MICROLEVEL STUDY OF OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE, INCOME LEVEL AND LAND PROPERTIES: A CASE STUDY FROM KAKDWIP BLOCK, SOUTH 24PARGANA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract

South 24 Parganas district is divided into two distinct physiographic zones: the marine-riverine delta in the north and the marine delta zone in the south. As the sea receded southwards, in the sub-recent geological period, a large low-lying plain got exposed. Both tidal inflows and the rivers have been depositing sediments in this plain. Annual dependency on a particular way of earning a livelihood is a rare phenomenon in the studied region. Due to frequent occurrence of torrential rains and thunder storms and occasional unprecedented natural calamities, psychologically the population is trying to be prepared with an alternative source of income. It is important to develop socio-economic resilience. They fluctuate in between farming, fishing, cottage industry and other possibilities to meet out their need. Sometimes these even end up in relocating with or without families in search of earning. In a way, livelihood has to be reached for which slowly and steadily the residents have prepared themselves mentally to resist and fight back with every odds of life and restart again as and when needed. However there lies difference in the socio-economic adaptation of the natural and non-natural resources to build such resilience.