PROMOTION OF RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN SIKKIM - Sa-Dhan

PROMOTION OF RURAL
LIVELIHOODS IN SIKKIM
Earth Conscience
May 2002
Presented to BASIX, Hyderabad

THE ORGANISATION
Earth Conscience is a no-profit,
no-loss
development organisation, , registered under the
Indian Trusts Act, 1882 in Guwahati.
The mission is to ‘promote sustainable development
within rural communities in northeastern India by
efficiently and equitably managing their natural and
cultural resources’.
The 1 st phase of activities shall cover Sikkim.

THE CHALLENGE
“The
young demographic profile of the State poses
a great challenge to the State Government.
Employment opportunities have to be enlarged”.
The Sikkim HDR, 2001

THE GEOGRAPHY
Small, extremely
mountainous state in
the Indian Himalayas.
Only 7,096 sq km in
size but escalates from
2,500 fsl to 27,000 fsl.

THE REGION
Population 5,40,493 persons (2001), 89% of
population in rural areas.
3 main communities Lepcha, Bhutia & Nepalese.
Landlocked state accessible through North
Bengal, close to important trading centre -
Siliguri.

AGRI & ALLIED RESOURCES
Agro-based economy, contribution of primary
sector at 33.8 % to the state income in 1996-97.
97.
Wide range of crops are cultivated in a range of
agro-ecological zones, upland rice, wheat, maize,
vegetables, pulses, potato, tea and ginger.
Produces 80% of India’s large cardamom, , which
enjoys a high value export market.

AGRI & ALLIED RESOURCES
Horticulture & floriculture offer potential; ginger,
oranges, orchids, flowers etc.
Livestock management a common practice, a
variety of animals are kept. Predominantly non-
veg food habits.
has 900 kms of fresh water streams and 3,000 ha
of derelict water bodies.

FOREST RESOURCES
One of the bio-diversity hotspots of the world.
Forest area is 43%, FD has administrative control
of over 80% of the land.
Minor Forest Produce (MFP) form a substantial
portion of inputs of rural households.

FOREST RESOURCES
91 medicinal plant species have been notified
until now, many remain yet to be utilised.
Over 450 species of orchids, , 36 species of
rhododendrons.
550 species of birds, 39 species of reptiles, 144
species of mammals & 700 species of butterflies.

HUMAN RESOURCES
Rapidly expanding population, up by 158%
between 1971 to 2001.
As per the 2001 census, literacy rate 69.68%,
men 76.73% & women 61.46%.
Very good inter-ethnic ethnic relations, , no law & order
problems.

INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES
3 communities, with numerous sub groups giving
an excellent base for handicrafts and handlooms.
The natural & cultural resources base make it an
ideal place for the development of rural tourism.
Has a hydro-electric
potential of 1,283 MW, , has
projected a peak demand of 40 MW.

PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Impressive rural electrification & water
infrastructure but no maintenance.
Road length of 1,834 kms, , of which about 83.3%
is surfaced.
79% of the villages connected by all weather
roads, 100% for pop above 1,000.

INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES
Indian Army and the State PWD the main rural
institutions, the latter is a major source of rural
employment.
Weekly haats also a major rural institution, with
women dominating as vendors.
Enacted the Sikkim Pachayat Act, 1982,
traditional village headman also plays an
important role.

CONSTRAINTS
Topography limits agriculture expansion &
primitive agri-technology leading to declining
productivity.
33% growth in population. Density up by 33.33%
(1991-2001).
Tremendous strain on land as only 35% area is
inhabitable.

CONSTRAINTS
Per capita NSDP growth only 0.12% in 1993-94.
94.
Very poor industrial base, 13.30% of the
registered industries still functioning.
Contribution of manufacturing sector to the state
income only 5.1% in 1996-97
97

CONSTRAINTS
HDI value of 0.532 for 1998 – lower than all India
HDI of 0.563.
Wide rural-urban urban disparity in wealth. In 1993-4,
for instance, only 8% of the urban population
BPL, for rural areas 45%.

