Role of social capital in rural livelihood strategies in Ranchi district of Jharkhand

Abstract

The concept of social capital has added a new dimension to the dialogue on development. Further, the role and interpretation of social capital is formalized drawing on a micro level study in Ranchi district of Jharkhand. Development interventions have a major concern a linking of development with livelihoods emerging from protection and sustainable management of the natural resource base of the region. The livelihood strategies which individuals adopt reflect their choices in building on their assets : gaining more from a livelihood through increased agricultural production or by cultivating more land. Results showed that 95% respondents had supply of electricity and 27% respondents had no safe drinking water. Only 18% respondents had sanitation facility. There were good conditions in availability of minimum employment (72.5%) and access to institutional credit (73%). Seventy-nine per cent respondents felt safe in the locality even after area was affected by Naxals. Most of the households had ownership of land resources for cultivation (95%) but 5% households were landless.