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Livelihood of the Char Dwellers of Western Assam

Author

Listed:
  • Balram Kumar
  • Debarshi Das

Abstract

The Brahmaputra and other rivers of Assam are replete with numerous sandbars, which are locally called chars. Chars are home to nearly 10 per cent population of Assam. Char dwellers live a precarious life. Battered by recurrent floods and soil erosion, chars have an impermanent existence. In western Assam, the char dwellers, mostly belonging to the migrant Muslim community of East Bengal origin, live in backwardness and poverty. The article examines two questions pertaining to their economic life: income and seasonal migration. Through a primary data survey and statistical analysis, the article seeks to delineate the salient factors which influence their income and migration decision. We conclude that land holding, land lost due to erosion, household size and education are some of the factors which play a key role in this regard. We find that location of a char is important: some chars are more migration-prone than others. Policy implications have been spelled out in the end.

Suggested Citation

  • Balram Kumar & Debarshi Das, 2019. "Livelihood of the Char Dwellers of Western Assam," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 90-101, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inddev:v:13:y:2019:i:1:p:90-101
    DOI: 10.1177/0973703019839808
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jajati Keshari Parida & S Madheswaran, 2011. "Determinants of Migration and Remittance in India: Empirical Evidence," Working Papers 272, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore.
    2. Sanjoy Chakravorty & S. Chandrasekhar & Karthikeya Naraparaju, 2016. "Income generation and inequality in India's agricultural sector: The Consequences of land fragmentation," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2016-028, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
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