r e g i o n , m a d h y a p r a d e s h i n r u r a l a r

E X P L O R I N G T H E E M P L O Y M E N T P O T E N T I A LI N R U R A L A R E A S O F B U N D E L K H A N D

R E G I O N , M A D H Y A P R A D E S H

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0

P R O J E C T R E P O R T

Disclaimer : During the course of the study, sizeable data was collected by the authors from various departments and official sources. In addition, a lot of historical information was obtained from the officers, community and other stakeholders through structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions. While the authors have taken due care to validate this data to the extent possible, not all of it could be verified or corroborated, and therefore, IGG cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the same.

During the course of the Study, the Project Team from IGG benefitted immensely by the inputs gathered during several interactions with:

• The District Collectors • The Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Panchayats • The district heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal

Husbandry, Fisheries, District Industries Centre, Forests, Tribal Development. • District Project Managers and staff of State Rural Livelihoods Mission • Staff of Civil Society Organisations working on rural livelihoods in Bundelkhand

region, namely, ASA, CARD, Development Alternatives, Haritika, Mahila Chetna Manch, PRADAN, Samarthan, and SRIJAN and World Vision

• Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the districts covered • District Development Managers of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development (NABARD) The Project Team has also benefitted from the inputs from and interaction with the participants of three meetings with the district level heads of different departments and institutions organised by the District Collectors:

• At Sagar on 16th October 2019 • At Damoh on 17th October 2019 • At Tikamgarh on 29th January 2020

December 2020

Project Report

Exploring the Employment Potential in Rural Areas of Bundelkhand Region,

Madhya Pradesh

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and

Policy Analysis

© Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (IGG) Sushasan Bhawan Bhadbada Square, T. T. Nagar Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, 462003 www.aiggpa.mp.gov.in This report is the property of IGG. We encourage dissemination of our work for non-commercial and non-exclusive purposes, so long as the source is properly acknowledged. To be cited as: IGG; Exploring the Employment Potential in Rural Areas of Bundelkhand Region, Madhya Pradesh; Bhopal, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (IGG); December 2020.

This report is one of the outputs of the study commissioned by the Centre for NRM and Decentralised Governance, IGG on request of the Bundelkhand Development Authority (BDA) to assess the potential of enhancing employment in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. A separate report on the study of employment in urban areas is being published by IGG separately. This is the Main Report covering overall situation and potential of rural employment in the entire study area of five districts in the Bundelkhand Region of Madhya Pradesh. The district-specific details can be found in five district-wise reports prepared for districts Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Sagar, and Tikamgarh & Niwari.

Conducted for: Bundelkhand Development Authority (BDA) Project Guidance: Mr. R. Parasuram, Ex-Director General, IGG Mr. Mangesh Tyagi, Principal Advisor, Centre for NRM & Dec. Governance, IGG Project Team: Dr. Anitha Govindaraj, Advisor, Centre for NRM & Decentralised Governance, IGG Mr. Yugandhar Mandavkar, Fellow, IGG Mr. Soumitra M. Peshave, Research Associate, IGG Mr. Dhananjay Singh Yadav, Research Associate, IGG Mr. Rohit Ranjan, Research Associate, IGG Key Words: Rural employment, rural enterprises, group enterprises, cluster approach, resource based potential

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Preface&Acknowledgements Employment creation assumes a great importance for policy makers and development administration as a natural response to the development challenges of Bundelkhand region. Rural Bundelkhand is characterised by poor resource endowment, recurrent droughts, poverty, and resultant migration. Low natural resource endowment, together with low rate of industrialisation and commerce, has resulted in low employment opportunities for the people. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (IGG) conducted a study on Exploring the Employment Potential in Bundelkhand Region of Madhya Pradesh. It was commissioned by the Bundelkhand Development Authority (BDA) towards the overall development of the region with focus on rural employment. It covered five districts of Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Sagar, and Tikamgarh & Niwari. Niwari is recently bifurcated from district Tikamgarh, but for this report Tikamgarh and Niwari are considered as one undivided district. The study was carried out with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods using information gathered from both primary and secondary sources. This study is conceptualised, designed and guided by Mr. R. Parasuram during his tenure as then Director General of IGG. He was the leading light behind its execution and a constant source of inspiration. This report is a result of the hard work and persistent efforts of Dr. Anitha Govindraj, Advisor and Mr. Yugandhar Mandavkar, Fellow. Their efforts came to fruition as the study was industriously supported by the team of Research Associates Soumitra Peshawe, Dhananjay Singh Yadav and Rohit Ranjan. Mr. Mangesh Tyagi, Principal Advisor, Centre for NRM and Decentralised Governance, IGG, provided the constant encouragement and valuable guidance. Special thanks are due to Ms Shristi Kushwah and Mr Bhupedra Thakur of the CSO, Self Reliant Initiatives for Joint Action, SRIJAN, for their untiring support during the field investigations in districts Tikamgarh and Sagar, respectively. Several individuals and institutions provided useful insights into the phenomenon of rural employment and shared their experiences of various interventions. The Research Team of IGG is grateful to the District Collectors and the Zila Panchayat CEOs of all districts for their initiation and support provided during the study. The team is thankful to the heads of various departments, KVK, SRLM, DIC, KVIB, etc for sharing their ideas and experiences on relevant options of enhancing employment in their respective districts. The Research Team is thankful to Prof V K Sigh of College of Agriculture, Tikamgarh and Mr Subhash Chandra Dey, District Development Manager, NABARD, Tikamgarh, for their valuable inputs. This study could not have been completed without the invaluable contribution and insights provided by the primary stakeholders, namely, the women, youth and farmers, the Self Help Groups, Farmers Groups and FPOs, Agro-Service Centres, other entrepreneur groups and individual entrepreneurs, and the Gram Panchayat members and functionaries, for which the Research Team will always remain grateful to them.

Project Team (IGG)

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TheKeyTakeaways The economy of Bundelkhand region is primarily agrarian, and the prevailing conditions suggest the need to make agriculture more remunerative, so as to provide higher income to the people engaged in it. It is possible to strengthen the agriculture and allied sectors along with backward and forward linkages, along with increasing employment opportunities in other sectors in the short run.

KeyRecommendations

• Promotion of new sub-sectors and activities and to revamp the existing ones

• Skill building to improve employability and productivity of rural youth • Capacity building of the entrepreneurs • Establishing systems and other reforms

1.Sub-sectorsandActivities

1.1Agriculture• Main crops : It is recommended that pulses (Bengal gram and black gram) and oilseeds

(groundnut and sesame) should be promoted on a large scale, while wheat and soybean should be discouraged.

• Horticulture : Fruit crops recommended are lemon, papaya, gooseberry, guava and pomegranate; and vegetable crops recommended are ginger, turmeric, taro root, potato, chilli, in addition to the seasonal vegetables (like gourds, brinjal, cucurbits, etc).

• Aquaculture : District Tikamgarh and Niwari has several hundred tanks where fishes are cultivated and/ or harvested by the local fisherfolk. This activity can be strengthened further through technical and financial support. Similarly, water chestnut and lotus seed cultivation canbe promoted.

1.2LivestockBuffalo rearing is a common practice, which may be encouraged along with fodder cultivation. Goat and backyard poultry should be promoted among the poor households. In both the cases, provision of healthcare services would greatly improve the profitability. Such services may be provided through farmers producer organisations. 1.3NTFPCollectionCollection of non-timber forest produce like neem seeds, tendu leaves, mahua,and chironji support several households, who could be organised into SHGs or JFMCs and provided with working capital support so that they can help the member by preventing distress sell.

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1.4TraditionalindustriesIt is suggested to strengthen the existing traditional village industries like bamboo crafts and brass ware by providing working capital and by providing systematic marketing channels. 1.5OtherindustriesProduction of woven fabric, apparels (tailoring), incense sticks, etc. is carried out as individual and group activities on a limited scale. No additional efforts are suggested in this sub-sector.

2.SkillsandCapacityBuildingofYouthandFarmers

• Extension services in agriculture and livestock need to be seriously strengthened and outreach increased to the farm level. It is recommended to engage CSOs to provide training, field level technical support on a massive scale.

• It is recommended to develop cadres of barefoot professionals for agriculture and for livestock healthcare in all blocks. It is possible to promote new FPOs and strengthen the existing ones for this extension and promotion of scientific agriculture.

3.CapacityBuildingonEntrepreneurship

Managerial skills and marketing skills should be build in entrepreneur groups (SHGs, FPOs, etc). Attempts to teach every entrepreneur to become an accountant, a manager, salesperson, trader and marketer should be avoided. A cluster approach is recommended in this case.

4.EstablishingSystemsandSectorReforms

4.1AgricultureextensionThis was found to be the weakest link in the entire region. The Department of Agriculture should take urgent steps to correct this malady. It is recommended to engage competent CSOs to provide training, on-site technical support and field level handholding on a comprehensive scale. 4.2MarketinformationandlinkageWhile there is a huge amount of raw information available on the internet or announced on radio broadcasts, there is a need to process it and present it in a comprehensible and meaningful manner to the farmers and entrepreneurs in the villages. 4.3InstitutionalcreditIt was observed in district Tikamgarh that the banks are generally hesitant in extending credit to the individuals and SHGs. There is a need to expand the borrower through both micro finance and mainstream credit institutions.

