Artha Vijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

Debnarayan Sarker ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Economic Studies, Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, IN

Abstract

Based on different reports and reviews on government induced microcredit programme operating through Self-help Groups (SHGs) in India, this paper tries to explore as to how the SHG-BANK linkage microcredit programme fails to reach the large number of persons in the target group, although formation of SHGs and development of micro enterprises has become the principal means of poverty alleviation by the Government of India. While presenting a theoretical model, this paper suggests that it is essential to make necessary financial grants to the target group primarily to the amount of expected 'debt trap' it may face in the informal credit market to repay the loans, which they received earlier from mainstream banks, within the due date so long as the projects undertaken by it are productive.

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Nimai Das ¹, Debnarayan Sarker ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC), R-1 Baishnabghata Patuli Township, Kolkata 700094, IN
2 Centre for Economic Studies, Presidency College, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata 700073, IN

Abstract

This empirical study suggests that the economic outcome of Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme has been beneficial for both forest fringe community and government who jointly manage the forest resources. Cooperation yields an outcome preferred by both as they are able to negotiate before execution of all activities. The theoretical model of common property resources suggests that cooperative behaviour of JFM guided by norms of restraint and customs may be stable against invasion by narrowly selfinterested behaviour. The study also indicates that without costly sanctions against poor JFM-households for extracting illegal forest products, JFM appears to be beneficial for all.

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Debnarayan Sarker ¹

Affiliations
1 Center for Economic Studies, Department of Economics, Presidency College, 86/1, College Street, Kolkata 700073, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The objectives of this article are to assess linkages and impact of participatory JFM Programme on Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) across socioeconomic group of forest fringe communities. The study is based on four sample FPCs – one female FPC and three joint FPCs - in Midnapore and Bankura districts in West Bengal. The results suggest that the JFM Programme under the sample FPCs/villages in West Bengal is participatory. With regard to the SRL framework, strong sustainability criteria meet for very poor and poor households, which live below poverty line and are dependent on forest resource for their livelihood security. The study suggests that force or law cannot effectively control illegal collection of TFPs by the households living below poverty line, until a considerable increase in the collection of legal forest products – NTFPs, fuelwood etc. – and wage income from forest are ensured.

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Debnarayan Sarker ¹, Dipanwita Ganguly ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Economic Studies, Presidency College, Kolkata 700 073, IN

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the socio-economic status of prawn-seed collectors, who traditionally live on fishing, in open riverain fishery under 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The study suggests that the prawn-seed collectors' households are the most vulnerable segment among the poorest of the poor and live under Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. There is high incidence of illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, negligence of children's health and large family size among the majority of prawn-seed collectors' households. Despite the dislike for this occupation, female and adolescent girls acting as main earners of their households are compelled to be engaged in prawn-seed collection to support their families in addition to their household duties at the cost of hard labour over day and night; high risks and high occupational healtlh hazard; the monthly income of these families is too low to support their families throughout the year and other members of their families have to supplement them with subsidiary sources of income. The study also suggests that the practice of prawn-seed collection under open riverain fishery is economically inefficient, ecologically unsustainable and socially unsound.

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