Socio-economic Baseline Survey of Chittagong Hill Tracts - chtdf

HDRCSocio-economic Baseline Survey of Chittagong Hill Tracts61A large number of rural HHs in CHT possesses livestock (cow/buffalo, goat/sheep, and pig),poultry and trees. Indigenous HHs possess more livestock, poultry and trees than theBangalee HHs. Significant number of indigenous HHs in all eleven groups possess pig, butBangalees do not possess them in general. This is indeed logical as majority of Bangaleepeople are Muslim and for religious restriction they do not keep pig as livestock. It is to notethat Khyang (40%), Marma (39%) and Chak (35%) HHs own relatively valuable livestock(e.g., cow/buffalo) than the others. A 40% of the rural Bangalee HHs own cow/buffalo.Around 25% indigenous and 21% Bangalee HHs possess some trees. The rate of possessionof trees among the indigenous communities is the highest among Khyang (63%). This rate isthe lowest among the Chak (only 2%).Except in Khumi and Mro communities, HHs of other indigenous communities reportedowning more gold ornament than silver. Among the indigenous groups-Bawm, Chak,Chakma and Marma HHs own relatively more ornament than others. Lushai and PangkhuaHHs do not possess any type of precious ornament.Almost all the HHs in the rural areas of CHT possesses utensils irrespective of indigenouscommunity and Bangalee, and there is not much variation in their possession among differentindigenous groups. For some traditional power structure and life-style among the indigenousgroups in CHT possession of gun/rifle is relatively higher among the indigenous groups thanamong the Bangalee; Khumi (12%) Lushai (7%) and Bawm (4%) HHs possesses relativelymore gun/rifle than others. Majority of Bawm HHs (67%) possess watch/clock; otherindigenous groups in CHT also possess watch/clock, but among Tripura it is a rare scenarioof possessing watch/ clock at HH- only 14% Tripura HH possess watch/clock. It has beenfound that Bawm (6%), Khumi (2.3%), Marma (1%) and Chakma (0.4%) possess some kindof musical instruments; 0.3% Bangalee HH possess musical instrument.7.3 Household Assets: NumberIn section 7.2, the possession ofdifferent items in HHs ofdifferent communities in CHThas been presented. This sectionprovides an analysis into thenumber of the possessed items inHH by different communities. Inrural areas of CHT, irrespectiveof indigenous and BangaleeBox 7.2: Methodological note: Number of HH assetsThe numbers are not calculated only among the owner(s) of aparticular item, but among the total sample. Thus, the numberagainst the HH items shows an overall scenario in the ruralCHT. For an example: the indigenous HH in rural CHT possess1 cow/buffalo does not mean that those who possess cow/buffalopossess 1 cow/buffalo on average, rather it indicates that amongall the indigenous HH in rural CHT (no matter whether theypossess cow/buffalo or not) on average possess 1 cow/buffalo.community, almost all HHs have one own house. Tubewell is almost absent among HHs ofindigenous groups. An insignificant number of HHs in the rural CHT, irrespective ofindigenous or Bangalee community, possesses almira, table, cot and alna. Among theindigenous communities each HH possesses one chair/bench/sofa on average; Bangalees, onan average possess two chairs/bench/sofa. It is to note that the number of bedding among theHH is relatively more pronounced than the number of other furniture. This is because of thefact that all the items related to bedding (e.g., pillow, blanket etc.) have been considered asbedding. Bawm community own significantly greater number of bedding items than othercommunities. The presence of any communication instruments (telephone/mobile, radio, TV)in rural CHT at HH level is almost nil. Any type of transport vehicle (bicycle, motorcycle,jeep/auto rickshaw, boat) is also absent at HH level in rural CHT. Though, possession of boat