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AbbreviationsandAcronyms

APMC Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (Mandi) ASA Action for Social Advancement, a CSO BDA Bundelkhand Development Authority BIWAL Bundelkhand Initiative for Water, Agriculture and Livelihood CARD Centre for Advanced Research and Development, a CSO CBO Community Based Organisation CEO Chief Executive Officer (often, of ZP) CSO Civil Society Organisation CSR Corporate Social Responsibility DA Development Alternatives, a CSO DC District Collector (DM, District Magistrate, in some countries) DDU-KVY Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kaushal Vikas Yojana DIC District Industries Centre DP&RD Department of Panchayat and Rural Development DRDA District Rural Development Agency FFS Farmers' Field School FGD Focus Group Discussion FPO Farmers’ Producer Organisation GoI Government of India GoMP Government of Madhya Pradesh GP Gram Panchayat (a local governance unit) HUF Hindustan Unilever Foundation IGG Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ITI Industrial Training Institute JFMC Joint Forest Management Committee KVIB Khadi and Village Industries Board (at State level) KVIC Khadi and Village Industries Commission (at National level) LEISA Low External Inputs Sustainable Agriculture LFPR Labour Force Participation Rate MNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MSL (above) Mean Sea Level MUDRA Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency NABARD National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NOC No Objection Certificate NRLM National Rural Livelihoods Mission NSS National Sample Survey NTFP Non-Timber Forest Produce PFT Project Facilitation Team PMU Project Management Unit PSL Priority Sector Lending

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RRB Regional Rural Bank RSA Resource Support Agency RSETI Rural Self Employment Training Institute SDG Sustainable Development Goals SHG Self Help Group SME Small and Micro Enterprises SRIJAN Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action, a CSO SRLM State Rural Livelihood Mission SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats TVI Traditional Village Industry viz. Namely WPR Worker Population Ratio ZP Zila Panchayat

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TableofContent

Preface & Acknowledgements i Key Takeaways (Summary of Recommendations) iii Abbreviations and Acronyms v Chapter 1 Introduction 1

1.1 About the Study 1 1.2 Objectives 1 1.3 Approach and Methodology 2 1.4 Who Can Use This Report 2 1.5 Scope and Limitations 2 1.6 Structure of the Report 3

Chapter 2 Approach and Methodology 5

2.1 Methodology 5 2.2 Preliminary Analysis 6 2.3 Primary Data Sources 6 2.4 Field Investigations 7 2.5 Analysis 7

Chapter 3 Conceptual Foundations and Theoretical Premises 9

3.1 Significance of Employment 9 3.2 Employment and Poverty Reduction 9 3.3 Employment and Economic Growth 9 3.4 Theories of Employment 9 3.5 Definitions 10 3.6 Labour Force and Work Force 12 3.7 Measurement of Employment 13 3.8 Secondary Data Availability, Data Sources and Limitations 14

Chapter 4 Resource Based Potential 17

4.1 Natural Resources Based Potential 18 4.2 Human Resources 21 4.3 Support Systems and Institutions 23 4.4 Potential in Industrial Sector 25

Chapter 5 Main Findings 27

5.1 Summary of Successful Initiatives 27 5.2 Analysis of Successful Rural Enterprises 29 5.3 Needs and Aspirations of the Primary Stakeholders 41 5.4 Summary of Experiences and Expectations 47 5.5 Some Suggestions Not Found Advisable or Feasible 49

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Chapter 6 Recommendations and Way Forward 51

6.1 Sub-sectors and Activities 51 6.2 Skills and Capacity Building of Youth and Farmers 54 6.3 Capacity Building on Entrepreneurship 54 6.4 Establishing Systems and Sector Reforms 55 6.5 Summary of Recommendations 57

Bibliography 60

Chapter1.Introduction Creating new jobs and improving incomes and working conditions for existing jobs are important for economic growth and development. Growth generates employment and employment generates further growth, which in turn will generate more employment opportunities. Considering the development challenges of Bundelkhand region, employment creation assumes a great importance for policy makers and development agencies. Development challenges of rural Bundelkhand are compounded by poor resource endowment, recurrent droughts, poverty, and resultant migration. Low natural resource endowment, together with low rate of industrialisation and commerce, has resulted in low employment opportunities for the people.

1.1Aboutthestudy

In pursuit of overall development of the region, Bundelkhand Development Authority (BDA) is considering increasing employment opportunities in the Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh. In the direction of addressing the situation, BDA commissioned a study on Exploring the Employment Potential in Bundelkhand Region of Madhya Pradesh, and entrusted Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (IGG) with a research project to explore the potential for increasing the employment opportunities. IGG conducted this study concurrently to cover two domains - one for urban areas and another for rural areas of the region. This document presents the findings and recommendations on the first domain - employment in rural areas.

1.2Objectives

The study on Exploring the Employment Potential in Rural Areas was conducted with the following objectives.

• To review the current status of employment in rural areas and identify the issued related to unemployment

• To explore the scope for enhancing the employment potential in rural areas, including the possibility of engaging the existing community based organisations such as Farmers’ Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), etc.

• To propose a comprehensive strategy for improving the employment potential in rural areas of Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh.

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1.3ApproachandMethodology

The study was conducted mainly by using qualitative methods with due consideration to quantitative information available. It explored the status of physical and human resources, the historical account of employment and development, and future potential. The assessment and analysis was carried out separately for each district. Based on the analysis of available secondary information and primary field observations, potential sub sectors and segments were identified in each district along with the potential interventions.

1.4WhocanUseThisReport

The report is primarily meant to help various stakeholders interested in addressing unemployment in the districts and the region. These reports will be able to guide them on how to address the unemployment problem at various levels in the following manner. 1.4.1Policymakersandimplementers

• Potential sectors or areas for employment generation • Possible ways - convergence • Policy changes and legal or regulatory amendments • Human Resources Development [skill development]

1.4.2BanksandFinancialInstitutions

• Potential sub-sectors and areas for financing • Key elements to be taken care of

1.4.3Entrepreneurs(IndividualsandgroupslikeSHGsorFPOs)

• Potential sub-sectors or areas of investment • Skill and capacity needs and skill building • Technology gaps [needs]

• Options for financing enterprises and entrepreneurship [Bank and Government schemes through which loans and subsidies can be mobilised]

1.5ScopeandLimitations

The study focussed on the following aspects related to rural employment.

• Present status of employment • Participation of labour force • Potential sub-sectors – new and existing activities


• Skills required (and employability of rural youth in the above) • Capacity building of the entrepreneur groups • Structural reforms for promotion of employment

The study covered five districts of Bundelkhand region namely, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Sagar, and Tikamgarh and Niwari. Niwari is a newly formed district and since the databases are not yet fully separated, for brevity, Tikamgarh and Niwari are considered as one undivided district as earlier. The study focused on all segments or sub-sectors of economy in which employment is generated. These segments include agriculture and allied sectors (mainly, livestock, poultry and fishery), Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs); traditional village industries (TVIs), businesses (both retail and wholesale), and service sector including business development services auxiliary to trade. A separate study is conducted by the IGG to explore opportunities through tourism sector in the region, and hence, it has been excluded from the scope of this study.

1.6StructureoftheReport

The report is divided in two parts, the first part is a consolidated report summarising overall findings and recommendations, whereas the second part contains five district-wise reports. The consolidated report has four chapters, including this introductory chapter. The second chapter covers the approach and methodology of conducting the study. The third chapter presents the conceptual foundations and the fourth chapter contains the main findings and recommendations from the entire study in a summarised form. The district-wise reports are five standalone reports, one for each district. Each district report is divided into the following four chapters.

• Natural resource endowment and development potential based on these resources • Human and institutional resources, main occupations of people and present status of

employment among rural population in the district • Perspective of community and other stakeholders and their experiences of enhancing

employment and income • Recommendations for improving employment opportunities and promotion of the sub-

sectors or enterprises identified for the district. It is hoped that this report will help development agencies, project planners, designers and policy makers in addressing unemployment in the districts and the region.


Chapter2.ApproachandMethodology The study on potential of rural employment in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh is ultimately meant to benefit the people of the region to tide over their livelihood deficits. It is focussing on the key issues of unemployment and its manifestation in rural areas through capturing the phenomenon from the viewpoint of the primary stakeholders, namely, SHGs, FPOs, farmers, youth, women, Gram Panchayat members and functionaries, and entrepreneurs. The study looked at the phenomenon of unemployment and development in the five districts from the perspective of the current status of employment among rural population, identification of potential sectors and strategies to increase employment opportunities and rural work force participation, and enterprise promotion. With this aim, the approach and methodology were designed, as presented in the following paragraphs.

2.1Methodology

The study was carried out with a qualitative approach using combination of primary and secondary data sources to understand the present situation and to identify the potential areas of employment. The overall methodology is depicted below (Fig 2.1).

