SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF OIL EXPLORATION IN BARMER REGION OF RAJASTHAN

Natural oil is one of the energy resources and past experience suggests that oil exploration and related ventures lead to a multidimensional growth and development of the region and nation as a whole. With this viewpoint, this paper examines the recent oil exploration in the Barmer district of Rajasthan in India and its positive impact on socio-economic development of the region and country with special reference to employment generation and sectoral mobilization aspects.The present paper well considers and analyzes various issues in the case of oil finding in the region. New set of employment opportunities, sectoral mobilization, infrastructure development, industrial and service sector development, education and training needs are the key developments after oil finding. These would have great impact on the socio-economic structure of the region. The study is relevant and important considering the emergence of Asia and India in particular as new economic growth centers and the role of energy resources in sustaining this development process.