Land, Agriculture and Livelihood of Scheduled Tribes in North-East India

Abstract

Land is collectively owned and governed by the community among the Scheduled Tribe (ST) in the north-eastern region. As a result, households without land were less prominent among the ST households, than all-social groups, particularly in the ST-population-dominated states. Private land ownership has also evolved in recent times. Land is the basic resources and agriculture, especially shifting cultivation, is the primary means of livelihood for majority of them. ST households mostly cultivated a small and medium size of land rendering to a subsistence economy. Recently, a gradual relinquish from the dependence of agriculture for employment and livelihood is evident. Concurrently, agricultural income has significantly declined. Ironically, the region continues to produce inadequate food grains production that is insufficient to cater the rapidly growing population. Economy of STs revolves around a subsistence agricultural economy. Nevertheless, ST means of livelihood has converged towards diversified modern market-oriented employment and economy.