Fig 2.1 : Methodology of the Study


2.2Preliminaryanalysis

The study began with understanding the status of physical and human resources, the historical account of employment and development based on the secondary data available from various published sources and records of line departments, broad profiles were prepared for each district. These profiles included a listing of important resources (natural, human and institutional), existing employment opportunities and engagement of the community in these activities.

2.3PrimaryDataSources

Formal interaction with the district officials and public institutions was useful in understanding the past efforts, prominent initiatives and potential areas. The information was used to shortlist the aspects to be studied in the field. It resulted in identifying the following as sources or respondents for primary data collection.

Table 2.1 : Sources for Primary Data Collection S No Type of Respondents A District Officials 1 District Collector 2 CEO, Zila Panchayat 3 HoDs - Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Employment Exchange,

SRLM, Forest/ FDC 4 Krishi Vigyan Kendra 5 Heads – SRLM, DIC, KVIB, B Gram Panchayats and their representatives (4 GPs per district) C Development agencies 1 Lead Bank Manager 2 District Development Manager, NABARD 3 Civil Society Organisations 4 RSETI, DDU-KVY, Polytechnics, ITIs and other training institutes D Entrepreneurs (Group/ Individual) 1 Self Help Groups (SHGs) (at least four per district) 2 Farmers Groups/ FPOs (at least four per district) 3 Custom Hiring Centres/ Agro-Service Centres (all prominent ones) in

each district 4 Other entrepreneur groups (all prominent ones) in each district 5 Individual entrepreneurs (including Traditional Village Industries)

(all prominent ones) in each district E Primary Stakeholders 1 Farmers and Farmer Groups (from four villages per district) 2 Youth and Youth Groups (from four villages per district) 3 Gram Panchayat members and functionaries (from four villages per

district)


2.4FieldInvestigations

The field investigations were carried out to assess the ground situation as per the methodology outlined in the diagram below (Fig 2.2: Field Assessment Methodology). Potential segments/ sub-sectors were identified based on the findings of detailed interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with the relevant stakeholders of the specific segments.

2.5Analysis

The information collected through the above steps was analysed by the core team of experts to draw inferences on the factors leading to successful employment generation and development and the limitations and constraints. Based on this analysis, key sub-sectors/ activities were shortlisted taking into consideration of the local resource potential in each district. The institutional readiness and their capacity for the promotion of potential sub-sectors/areas were also considered while making recommendations.

Fig 2.2 Field Assessment Methodology

The conceptual foundations and the sourcing of secondary data and its analysis are presented in the following chapter.


Chapter3.ConceptualFoundationsandTheoreticalPremises This study was undertaken with a view to benefit the people of Bundelkhand to tide over their livelihood deficits, or in other words, to address issues of unemployment. It was designed on the basis of some theoretical foundations, which are briefly explained in this section for clarity. Also explained are the terminology and phrases used in this document to connote the employment related situation in the study.

3.1SignificanceofEmployment

Employment has emerged as an important subject in the development agenda of most national governments over the past three decades. In the developed countries, persistently high and increasing unemployment rates have given rise to renewed concern for job creation, whereas in many developing countries productive employment is seen as a means for poverty alleviation.

3.2EmploymentandPovertyReduction

The experience of countries that succeeded in significantly reducing poverty indicates the importance of high rates of economic growth. High growth, however, is not a sufficient condition for poverty reduction; the manner in which its benefits are distributed is equally important from the point of view of achieving the goal of poverty reduction. In this context, employment plays a key role in all developing countries.

3.3EmploymentandEconomicGrowth

Employment generation is the key channel through which economic growth translates into prosperity for the population. In a growing economy, employment growth with rising productivity is the most effective mechanism available to the poor to participate in the growth process and raise their standard of living.

3.4Theoriesofemployment

Several theories of employment deal with the concept, nature and causes of unemployment, and with the economic policies to reduce it. Different theories have gained currency in the academic domain, but to explain the phenomenon of unemployment in India, complete reliance on any one of the theories evolved in the western background is not justified. Therefore, this study draws from a theoretical approach which combines the economic factors and simultaneously relates the implications of social factors like access to resources.


3.5Definitions

Terms used in this document are defined here in simplified and non-academic language for clarification and for the use of non-academic users. 3.5.1EmploymentEmployment generally refers to the employment of units of labour. It may therefore be described in terms of the following characteristics.

• Engagement in an economic activity for full-working time; • In an occupation commensurate with the skills and talents of a worker;

• At the highest level of productivity feasible with the available resources and technical knowledge; and in consequence

• Yielding adequate earnings. 3.5.2UnemploymentUnemployment is a situation in which men and women, though willing to be employed at a certain minimum subsistence real wage rate, are unemployed. Alternatively, it is a situation in which aggregate employment is inelastic in response to an increase in the effective demand for its output." (Bhatt, 1960, p.4). In simple terms, unemployment is a situation of joblessness. It represents the state of affairs in which the able-bodied persons of working age who are willing to work cannot find work at the current wage levels. In India, the Committee of Experts on Unemployment Estimates headed by Dantawala defines the unemployed as “A person who is unemployed throughout a particular week and does not expect to take up some gainful work in future, even when he is in search of or available for it can appropriately be deemed really unemployed." (GoI, 1970, p.17). 3.5.3TypesofunemploymentUnemployment, if taken to denote the existence of a reserve of labour time available for utilisation, results in waste of labour power. This reserve may be visible or invisible. Visible unemployment is indicative of the manhours of work which, in existing conditions, the labour force is willing but unable to perform. Again, visible unemployment may mean complete unemployment in the sense of being out of job and partial unemployment in the sense of having only a part time job. Invisible unemployment may be either in the nature of disguised unemployment or underemployment. Initially, these two terms were used interchangeably, but since Taylor and Bishop, the economists began to distinguish between the two. • Disguised unemployment : It usually refers to that state in which the self-employed working

people are not working to their full-capacity. Joan Robinson first coined the term in 1936, for


referring to workers in the developed countries, having low rather than zero marginal product of labour due to the cyclical transfer of persons from the more productive to less productive jobs during industrial recession. Disguised Unemployment is a kind of unemployment in which there are people who are visibly employed but are actually unemployed. In such a situation more people are engaged in a work than require, as it is often found in developing countries.

• In Indian context, disguised unemployment is found in agriculture. Too many people subsist

on agriculture; seemingly they are employed. But their employment is not wholly productive in the sense that production does not suffer even if some of the so-called employed persons are withdrawn. The ratio of labour to land and other resources is so large that the marginal productivity of labour is reduced to zero, although the average productivity remains positive. And, unlike in the organised sector, it is thin average productivity and not the marginal productivity that determines the earnings, and hence consumption of the labourers. The result is that the marginal body of labourers consume, but they do not produce. They are employed physically, but not economically (Dasgupta, 1956, p.1011).

• Disguised unemployment is associated with abundant manpower, when employees with very

minimal or zero marginal productivity are removed, it would not affect the total output. For example, a piece of land is given to four people where they are able to cultivate and produce in an effective manner. If there are six workers employed for the same land and two workers do not contribute and their marginal, productivity would be zero. By eradicating these two workers, there will not be any impact on the output.

• Disguised unemployment thus normally takes the form of smaller number of working hours

per head per year, for example, each of three brothers shepherding the sheep every third day. It is thus, the marginal productivity of the labourer so to say, is nil over a wide range and the productivity of labour may be just equal to zero at the margin. If number of labourers went away, the others would be able to produce the same output, albeit working longer and harder.

• Underemployment : Underemployment serves as a measure of the utilisation of working

capacity of worker. “A person is regarded as underemployed, if he/she has a job that occupies him/her for only a part of his/her working capacity”. Taylor conceptualises the problem of underemployment stating, “The tern 'underemployment' usually denotes a situation in which employment results in lower per capita earnings than could be had if the labour were employed elsewhere."

• It is a situation in which people employed contribute less than their capacity to production. In

this type of unemployment people are not gainfully employed. They may be employed either on part-time basis, or undertake a job for which lesser qualification is required. For example, a Post Graduate may work as a clerk for which only a matriculate is enough.

