The study of socio-economic profile of the underprivileged population of Umbermali village, Shahapur in Thane District.
Mr Vinod Chandwani
Class -: S.Y. LLM
India is the world’s largest economy with second largest concentration of tribals. The tribal communities remain isolated from the main stream and hence suffer the hardships due to widespread poverty, inadequate physical social infrastructure, inadequate employment opportunities, lack of quality education and inadequate and inappropriate health facilities etc. Hence, India has large sections of underprivileged people.
The term ‘Underprivileged’ has been defined in the English Dictionary as – “lacking the rights and advantages of other members of society”
The purpose of the study is to highlight Umbermali, of Shahapur such backward taluka of Thane district. Thane ranks third amongst the industrially developed districts of Maharashtra. In spite of the numerous industries and employment incentives, all talukas of the district are not equally developed. This study focuses on Umbermali.
These talukas have a higher density of underprivileged members, mostly tribals living below poverty line, than the Coastal and River basin regions. The study examines the socio-economic profile of the underprivileged population. An attempt is made to create awareness about the government schemes, policies and programs which are meant to improve their socio-economic condition. Some weightage is also given to the status of women in terms of social, physical, emotional and financial aspects. In spite of several efforts made by the government, poverty and inequality rampantly exists in these regions.
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)is used as an effective tool to achieve an accurate socio-economic status of the people. MPI uses three dimensions as part of Human Development Index: health, education, and standard of living. It is used for measuring the level of deprivations in a particular household, area/village/taluka, in this case, of Umbermali. Data was collected, in an informal manner using structured interview schedules, which were translated into regional language i.e. Marathi in order to facilitate better and accurate responses from the illiterate tribal population of the selected sample. The study reveals that in Umbermali the basic necessities of life are hard to come by.
The children are deprived of education, nutrition and good health. The percentage of malnourished population is high. Women are born to serve, suffer and starve. The study reveals the large numbers of people are socially excluded from the main stream. If such situation continues to persist, the aim of ‘Inclusive Growth’ cannot be attained. A nation can said to be truly developed if all the regions are also making steady progress in balanced way.
The aim of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to attain development by improving social and economic conditions in the world’s poorest countries. Hence, it is essential to include every small area and region of the nation and not to concentrate on just a few for industrialization or modernization. The research has used simple random sampling as technique of data collection and graphs and diagrams with proper interpretation used for research.
Introduction
Thane District is one of the few industrially advanced districts in the state of Maharashtra. Thane district is on the North of Konkan division. According to census 2011, it is third in the state in terms of population. Area of the district is 4214 sq. Km. It is 1.37 percent of the state. The industrial area developed in Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Shahpur talukas of the district and are under influence of Mumbai city’s modern culture. Out of 720 KM of coastal coast of Maharashtra State, Thane district has benfitted by 27 KM of coastal coast. 7642 hectare area is suitable for ground water fishing. Along with marine fishing, groundwater fishing is done as well. A big market like Mumbai is available for fishery and there is a great demand for fish production from the Gulf countries also. Economic and social development of more than half of the district is due to industrialization. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation have developed 8 industrial estates.
The international market and friendly ports like Mumbai, the convenience of communication and the facilities provided by the government, have made the industry prosperous in the district. Especially in the southern and western parts of the district, there is a centralization of industries. The industries registered in the district mainly produce large amounts of chemicals and medicines. Apart from this, medium and small producers of plastic goods, iron goods and powerloom fabrics are being manufactured in large quantities.
Where as Umbermali is small village coming under Shahapur taluka under Thane District. Umbarmali is a small Village in Shahapur Taluka in Thane District of Maharashtra State, India. It comes under Shirol Panchayath. It belongs to Konkan region . It is located 80 KM towards East from District head quarters Thane where as 23 KM from Shahapur. Most of the population belonging to farmers background and household ladies. Many of them are not aware
The socio-economic landscape of a village reflects its unique characteristics shaped by history, geography, and cultural ethos. Umbermali village, situated within the Thane district, serves as a microcosm of rural India, showcasing the challenges and opportunities inherent in the rural economy. This study aims to critically analyse the interplay of various factors shaping the village’s socio-economic profile.
Review of Literature
- Theoretical Frameworks
- Human Ecology and Socio-Economic Mapping: Park and Burgess (1925) introduced the human ecology framework, emphasizing the spatial distribution of social and economic systems. Recent studies extend this framework to rural India, focusing on how natural resources and community interactions shape socio-economic patterns (Deshpande, 2019).
- Sustainable Livelihood Framework: Chambers and Conway (1992) proposed the sustainable livelihood approach, which examines household assets, vulnerabilities, and opportunities. This framework is frequently applied to understand rural communities’ dependence on agriculture and natural resources (Scoones, 1998).
- Socio-Economic Studies in Indian Villages
- Economic Structures in Rural India: Mukherjee (1975) provided foundational insights into Indian rural economies, identifying agriculture as the cornerstone. However, contemporary studies emphasize diversification into non-agricultural sectors, especially in villages experiencing urban spillovers (Sharma et al., 2016).
- Social Stratification and Economic Mobility: Studies such as Srinivas (1952) explore caste dynamics and their impact on economic opportunities. Recent research highlights increasing mobility due to education and migration, though entrenched inequalities persist (Jodhka, 2020).
