SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OCCURRED AMONG THE TRIBAL BENEFICIARIES AS A RESULT OF THE WADI PROJECT IN THE GOALPARA DISTRICT SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LAKHIPUR BLOCK ASSAM
The Wadi project focuses on the development of orchards (recognized locally as Wadi), particularly on degraded lands. Through this program, tribal people cultivate mangoes, cashews, guavas, custard apples, alas, lemons, sapota, and drumsticks. The scope of the present study was to explore the socio-economic implications of such a project for its beneficiaries as a result of the WADI. The study was conducted in Lakhipur block in the Goalpara district. The list of all WADI tribal beneficiaries was collected from the Lakhipur block office, Po-Lakhipur, District-Goalpara, Assam. For this investigation, a proportionate random sampling method was employed to select 110 tribal beneficiaries from the 14 villages spread across four talukas in the Lakhipur block of Goalpara district. The structured schedule was developed to measure the socioeconomic consequences of the Wadi project on tribal beneficiaries. Analyses found that these had medium to high significance, with variables such as education, land holding, occupation, income, source of information, social participation and risk orientation among those observed to have an effect. It was also found that economic motivation, scientific orientation, extension contact, and aspirations had significantly affected outcomes. Moreover, socio-economic consequences were associated with cohesiveness, management orientation, communication skills, and proximity to the market. Finally farming experience, innovativeness, and training acquired were significant factors in determining outcomes.
Socio-Economic, Consequences, Tribal People, Beneficiaries, WADI Project.