3.6LabourForceandWorkforce


3.6.1Labourforce Labour Force refers to the number of persons usually employed or willing to be employed. The labour force, or currently active population, comprises all persons who fulfil the requirements for inclusion among the employed (civilian employment plus the armed forces) or the unemployed. Those persons who can produce goods and services constitute the potential labour force. Labour force excludes the very young and very old as well as the physically or mentally challenged. It also does not include those people who are engaged otherwise (in household activities) or are not willing to work. In other words, labour force may be defined as those who are actually engaged in economically productive activities as well as those who can be so engaged. Persons who were neither ‘working’ nor ‘seeking/ available for work’ during the reference period are classified as being outside the labour force. These are students, retirees, pensioners, those engaged in domestic duties, recipients of remittances, too young persons, etc and casual labourers not working due to sickness. In India, the definition covers all able bodied persons willing to work in the age group of 15-59 years, whereas International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggests the age group of 15-64 years as international standard. 3.6.2WorkforceThose persons who are actually engaged in productive work constitute the workforce. The difference between the labour force and the workforce is the unemployed labour force. Thus, workforce constitutes the employed labour force or the number of persons actually working. The employed are defined as those who work for pay or profit for at least one hour a week, and include those who have a job but are temporarily not at work due to illness, leave or industrial action. The unemployed are defined as people without work but actively seeking employment and currently available to start work. This indicator is seasonally adjusted and it is measured in persons. 3.6.3NSSOTerminologyThe concept of labour force is used by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in collection of data on employment and unemployment. It is also known as the ‘economically active population’. An economically active person is one who is engaged in some economic activity or seeks to engage him/herself in some economic activity. Accordingly, to classify a person as belonging to labour force or not during a reference period, first his/her activity status is determined. The NSSO defines following three broad activity status:

• Working (engaged in an economic activity) or ‘Employed’, • Seeking or available for work or ‘Unemployed’, • Neither seeking nor available for work or ‘out of labour force’.

Those who are ‘working’ are further classified into following categories

• Self employed • Regular salaried/wage employees


• Casual wage labour.

3.7MeasuresofEmployment

3.7.1LabourForceParticipationRateLabour force participation rate is defined as the section of working population in the age group of 15-59 in the economy currently employed or seeking employment. It is normally expressed in percentage; however, some sources mention it in terms of per thousand.

LFPR = Numberofemployed + unemployedpersons

Populationinagegroup15 − 59× 100

3.7.2WorkerPopulationRatioWorker population ratio is defined as the number of persons employed as a proportion of total population in the age group of 15-59 in the economy. It is often expressed in percentage; however, some sources mention it in terms of per thousand.

WPR = Numberofemployedpersons

Totalpopulation× 100

3.7.3WorkForceParticipationRateWork force participation rate is defined as the section of working population in the age group of 15-59 in the economy currently employed. It is normally expressed in percentage; however, some sources mention it in terms of per thousand.

WFPR =NumberofemployedpersonsPopulationinagegroup15 − 59

× 100

3.7.4UnemploymentRateUnemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed persons by the number of working and non-working individuals. It is often expressed in percentage; however, some sources mention it in terms of per thousand. Alternatively, it can be computed by subtracting the employment rate from 100.

UnemploymentRate = Numberofunemployedpersons

Labourforce× 100


3.8SecondaryDataAvailability,DataSourcesandLimitations

Obtaining secondary data for the same time period and for the same geography from multiple sources is always a challenge in a study like this, as not all information is available at one place. Corroboration and validation of data are not always possible, especially when the analysis requires comparison between different sets of data, or when it comes to choosing the most relevant data from the multiple sets available. While analysing, due care has been taken to minimise any anomalies arising out of multiple sources and multiple timelines of the data used. Yet, it is in order to mention the few areas where the reader should exercise care while interpreting the data presented in this report.

• Most of the secondary data presented in this document is drawn from the District Statistical Handbook of the respective districts, which present the data for the recent three to five years.

• The population and demographic data is sourced from the District Census Handbook of the Census of India, 2011. Incidentally, this is the data source used in almost all reports by the State Government and the District Statistical Handbooks.

• Rainfall and climatic data is sourced from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for the last 20-50 years for various stations. Rainfall and climatic data presented on the websites of various departments, KVKs and tourism related websites which significantly departed from what can be considered as normal were ignored.

• Land use data was mostly taken from the Department of Agriculture reports of the State and Union Governments. It was corroborated with the land use statistics presented in the District Census Handbooks. There had been instances of land use data quoted by different sources differing from each other. Even in case of Census, the land use data presented in Part-A of District Census Handbook did not match with Part-B in few cases!

• The data presented under the head “Forest Area” is sometimes taken from any one of the official sources stated above, but in a few cases it was computed to the “best-fit” number arithmetically possible. The concerned authorities may have some reasons or explanation for the anomaly in their data, but any future researchers can use the figures presented here with very low risk of distortion.

• Manpower or employment related data is the most challenging area because of limited availability of data uniformly on time and space, and thus, the issues of comparability arising out of it. The differences in the definitions or criteria used by different sources should be kept in mind while interpreting these data.

• While the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggests analysing employment statistics for the population falling in age group of 15-64, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) or its earlier avatar National Sample Survey use the data for age group 15-59. The PLFS-1 (2017-18) has given analysis for both the age groups 15-59 and 15+. The Labour Bureau sometimes used the 15-59 slab, and at some other times 15+ slab. The Census


reports do not present data according to the age groups, and classify the entire working population as workers (Main Workers and Marginal Workers).

• In this report, the secondary data pertaining to the age group 15 and above is used in all calculations related to employment to the extent possible. This age group was chosen because gender and rural-urban segregated data on employment was not separately available for 15-59 age group at the district level.

• Employment related data at the State and National level used in this report for reference and comparison is primarily drawn from the Fifth Employment Survey 2015-16. In spite of the fact that the first Periodic Labour Force Survey (conducted in 2017-18) was the latest available, it was not used because the district level data was largely pertaining to the period 2011-2016 (census data and the projections). Nevertheless, the findings were corroborated with the observations and inferences stated in the PLFS-1 and the National Sample Survey 68th Round (NSS-68) conducted in 2011-12. The government has discontinued the unemployment surveys by NSS since 2015.

• Work force data (about main and marginal workers) from the Census 2011 was used for calculating the indicators of employment in agriculture at district level.

• Rural Employment Rate was calculated for each district using the data available at the district level (rural and urban combined) taken from the projections in the Skill Gap Report (NSDC, 2013) and corroborated with the periodically posted estimates on CMIE website visited between November 2019 to March 2020. It should be taken as an approximation, as district wise rural employment rates were not readily available.

• The state level data presented in the Labour Bureau report (Report on the Fifth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey of 2015-16) and that in the PLFS-1 were used as guideline values for comparison and while interpreting the results.

• Secondary data related to agricultural and horticultural production, area and yield was taken from the respective District Statistical Handbooks and corroborated with the latest available State level statistics like Agricultural Economic Survey, and State and National level averages were corroborated with that mentioned in the Agricultural Statistics Handbook of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, GoI.

• Credit related data was taken from the Potential Linked Credit Plans published by NABARD for the respective districts up to the year 2017-18 (latest available), and the State Level Credit Plan for Madhya Pradesh.

• Data on industries, investment and employment was taken from the District Statistical Handbook. Where it was not available for all districts or all years, the latest available data was obtained from the MSME District Industries Profile published by the MSME Development Institute, Indore (mostly for the year 2015-16).

• All possible efforts were taken to make the data used in this report comparable in time and space. Yet, the reader is advised to do some interpolation while interpreting the findings of secondary data analysis.


Chapter4.ResourceBasedPotential

Bundelkhand region, covering thirteen contiguous districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, has a long history of water scarcity and draughts. It covers six districts from Uttar Pradesh (namely, Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Mohoba) and seven districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Niwari, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh). Geographically it straddles across the Vindhyan plateau (largely in Madhya Pradesh) and the Gangetic plains (mostly in Uttar Pradesh but also in Madhya Pradesh). Bundelkhand region is a rugged landscape of undulating terrain with low rocky outcrops, narrow valleys and plains. It has a mix of black and red soils, gravelly and shallow in depth with low moisture retention capacity. Bundelkhand falls in the hot and semi-arid climatic zone, and is marked by extremes of temperatures. The rainfall is above 900 mm per year, with over 90 percent of the rain falling during the monsoon months, between June to October. Recurrent droughts and water scarcity in the region have pushed the local communities into poverty and migration to other areas.

Fig 4.1 Location Map of Bundelkhand Region on Madhya Pradesh

Rainfed agriculture and livestock rearing is the mainstay of rural economy of Bundelkhand. Beset on light soils with low moisture holding capacity, agriculture suffered from vagaries of monsoons.


Considering the main development challenges of rural Bundelkhand, employment creation assumes a great importance for policy makers and development agencies. Creating new jobs and improving income from and working conditions for existing jobs should be the main focus of economic growth and development of the region.

4.1NaturalResourcesBasedPotential

Development challenges of rural Bundelkhand are compounded by poor resource endowment, recurrent droughts, poverty, and resultant migration. Agriculture is the mainstay of rural economy of Bundelkhand, which is characterised by light soils with poor moisture retention capacity, desiccating summers and limited rainy season. Low natural resource endowment, together with low rate of industrialisation and commerce, has resulted in low employment opportunities for the people. Therefore, resource endowment and resource based potential were studied. The summary of findings consolidated across all the five districts is presented below. 4.1.1ClimateandRainfallAlmost the entire region of Bundelkhand has dry subtropical climate with hot summers, a somewhat cooler monsoon season and cool winters. The entire region receives good rainfall, mostly in the monsoon season from June to September (more than 90%). The distribution of seasonal rainfall has reasonably low variability over time (Coefficient of Variation below 33%, except in districts Niwari and Sagar, where it is slightly higher, 42.6% and 37.5%, respectively), indicating rainfall is a reasonably dependable resource in Bundelkhand. The annual and seasonal averages of rainfall in the study districts are presented in the following table (Table 4.1).

