SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS OF THE TRIBAL PEOPLE THROUGH WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: A STUDY IN ODISHA

Watershed Development Programme is based on community approach with bottom-up planning from the perspective of watershed people. A study conducted with 196 watershed people from six watersheds covering four blocks of Nabarangpur and Kandhamal district in Odisha revealed that poor developments were observed on technological, economic, social, infrastructural, farm activities and income indicating that the project had not contributed significantly for the livelihood improvement of the tribal people. Socio-economic variables such as extension contact, house type, occupation, annual income, family type, family size and educational background of the respondents had significantly influenced various aspects of developments. The project officials have to priorities the needs of the tribal people and formulating feasible programmes and increase their occupational competency with remunerative enterprise, resource generation, productive time management, better coordination and team work as well as promotion of farm mechanization ensuring and team work as well as promotion of farm mechanization ensuring increase in production and income for the upliftment of tribal people in watershed area