- Methodological Approaches
- GIS and Spatial Mapping: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly employed to create detailed maps of socio-economic variables. Studies by Bhatta (2010) demonstrate how GIS can integrate demographic, economic, and spatial data to offer actionable insights for policy.
- Mixed-Method Approaches: Combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys provides a holistic understanding of rural socio-economic landscapes (Kumar & Corbridge, 2002). Such methods have proven particularly useful in capturing gendered experiences and informal economies.
- Key Findings from Case Studies
- Agriculture and Livelihoods: Case studies in Maharashtra by Patil (2015) reveal a heavy dependence on rain-fed agriculture, leading to seasonal vulnerabilities. Diversification into horticulture and dairy farming is observed as a coping strategy.
- Migration Patterns: Research by Deshingkar and Farrington (2009) highlights migration as a significant factor in rural socio-economic transformation. Seasonal labour migration to urban centres contributes to income but disrupts local community structures.
- Education and Healthcare: Rural education studies emphasize the importance of accessible schooling for socio-economic upliftment (Banerjee & Duflo, 2011). Similarly, healthcare access remains a critical determinant of well-being in rural India, with studies noting the lack of adequate facilities (Rao, 2014).
- Gaps in Literature
- Limited Focus on Micro-Level Studies: Many studies generalize findings at a district or state level, overlooking the unique characteristics of individual villages.
- Underrepresentation of Tribal Communities: Research often neglects the socio-economic conditions of tribal populations, a critical demographic in villages like Umbermali.
- Dynamic Impact of Urbanization: While the influence of urbanization on rural socio-economic landscapes is acknowledged, its nuanced effects on specific villages remain underexplored.
- Gendered Analysis: Studies seldom focus on the distinct socio-economic roles and challenges faced by women in rural communities.
- Methodology
- Survey Techniques: Household surveys were conducted using structured questionnaires.
- Field Observations: Direct observations provided insights into daily life and community interactions.
- Interviews: In-depth interviews with key informants, including local residents, farmers, household ladies and upsarpach of the village
- Data Analysis: Statistical tools were employed to analyze quantitative data, while qualitative data were thematically coded.
- Hypothesis:
- H0: Social Economic status of Umbermali village has proper litracy rate, Income Level, Health care.
- H1: Social Economic status of Umbermali villae has improper litracy rate, Income Level, Health care.
- Objectives
- Demographic Analysis: To evaluate the population distribution, literacy rate, and gender ratio.
- Economic Assessment: To examine the primary and secondary sources of income, employment trends, and land usage.
- Social Dynamics: To explore the influence of caste, community networks.
4.1 Socio-Economic Components in Rural Landscapes
The below chart representing key components typically observed in mapping socio-economic landscapes of rural areas. Each segment shows the percentage contribution of categories such as agriculture, non-agricultural occupations, seasonal migration, education, and healthcare access.
4.2 Socio-Economic Indicators of Umbermali Village
The bar chart representing key socio-economic indicators for Umbermali Village. The chart highlights components such as agriculture, non-agricultural jobs, literacy rate, healthcare access, and migration, with their respective percentages as example data.
- Findings and Discussion
- Demographic Trends: The village population is predominantly composed of tribal communities with a literacy rate of approximately 65%. Youth migration to urban areas for employment is a notable trend.
- Economic Activities: Agriculture remains the primary occupation, with a significant portion of households engaged in subsistence farming. Seasonal migration for labour work in nearby cities adds to household income.
- Social Structure: Community networks play a critical role in social cohesion, yet caste-based hierarchies persist.
- Women’s participation in decision-making processes is limited, though self-help groups are gaining traction.
- Infrastructure and Amenities: The village has a single primary school and limited healthcare facilities. Road connectivity is improving, but public transport remains inadequate.
- Cultural Practices: Traditional festivals and rituals contribute to community bonding but also incur significant expenses for households.
So, from the above interpretation we can come to end result that even though Thane District is Industrialised developed, still there are villages in the district which are far behind development and one of them is Umbermali, which is just 70 kms away from Thane. It is far behind development in many aspects like Health Care, Education, Occupation Distribution, Education as it has only one Primary School with upto 8th standard only. So, even Thane is developed but its small village umbermali is still has to achieve Socio – Economic Development.
- Challenges
- Limited access to quality education and healthcare services.
- Dependence on rain-fed agriculture increases vulnerability to climate change.
- Migration disrupts family structures and creates labour shortages during peak agricultural seasons.
- Recommendations
- Education: Strengthen school infrastructure and introduce vocational training programs.
- Healthcare: Establish mobile health units to provide regular medical check-ups.
- Economic Diversification: Promote small-scale industries and value-added agricultural products.
- Empowerment Programs: Enhance women’s participation through targeted skill development initiatives.
- Infrastructure Development: Improve road connectivity and introduce reliable public transport services.
Conclusion and Research Implications
This review underscores the need for localized, interdisciplinary studies to capture the nuances of socio-economic landscapes in villages such as Umbermali. Future research should leverage modern tools like GIS while incorporating participatory approaches to ensure the inclusion of marginalized voices. Addressing the identified gaps will enable a more comprehensive understanding and contribute to effective policy-making for rural development.