Table 4.1 Rainfall Distribution in the Study Districts S N District Chhatarpur Damoh Panna Sagar Tikamgarh Niwari

1 Annual Rainfall 972.02 1,176.86 1,178.84 1,209.48 912.85 756.23 2 Seasonal Rainfall 900.56 1,084.74 1,083.38 1,089.59 850.59 693.22 3 As % of Annual RF 92.6% 92.2% 91.9% 90.1% 93.2% 91.7% 4 CoV of Seasonal RF 32.0% 29.9% 32.0% 37.5% 30.0% 42.6%

4.1.2WaterResourcesAvailability of good rainfall in very limited time can support life and livelihoods if its availability could be extended to the entire year. It was achieved by the erstwhile rulers of Bundelkhand through large numbers of water harvesting structures, built over the last several centuries. It provided solace to the people both in times of acute scarcity as well as in years of normal rainfall. These water bodies proved to be the lifeline of people in the Bundelkhand landscape by meeting the needs of drinking water, domestic uses like washing and bathing, livestock, and productive uses like irrigation, fisheries and groundwater recharge. There are a few thousand such traditional water bodies serving the irrigation and aquaculture needs of the communities living around them. Repair and rejuvenation of these tanks present a great potential to strengthen rural livelihoods in the region.


Recently, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have launched Bundelkhand Initiative Water, Agriculture and Livelihoods (BIWAL) for repairing and rejuvenation of traditional water bodies and strengthening rural livelihoods. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development (DPRD) and Bundelkhand Development Authority (BDA) with the aim to improve water availability, thereby increasing the potential for aquaculture and irrigated agriculture. 4.1.3LandresourcesLand use pattern of the districts was studied to assess the potential for land based livelihoods, mainly using four main parameters of forest area, common land, net sown area and net irrigated area (Table 4.2). Higher proportion of forest area suggests higher potential for NTFP based livelihoods, whereas availability of common lands and pastures provide more opportunities for the landless and smallholders to rear small livestock and vegetation based livelihoods. Options in agriculture multiply with availability of more area for cultivation and more irrigation. The cropping intensity in all the districts covered under the study was found to be higher the State average (155.1%) and the national average (141.6%), indicating the importance of land utilisation in agriculture.

Table 4.2 Proportion of Main Land Uses in the Study Districts S

No Land Use Chhatarpur Damoh Panna Sagar Tikamgarh MP

1 Forest Area 13.69% 36.66% 35.29% 9.98% 13.76% 28.3% 2 Pastures & wastelands 25.80% 13.32% 15.40% 12.30% 15.15% 7.6% 3 Net Area sown 44.89% 41.81% 34.55% 66.58% 51.30% 49.4% 4 Other land uses 15.62% 8.21% 14.76% 11.14% 19.78% 14.7% 5 Total Area Irrigated 44.20% 39.24% 31.90% 47.11% 72.10% 59.0% 6 Cropping Intensity 158.6% 184.1% 170.7% 175.7% 155.2% 155.1%

Land Distribution : Skewed land distribution affects the development benefits reaching the poor and the marginalised, whereas equitable access to land resources lead to more sustainable development. Land distribution pattern was studied in the five districts. It was noted that the distribution of land was more skewed in districts Damoh and Sagar than the State average. It is less skewed in all districts compared to the national average (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3 Average Land Holding, ha District Marginal

Farmers Small

Farmers Large

Farmers Ratio

L/(M+S) Panna 0.48 1.44 12.43 6.44 Tikamgardh 0.51 1.39 13.30 7.01 Chhatarpur 0.54 1.42 14.62 7.45 Madhya Pradesh 0.49 1.41 14.83 7.81 Damoh 0.44 1.45 16.08 8.52 Sagar 0.69 0.97 14.74 8.86 India 0.38 1.41 17.10 9.53


Yet, the skewed pattern of land distribution is not likely to pose a serious challenge in the study districts in near future. Interventions at the cluster and village level in districts Damoh and Sagar should consider this pattern while planning for equity. 4.1.4AgriculturalProductivityThe principal crops grown in the study districts broadly fall in the categories of pulses and oilseeds, which are the national priority. These crops also give better financial returns and are generally more tolerant to the climate variability. An analysis of the main crops in the categories of popularity (area coverage), yield and risk perception presents an interesting profile as follows (Fig 4.4). Among horticultural crops, guava, mango and Amla are the top three choices of the farmers. Green peas, potato and tomato are the most popular vegetable crops, whereas the farmers perceive onion, chilli and ginger as crops of choice among the spices.

Table 4.4 Three Most Important Crops in Different Categories District Highest Area Highest Yield *High

Margin *Low Risk

Chhatarpur • Wheat • Black gram • Sesame

• Black gram • Sorghum • Lentil

• Bengal gram

• Black gram • Sesame

• Bengal gram

• Sorghum

Damoh • Bengal gram • Wheat • Black gram

• Sorghum • Sesame • Paddy

• Bengal gram


• Bengal gram

• Sesame

Panna • Bengal gram • Wheat • Paddy

• Red gram • Bengal

gram • Mustard

• Bengal gram

• Black gram • Mustard

• Bengal gram

• Mustard

Sagar • Soybean • Wheat • Bengal gram

• Black gram • Lentil • Red gram

• Bengal gram


• Bengal gram

• Red gram

Tikamgarh • Wheat • Black gram • Sesame

• Black gram • Bengal

gram • Sesame

• Bengal gram


• Bengal gram

• Sesame

Note*: As reported by the farmers and youth Agricultural Implements : Availability or access to improved agricultural implements can contribute significantly to the farm productivity. It was observed that the availability of certain implements in the study districts was not adequate to meet the requirement as per the cropping pattern. Please refer to the district-wise reports for details. It was matching with the observations of certain studies (FICCI, 2017 and NABARD, 2014) on the low level of farm mechanisation and energy use in agriculture. To improve the farm productivity, some farm implements and equipment can be made available through custom hiring centres (CHCs), as per the details provided in the district wise reports.


4.1.5LivestockresourcesIt is said that the livestock population in Bundelkhand region is one among the highest in the country. Cattle and buffaloes constitute the main livestock in the region, with goats contributing significantly to the economy at the bottom of the pyramid. Buffaloes and goats are traditionally reared in Bundelkhand as an integral part of the farming system, with the poorer farmers going for the latter. While the preferred form of rearing all kinds of livestock is free grazing, cows and buffaloes are mostly reared by the farmers with some captive source of fodder and by those having irrigation facility. The livestock holding in the study districts (Table 4.5 below) highlights the potential from the perspective of carrying capacity of land - in all the study districts except Tikamgarh, where the present livestock population almost matches the carrying capacity.

Table 4.5 Population Density of Livestock

S No District Cattle Buffalo Sheep Goat 1 Chhatarpur 0.727 0.973 0.073 1.839 2 Damoh 1.001 0.243 0.908 0.079 3 Panna 1.462 0.784 0.098 1.778 4 Sagar 1.212 0.449 1.497 0.713 5 Tikamgarh 1.000 1.062 0.425 4.072 6 Madhya Pradesh 1.234 0.679 0.140 4.760 7 India 1.374 0.784 2.879 5.764

It is recommended to promote buffalo and goat rearing in all districts, except in district Tikamgarh, where the population density has almost reached the carrying capacity. However, some pockets in blocks like Jatara and Prithvipur may be considered. It is recommended to promote goat and backyard poultry, especially among the poor families in all districts. Specific recommendations are given in the district wise reports.

4.2Humanresources

4.2.1WorkerPopulationRatioThe Worker Population Ratio (WPR) was calculated for the rural areas of the study district using the census data for number of persons employed as a proportion of total population. It ranged from 44.52% for district Sagar to 47.6% for Damoh. The Worker Population Ratio for rural men was lower than the State average of 71.4% and the national average of 75.7% (Table 4.7 below). However, the WPR for rural women was much higher than the State average of 20.1% and the national average of 30.2% in all districts except Sagar, indicating that more women are engaged in productive activities in the region. 4.2.2LabourForceAssessment


The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) was computed using data and projections. It was found to be considerably higher for rural women in all the districts (from 9.8% in Panna to 34.4% in Sagar) as compared to the State average (6.4%) and national average (4.7%), indicating that more women are available for economic activities and are looking for opportunities (Table 4.6 below).

Table 4.6 : Workforce Assessment for Rural Areas

District Category WPR LFPR UR Chhatarpur Male 52.19 77.52 3.92

Female 37.89 68.47 11.53 Total 45.50 73.55 7.11

Damoh Male 56.46 89.96 2.95 Female 37.88 64.22 11.86 Total 47.60 77.47 6.54

Panna Male 52.06 86.22 2.81 Female 34.73 61.81 9.81 Total 43.82 77.30 8.88

Sagar Male 61.39 99.42 4.96 Female 25.54 50.17 21.60 Total 44.52 76.26 10.11

Tikamgarh Male 53.70 88.94 4.31 Female 40.36 63.70 9.94 Total 47.39 80.35 6.66

Madhya Pradesh

Male 71.40 73.00 2.10 Female 20.10 21.50 6.40 Total 47.10 48.60 3.00

All India Male 75.70 78.00 2.90 Female 30.20 31.70 4.70 Total 53.90 55.80 3.40

4.2.3UnemploymentRate Unemployment Rate (UR) for rural population was found to be higher than the state the national averages (Table 4.6 above); it was slightly higher in case of rural men, but considerably higher in case of rural women. Unemployment rate for rural women was found to be between 9.8% in district Panna and 21.6% in district Sagar, as compared to the State average of 6.4% and the national average 4.7%.