CONSTRAINTS
CD ratio of 13.42%, , amongst the lowest even in
the NE states.
Complete absence of extension services to rural
households/producers.
Information gap as far as the state is concerned,
especially socio-economic data.

INFERENCE
The state obviously has the resources to
provide livelihoods to a large proportion of its
population, but certain constraints exist.
A priori, two of the primary constraints have
been identified as:
1. The lack of basic information on the livelihoods
scenario in the state.
2. the lack of market linkages for rural producers.

THE INITIATIVE
The ultimate purpose is to promote rural
livelihoods in Sikkim. The objectives are:
i. Research & information dissemination (RID) on the
rural livelihoods scenario in the state.
ii.
Promoting rural livelihoods through development of
sustainable market linkages (SML).

RID – SUB OBJECTIVES
a. Action research on livelihood promotion opportunities
in the state based on a sub sector approach.
b. Develop & strengthen local information assimilation &
management systems.
c. Disseminate information to highlight the development
issues facing the state.
d. Develop & promote information sharing systems.

SML – SUB OBJECTIVES
a. Identify sub sectors with max potential for promoting
rural livelihoods and those impacting the poorest.
b. Sub sector analysis to identify intervention points, the
range of services required by small producers and
micro-enterprises
enterprises.
c. Formation of a development polygon to address
intervention needs with market linking as the primary
intervention.

PILOT PROJECTS
Development of a livelihoods database for
different agro climatic zones in the state.
Detailed analysis of two sub sectors to identify
constraints & potential.

LIVELIHOODS D’BASE
Detailed resources, household & market survey
within each agro climatic zone through:
– Analysis of secondary data
– Dipstick surveys of resources, households & markets
– Discussions with key informants
Identify agro climatic zones with the most need
for livelihood support.

SS INTERVENTION
Analysis of the sub sector to identify constraints &
opportunities:
– Value chain identification and participant profiling.
– Development of SS maps with overlays of interest.
– Identification of intervention points along the value
chain.
SS analysis will yield points with max leverage for
livelihoods promotion/generation.

OUTPUTS
a. A livelihoods database of the different agro climatic
zones.
b. The agro climatic zones with the most need for
livelihoods support.
c. The type of support required in each agro climatic
zone.
d. The SS with max potential for generating/promoting
rural livelihoods.
e. The appropriate interventions in the select sub
sectors.

BENEFITS
The benefits from the initiative will include:
i. Dissemination of information on the livelihoods
pattern in the state will result in more effective
interventions in the sector.
ii.
Generation/promotion of rural livelihoods through
intervention in the selected sub sectors.

TIMELINES
The timelines for the initiative are as follows:
– Office Establishment
– Livelihoods Database
– Sub Sector Analysis (2 SS)
– Intervention Design (2SS)
1.0 month
6.0 months
5.0 months
3.0 months
________________________________________
Total Project Time
15.0 months

BUDGET
The budget for the initiative is as follows:
i. Human Resources
ii.
CapEx
iii.
Operating Expenses
Rs. . 5.53 lakhs
Rs. . 2.29 lakhs
Rs. . 5.68 lakhs
____________________________________
Total Expenditure
Rs. . 13.50 lakhs

STAFFING PATTERN
The initiative will be managed by a 5 member
team comprising of:
– 1 Programme Manager
– 2 Team Members
– 1 Administrative Assistant
The Team will be supported by 3 consultants.

RESOURCE MOBILISATION
The initiative will be grant based up to the sub
sector analysis phase. The resource mobilisation
for the actual intervention will depend on the type
of intervention.
Where there are economic activities in the
intervention, they will be funded through
equity/loans. . For non economic activities, , the
intervention will depend on grants.

I would like to thank
Mr. Mahajan, , Mr. Datta and Gitali
The Ganjam Unit of Basix
MPLEAP, Bhopal
Others in Basix who helped me throughout the year.

Raj Kamal Phukan
info@earth-conscience.org
www.earth-conscience.org