IMPACT OF RUBBER PLANTATION BASED ECONOMIC–REHABILITATION PROGRAMME ON SHIFTING CULTIVATORS IN DHALAI DISTRICT OF TRIPURA

Raju Debbarma

Volume : IV, Issue : V, May - 2015

IMPACT OF RUBBER PLANTATION BASED ECONOMIC–REHABILITATION PROGRAMME ON SHIFTING CULTIVATORS IN DHALAI DISTRICT OF TRIPURA

Raju Debbarma

Abstract :

The paper assess the impact of rubber plantation based economic–rehabilitation programme on households having rubber plantation (HHRP) erstwhile shifting cultivators ( jhumias) and compared with households not having rubber plantation (HNHRP), applying Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) to analyse the five capital assets viz. human, natural, physical, finance and social gathered through household survey. Range equalization method was adopted to elucidate the five capitals. Physical and financial capitals have great influence on enhancing the livelihood of HHRP than HNHRP whereas social capital the least for both households. HHRP slightly lack in natural and human capitals than HNHRP, as access to land for shifting cultivation ( jhum) of HHRP have drastically decline due to land allotted for rubber cultivation and decline in traditional skills but resulted in increasing modern skills associated with rubber plantation. High income of HHRP from rubber plantation has strengthened copping strategies than HNHRP.