The high unemployment rate among rural women in the region is mainly because of high Labour Force Participation Rate or the larger number of women available for

economically productive activities. It is a matter of concern and calls for interventions to increase income opportunities for women.


4.2.4DisguisedUnemployment A rapid assessment of rural disguised employment was carried out using data on agriculture. Total manpower requirement was computed based on the cropping pattern and was compared with the present reported employment.

Table 4.7 : Manpower Requirement in Agriculture

S No

District Gross Sown Area

Persondays required

Persondays engaged

Percent Engagement

1 Chhatarpur 634,024 53,646,440 78,546,420 146.4% 2 Damoh 560,640 55,473,260 52,620,300 94.9%

3 Panna 412,207 33,933,060 48,926,880 144.2% 4 Sagar 940,091 76,458,960 91,751,715 120.0%

5 Tikamgarh 397,458 34,329,780 75,881,610 221.0% Interestingly, the disguised unemployment in agriculture sector in the study area is low, with the exception of district Tikamgarh, where it is 121%. It ranges from 20% in district Sagar to 46% in district Chhatarpur. In district Damoh there is no disguised unemployment, as the farmers are managing their crops with less labour than the generally prescribed level; and their productivity of the major crops is comparable with the State and national averages. District Tikamgarh has the highest disguised unemployment to the tune of 121%, possibly because the higher population density (286 persons per sq km compared to the State average of 236 persons per sq km) and more number of rural population reporting to be productively engaged in agriculture. Fresh analysis is suggested using the recent data incorporating the return flow of migrant labour post Covid-19 pandemic. 4.2.5MigrationThe entire Bundelkhand region is known for seasonal and permanent migration of individuals and families in search of employment. No secondary data was readily available on the migration, but the primary data obtained from the FGDs in the villages covered in the study indicated that about 10% to 20% of families migrate to cities like Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi, Kanpur and Delhi for about 6-8 months in a year. Another 10%-20% of persons go to the neighbouring villages as agriculture labour or to nearby cities as casual labour, but it is mostly for daily wages work. While exact estimates of migration are not available, the administration is in the process of preparing a database of migrant workers who returned due to the Covid-19 induced economic lockdown and fallout. This database would help in future in scientific planning of the interventions.

4.3SupportSystemsandInstitutions


Agriculture is the mainstay of economy in entire Bundelkhand, and the districts covered under the study. This section looks at the support systems that can enhance the productivity and effectiveness in agriculture and allied sectors in the region. 4.3.1BackwardlinkagesQuality material, manpower and technology are the three basic components crucial for success of any economic activity. Supply of inputs and cash or credit flows are the main material links and the foundation of an economic activity. Sound technical solutions, appropriate to the local context and resource regime, can fructify the development objectives. Technology support is the crucial links in delivering the results using these two fundamental resources. Inputs supply: Timely supply of agricultural inputs of reliable quality and at affordable price is an important factor contributing to productivity and profitability of on-farm and off-farm activities. Important examples are seeds and fertilisers, feed supplements for livestock, farm implements and financial resources to back these. Several successful examples can be cited from the study area on its contribution to the wellbeing of people; some are presented as case studies in the next chapter. These highlight the huge potential for promoting cluster based units through people’s organisations like SHGs and FPOs. Technology support : This is found to be the weakest link in the economic development of rural Bundelkhand, especially in agriculture and allied sectors. Farmers have been successful more because of their own initiative on accessing appropriate technology, as the outreach of official extension services and the KVKs has been very limited. Further, the extension personnel of agriculture and livestock departments have been kept so busy by the government in filling up forms for numerous schemes, that they rarely could find time for their main function of technology transfer. Credit Flows : The loan disbursement data for the financial institutions (all banks) in the study districts present an irregular pattern. Except for crop loans, the disbursement of medium term loans in agriculture and loans to other priority sectors varied from as low as 5% to as high as 71% of the targets set in the respective Credit Plans across the districts over the last three years (Table 4.8). Repayment of the loans under priority sector lending (PSL) has been low in all the districts; the recovery rate ranged from 21%-40% in district Tikamgarh to 64.5%-73.4% in district Sagar for the last three years.

Table 4.8 Institutional Credit Scenario in the Study Districts S

No District Average

PSL (Rs Lakh)

Average Agri Loan,

Rs/ ha

Disbursed as % of targets

Percent Recovery

1 Chhatarpur 799,84 11,370 15%-121% 30%-72% 2 Damoh 358,38 7,500 30%-82% 46%-72% 3 Panna 693,25 11,000 5%-71% 50% 4 Sagar 2111,17 17,450 42%-105% 65%-73% 5 Tikamgarh 477,33 98,960 3%-76% 21%-40%


The proportion of disbursement in relation to their credit plan targets by the cooperative banks and the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) had been higher than the commercial banks in all districts and in most years. The availability of agriculture loans (the ratio of actual disbursement of crop loans and term loans to the gross cropped area) varied across the districts; it worked out to be an average of Rs 7500 per hectare in district Panna to Rs 17450 per hectare in district Sagar during the last three years. The density of commercial banks in the study districts has been 6 brnaches per one lakh population, except district Sagar having 8 branches per one lakh population, which is the State average (Table 4.9). The density of branches of cooperative banks is also low in the area. The density of Agricultural Credit Societies ranged from 28 per lakh cultivators in district Tikamgarh to 89 per one lakh cultivators in district Damoh. It is better than the State average (48 per one lakh cultivators) in three of the five districts covered.

Table 4.9 Density of Credit Institutions in the Study Districts S

No District Bank

Branches Per Lakh

Population Agri Credit Societies

Per Lakh Cultivators

1 Chhatarpur 107 6 113 37 2 Damoh 78 6 102 89 3 Panna 60 6 88 65 4 Sagar 185 8 178 87 5 Tikamgarh 84 6 87 28 MP State 6,148 8 4,524 46

4.3.2HumanResourcesDevelopmentQuality of human resources is important for efficiency and profitability in any enterprise, including land based livelihoods. Knowledge and skills of the workforce determine their outputs in all economic activities in agriculture, industry and services. The study looked into the available institutions and facilities for education and training in the study area and found out that the capacity is very limited. Educational Institutes : It was found that less than 15% of students pursued studies beyond Higher Secondary level, mainly because of the overall lack of educational facilities in the region.

Table 4.2 Educational Capacity in the Study Area

S No

Type of Institution Chhatarpur Damoh Panna Sagar Tikamgarh MP

District Population 17,62,375 12,64,219 10,16,520 23,78,458 14,45,166 7.26 Cr 1 High Schools per lakh

population 10.95 8.07 9.84 10.76 10.93 10.77


2 Higher Secondary Schools per lakh pop

10.04 8.31 8.56 9.42 7.13 11.63

3 Number of engineering, medical, architecture, pharmacy colleges in the district

1 1 NA 12 1 NA

4 Number of polytechnics and other diploma colleges in the district

1 1 NA 1 1 NA

5 ITIs/ITCs in the district 6 5 NA 4 4 NA

4.4PotentialinIndustrialSector

By the end of 2015-16, various districts covered under the study had only 1% - 3% of work force is employed in formal industrial sector. Out of these, Small and Micro industries accounted for most of the employment. The major employment providing sectors for rural workforce were agro-based industries, readymade garments and embroidery units, followed by repairing and servicing industry. The data reveals that every registered unit employs nearly 2.1 persons, on an average. It ranges from 1.06 persons per unit for leather based industry to 18.1 per unit in case of mineral based industry. It is 2.50 persons per agro-based unit. It indicates that the formal industrial sector has a limited potential for direct wage employment. Further, there is a limited possibility of expansion or growth in industrial sector in view of the resource endowment including infrastructure. Even in case of formal agro-based industries, the employment potential appears to be low.


Chapter5.MainFindings This chapter summarises the findings on some noteworthy and successful initiatives by the community and by various development agencies. Recognising the relevance of these experiences for further replication, a summary was presented at the beginning of this section. Following this summary are presented the perspectives of these stakeholders on their needs and expectations along with their suggestions for improving employment scenario and opportunities in rural parts of the district. These experiences and perspective were gathered from the community and development functionaries through interactions that included Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with farmers, youth, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), as well as semi-structured interviews with the officials from district administration, concerned departments, public institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and individual entrepreneurs.

