A Study on Livelihood of the Bamboo Based: Challenges and Opportunities among the Rural People of Goreswar, Baksa District of Assam

DILIP CHANDRA DAS

Green Gold, Bamboo, Bamboo based Products, livelihoods, development, employment opportunity, etc.

From being termed Bamboo as Poor Man’s timber to being called 'Green Gold, the perception of Bamboo, a versatile grass found mainly in Asia and Africa, has undergone a drastic change. However this recognition of the usefulness of Bamboo existed even in the ancient times, as is apparent from the Rig Veda which calls upon the Gods to Bestow upon us a hundred Bamboo clumps. Only in recent years is it being increasingly realized what a valuable resource Bamboo is not only for the traditional subsistence economy but even the modern industrial one. This paper is presenting the key challenges in sustainable livelihood opportunities to rural and tribal artisans in the bamboo sector and the financing options from formal financial and informal financial agencies. How access to various types of resources such as land , water, finance etc., s the key to supporting livelihoods of poor as all these have a direct impact on income and employment, especially for those in the unorganized sector. As one of the financing options, this paper provides the micro-finance overview, rural credit delivery system, formal and informal financial agencies, constraints of formal agencies and advantages of informal finance. This paper is looking into strategies for resource development and how the resources to be made available to poor and vulnerable to make livelihoods more sustainable. Also presents a case study on Goreswar areas, brief report on Bamboo resource and its utilization and livelihood options of rural and tribal people in Baksa district of BTAD a tribal areas in North East India.

Volume 5 Issue 5, May-2020

Pages : 131 - 135