation Status, Economic Status and Food Availability Status in respective regions and districts. The findings reveal that there exists wide regional disparity in Gujarat. The region of Kutchh has shown low value for most of the sub-indices including the integrated livelihood status index. Seven districts namely Bhavnagar, Panchmahal, Dahod, Surat, Banaskantha, Patan and Kutchh accounting for about 34 per cent of the total population of the state were found low developed in livelihood status. It was also found that these low developed districts account for most of the tribal population of the state, which is nearly 47 per cent. Composite indices of infrastructure and economic sectors were found highly associated with livelihood status index. For bringing about uniform regional development, model districts have been identified for low developed districts. It also explores different poor performed indicators in low developed districts that require improvement for enhancing the level of development of respective district.