5.1SummaryofSuccessfulInitiatives

The local initiatives of the recent past were analysed on their approaches and results with a view to understand their relevance in terms of promoting enterprises, creating employment and enhancing income. These experiences were analysed from technology, management and viability perspectives to indentify the factors contributing to success and to assess the potential for their replication and scaling up. Presented below are the specific experiences and key lessons from various initiatives, organised according to the sub-sectors, along with some representative case studies.

Table 4.1 : Representative List of Initiatives Analysed S No Entrepreneur Nature of Activity Key characteristics

A NTFP and Forest based 1 Women’s Groups in Powai,

District Panna Collection, processing and trade of Chironji

• Decentralised collection and primary processing

• Collective marketing • Cluster based approach

2 SHGs in Damoh Bundeli honey • Collection and trade B Farming Systems 1 Farmers Groups in Jatara,

District Tikamgarh Pomegranate cultivation • Cluster approach

• Technology support 2 Farmers Groups in Palera,

District Tikamgarh Collective farming of guava • Collective farming

• Technology support 3 Bijawar Farmer Producer

Company Limited, District Chhatarpur

Soy production and marketing • Safe cultivation method • Collective marketing

4 Potato initiative by Govind Seeds and Crops Producer Company, District Damoh

Scientific cultivation of potato • Technology support • Collective marketing


S No Entrepreneur Nature of Activity Key characteristics 5 Damoh Krishi Chetna FPC,

District Damoh Agri inputs supply, scientific cultivation of pulses

• Package of practices • Technical and financial

guidance C Backward Linkages 1 Sakshi Women Producer

Company Ltd, Orchha, District Tikamgarh

Seeds, cattle feed and manure supply

• Backward linkages • Vermicompost making

2 Vandana Self Help Group, District Sagar

Plant growth promoters (Panchagavya)

• Linkages with NSC • Seed processing unit • District-wide operations

3 Dighoda Crop Producers Company Limited, , District Tikagarh

1. Custom Hiring Centre 2. Aggregation and trading 3. Seed multiplication

• Farm implements hire • Linkages with FCI • Seed processing unit

4 Orchha Farmer Producer Company

Seed and veg saplings, cattle feed trading

• Compact cluster operations

D Forward Linkages (Aggregation, processing and trade) 1 Nowgoan Agricultural

Producer Company, District Chhatarpur

Seeds and agricultural inputs marketing

• Contractual arrangement • Cluster based approach

1 Karnavati Agro Producer Company Limited (KAPCL), Janwar, Panna

Processing and marketing of seeds of common crops

• Linkages with NSC • Seed processing unit • District-wide operations

2 Jabera Krishak FPC, District Damoh

Seeds and agricultural inputs supply

• Contractual supply • Cluster based approach

3 SHGs in Damoh Black wheat • Pilot level initiative 3 Bina Farmers Producer

Company, District Sagar Seeds aggregation, processing and trade


4 Maa Durga SHG, village Delan Chowki, District Panna

Fruit Processing of Amla jam, pickle and powder


5 Sakshi Women Producer Co Ltd, Orchha, Dist Tikamgarh

Spices making • Processing and marketing of local spices and fruits

E Dairy and Livestock 1 Jatara Women Poultry

Producer Company Ltd, District Tikamgarh

Poultry (Broiler) rearing • Decentralised production • Integrated approach

2 Individual farmers, Orchha, District Tikamgarh

Khova making • On-farm value addition

3 Devarshi Women Farmers Producer Company, District Sagar

Dairy – pasteurisation and packaging


• Cluster based approach 4 Mukta Women Farmers

Producer Company, Dist Sagar Dairy – collection and chilling centres

5 Bagouta Milk Cooperative, District Chhatarpur

Dairy with cluster based collection



S No Entrepreneur Nature of Activity Key characteristics F Traditional Village Industries 1 Sukwan Women’s Self Help

Group, District Chhatarpur Handloom carpets • Artisanal activity

• Marketing in fairs 2 Lugasi Self Help Group,

District Chhatarpur Handloom carpets • Support for marketing

• Training and guidance 3 Akona Mahila Sangathan ,

District Chhatarpur Terracotta utensils • Artisanal activity

• Marketing support 4 Satai Gram Mahila Bachat

Samooha, District Chhatarpur Chudi (bangle) making • Artisanal activity

• Local marketing 5 Women entrepreneurs, District

Tikamgarh Bamboo basket making • Traditional artisans

G Micro Enterprises 1 Incubation Centre, Jatara,

District Tikamgarh Stitching training cum production

• Incubation support • Production facility

2 Small group activity, District Tikagmarh

Towel weaving • Powerloom unit • Local marketing

3 Annapurna Self Help Group, Ahirguwan Camp, District Panna

Manufacture and local marketing of soap

• Local marketing • Linking with institutional

markets (hotels/ hostels) 4 Niwar Mahila Utthan Samiti,

District Chhatarpur Soap making • Institutional marketing

• Training and guidance 5 Sanitary Napkin Unit, District

Damoh Manufacture of sanitary napkins

• Linking with institutional markets

6 Sankat Mochan Cluster Level Federation, District Sagar

Manufacture of sanitary napkins

• Local marketing • Linking with institutional

markets (hotels/ hostels) 7 Individual Entrepreneur,

District Sagar Incense stick making • Appropriate technology

• Local contract marketing

5.2AnalysisofSuccessfulRuralEnterprises

Presented below are the specific experiences of the farmers and entrepreneurs in the district, along with the lessons from these initiatives for promoting rural employment in the long run. 5.2.1NTFPandForestBasedLivelihoodsSparse to dense deciduous forest patches occur in most districts of the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh presenting good potential for employment generation in forest based activities. Districts Panna and Damoh have over 35% of the geographic area under forests, whereas districts Chhatarpur and Tikamagarh have forests spread over 13% of the geographic area. Communities living around the forest land have been traditionally collecting non-timber forest produce (NTFP) as an important income generating activity. Tendu, Mahua, Aonla, Beheda, Sal, Chironji, Karanj are some of the important NTFPs supporting the communities in these areas.


Chironji collection is a common activity in many villages providing sizable income to a number of families during spring-summer season. Collection of honey is another activity that is useful for landless. In recent years, bee keeping is becoming popular among farmers in irrigated areas and those around forests. Bundela Honey (please see the Case Study in the report on District Panna) is an example of successful enterprise set up around wild honey, and later expanded to include apiary honey. Collection of fruits and seeds is a common practice, but recently few entrepreneurs have started its processing. Maa Durga SHG started cultivating amla and selling it in the market in district Damoh (please see the Case Study in the report on District Panna). Chirojnji Collection is one of the successful examples in District Panna (Box 4.1).

Photographs of Bundela Honey

Box 5.1 Chironji Collection Chironji Collection was started by Reliance Foundation in 2016 in 17 villages of Pawai block, wherein a village level committee was established to work as link between the community and potential buyers of non-timber forest produce (NTFP), especially Chironji. Each committee aggregates the Chironji collected by households in the village and sells it to buyers offering best prices. At present each village produce about 100 quintals of Chironji each year. A producer company has been formed in the year 2019 to further expand the operations.


5.2.2FarmingSystemsBasedSolutions Efficient farm production is the fundamental requirement of remunerative agriculture, and a holistic approach to farming can boost the production and productivity significantly. Farming systems focussed on horticulture and certain types of crops like pulses and oilseeds provide good potential in this regard. Promotion of pomegranate and guava in two clusters of district Tikamgarh bear the testimony of the usefulness of cluster approach for rural prosperity. Based on the successful experience of pomegranate cultivation, Self Reliant Initiatives for Joint Action, SRIJAN a civil society organisation, promoted a group of 11 farmers from village Pahadi in Palera block for guava cultivation in the year 2016. They pooled 1.2 ha (3 acres) of land and developed it with an initial expenditure was Rs 73,580 including fencing. The plantation was done in August 2018, which has started producing now. They expect a net income of about Rs 5.5 lakh per hectare from fifth year onwards. The activity would breakeven in the third year and the expected IRR over 5 years is 16.4%. Potato Initiative : Govinda Seeds and Crops Producer Company Limited was established in February 2006 for production and marketing of certified seeds. It obtained a license for trading in inputs and commodities and set up a shop in village Baraat of Pathariya block of district Damoh. The company aggregated and marketed it. Its turnover rose to Rs25 lakh by 2012, but gradually fell due to cash flow problems. They are trying to mobilise working capital and funds for expansion.

Box 5.2 Pomegranate Cluster Starting with two farmers in year 2008, the CSO Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN) promoted tiny orchards among small and marginal farmers in Jatara block of district Tikamgarh. Today, more than 200 farmers from 28 villages in Jatara block are growing pomegranate on 29 ha of land; most of the units are tiny - from 0.05 ha to 0.2 ha. On an average, a plot of 0.12 ha (80 plants) would provide a net income of about Rs 50,000 per year. The activity would breakeven in the third year. The internal rate of return (IRR) for this activity is expected to be 11.0% when calculated over a span of 5 years.


Box 5.2 Pomegranate Cluster Success factors : The enterprise was established as a cluster for efficiency in supplies and marketing. Strong scientific approach and continual technical support are the most important factors contributing to success of this initiative. Exposure visits, technical training, back up support from the experts are the key inputs. Over the years, master trainers have been developed from among the early batches of farmers to guide the new farmers. They now plan to form a FPO for aggregation, sorting and grading, to sell high quality fruits to market and others for making juice and rind powder.

Pulses Promotion :Smallholder farmers from Patharia block came together to increase their income and to access to inputs and services and formed Damoh Krishi Chetna Producers Organisations under guidance from Mahila Chetna Manch, a CSO, under a special programme of Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC). Over 1600 farmers from 29 villages of Pathariya block became members and started cultivating pulses like peas, Bengal gram and lentil. Mahila Chetana Manch helped develop convergence with government schemes related to pulse production, National Food Security Mission that helped in increasing income of the farmers. Soy Production : Bijawar Farmer Producer Company Limited was formed to facilitate a viable and environmentally sound soy production by the CSO, Association for Social Action (ASA), under Responsible Soy Production Project as a part of global initiative sponsored by a Swiss corporation. It dwelt on improving soil productivity with organic manures and supplements and on promoting sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices, which reduced the use of chemical pesticides. It helped build linkages to European markets, and thus, got better prices. It consequently helped farmers get about 15%-20% more production and gain about Rs 3,500 per acre. 5.2.3BackwardLinkages-SupplyofAgriculturalInputs Timely availability of seeds and fertilisers at affordable prices is a major challenge in the rural areas, especially those villages away from towns. Extension services and working capital support are also critical backward linkage. Promotion of organic manures and plant growth promoters through SHGs and farmers groups has been important factor, especially in the vegetable clusters. Trade in Seeds and Samplings : Niwari Farmers Producer Company (Village Kaina, Block Niwari, District Tikamgarh) was promoted by a CSO Development Alternatives in 2016, starting with 40 members representing five villages around Kaina in Niwari block. The purpose was to do collective farming and trading of seeds and organic fertilisers. At present it has 500 shareholders from 20 villages. The main activities of the FPC are trading in seeds, cattle feed and vermicompost and running a horticulture nursery for supply of vegetables saplings. They sell seeds of wheat and mustard from National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and vermicompost and cattle feed from Sakshi FPC, Orchha. Their turnover was Rs 10 lakhs in the last year (2018-19).

Box 5.3 Sakshi Producer Company


Saplings : The company set up a polyhouse last year to produce saplings of vegetables like chilli and tomato for selling it to member farmers. However, the entire production of the samplings was transplanted in their own farm. They are cultivating a plot of 6.4 acres on organic cultivation of various crops like black gram, lentil and wheat. These were sold in local markets and in krishak melas at slightly higher price than normal grains. Custom Hiring Services : Dighoda Crop Producers Company Limited was promoted by the CSO Action for Social Advancement (ASA) under Mahila

Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana in 2014 with ten women members mainly for selling seeds and fertilisers and for commodity trading. At present, it has 300 women members, mostly dealing with seeds of black gram, soybean, mustard, and wheat, and in chemical fertilisers (mainly urea and DAP). They have their own warehouse of 1000 MT capacity, which was mainly used for storing the inputs and commodities.

Photograph – Vermicompost

Sakshi Producer Company, Village Gundarai, Orchha, District Tikamgarh was promoted by a CSO Development Alternatives in January 2016. It has 19 groups and about 1000 members. The company is engaged in four main activities, namely, running a goshala (cattle camp), masala making, vermicompost making, and cattle feed trading. Trading : The FPO took dealership from Sanchi Milk Union to sells cattle feed to members and other farmers in the area. This year, they tied up with another company IFFCO to sell their brand Kisan Star cattle feed. The trade margin is Rs 120-130 for 50kg bag. Vermicompost : The company has an elaborate vermicompost farm with annual production of about 30 MT, sold under a brand “Shakti Organic Compost” which is a registered trade mark. It is sold for Rs 1100 per bag of 50 kg in retail, and for Rs 900 to the member groups or traders. They also provide training to farmers and provide a compact unit with culture and basic tools, so that their members get better farm level profitability and better prices.


The company had set up a Custom Hiring Centre in 2016-17 with equipment like tractors, threshers and seed drills. It worked for a year, and then shut down because of poor management practices, mainly the scheduling. The equipment was shifted to Bijawar, where another ASA-promoted CHC is working. The main lesson from this unit is that the hiring services should be run efficiently, which should not be compromised for the convenience of a few members. Plant Growth Promoters : Vandana Self Help Group in village Nirtala of Khurai block in District Sagar started manufacture and sale of Panchgavya, an organic plant growth promoter since December 2019 after being trained by NRLM officials. Panchagavya is used for seed treatment as well as a spray on the crops. They sell 1 kg bottle of Panchagavya for Rs. 250 to the SHG members and for Rs. 300 to others. 5.2.4ForwardLinkages-Aggregation,processingandtrade Farmers can get higher price realisation with primary processing and aggregating, which was seen operating in many places in the study area. Secondary processing in form of rice mills, dal mills, oil mills, and processing units for local crops were found operating successfully on cluster basis. Primary processing of seeds grown by farmers was one area which benefitted the seed producing farmers and other farmers to obtain it locally at much cheaper rate.

Seed processing facility led to increase in net income of farmers


Nowgoan Agriculture Producer Company, with a shareholding membership of 1184 farmers, supplies agricultural inputs, mainly seeds and fertilisers, to the farmers in the cluster of about twelve villages. They started aggregating certified seeds from seed growing farmers, which has now become their main economic activity. They established a facility for seed sorting and grading, certification and packaging of black gram, green gram, red gram, groundnut, wheat, Bengal gram, pea, etc. Presently, they are supplying these seeds to various seed companies on contract. Similarly, Bina Farmer Producer Company Limited was established with 1000 members under a special project of Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) in July 2015. It is engaged in the seed production, commodity trading and sell of

agriculture inputs. The members at present produce both breeder seeds and truthful seeds of wheat and Bengal gram. They discontinued the soybean seed production some time ago. The company also procures soybean and wheat from local farmers for selling it to ITC and Adani-Wilmer group since 2016. Similar work is being done in District Damoh, Jabera Krishak Producer Company Limited established with 1000 members under a special project of Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) in April 2015. It is engaged in the seed production, commodity trading and sell of agriculture inputs. The members at present produce both breeder seeds and truthful seeds of paddy, black gram, green gram and Bengal gram. The company gets technical guidance from PRADAN, a CSO, and India Gramin Services. Amla Processing : Maa Durga SHG, formed under District Poverty Initiatives Programme (DPIP), started cultivating Amla and selling it in the market. They came across a local entrepreneur, who was making Amla Murabba (jam) from 1997. The group started selling amla to him since 2003. Maa Durga and a few other SHGs are still selling sorted and graded amla at a pre-determined price of Rs 30 for 100 fruits, which is a remunerative contract price. This case study is presented in detail in the report on District Panna. Spices Making : Sakshi Women Producer Company Limited, Orchha (already cited above), started a spices unit in 2016 to make powdered turmeric, chilli, and coriander, with seed capital from NABARD for the machinery. The raw material is sourced from the members, while product is sold in local markets. They are presently processing 60 quintal of turmeric, 2 quintal of red chilli and 300 kg of coriander. This year, they produced candy from 200 kg of Amla. The margins are low, mainly because they are selling it in local market at a low price. They are planning to scale up the production and reaching out to urban markets in the coming year.

Box 5.4 Seed Processing Karnavati Agri Producer Company Limited (KAPCL) was incorporated in December 2006 in village Janwar (Panna Block) by the CSO Action for Social Advancement (ASA) under District Poverty Initiative Project (DPIP). Within two years, it established a name in production of soybean, paddy, red gram, wheat, black gram and Bengal gram seeds. It has 3061 shareholders.

KAPCL tied up with National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) for technical advice and financial support to expand its operation. Starting with 56.7 Metric Tonnes of certified seeds of black gram in 2012-13, KAPCL reached a level of about 3250 MT in three years. They set up two warehouses, one with support from SFAC and other through SGSY, and one grading plant in 2010. It helped the seed farmers earn Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 more from every acre of land.

The company is also sells agriculture inputs to the members. They have plans to start a rice mill and a flour mill in near future. They also want to start a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) for farm implements


5.2.5DairyandLivestock Livestock is an integral part of farming in the entire Bundelkhand. Like in all rainfed areas in the tropics, livestock provides a buffer against climate induced stresses. Several successful examples of milch cattle, goats and poultry could be identified during the course of the study, out of which five prominent cases are presented here. These include one integrated dairy plant, two milk collection systems, a khova making enterprise and a large scale broiler poultry system. Many dairy units have been operating for years with variable degree of success; private vending being a common practice among those farmers living in the proximity to towns, whereas dependence on private or cooperative dairy units is high in remote areas with poor road network. The cooperative dairy sector has degraded considerably in the last decade or so. The potential of dairy industry is highlighted by these successful examples operating under such circumstances. Women-managed Dairy Units : Mukta Women Producer Company Limited was promoted by National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in 2017. It has set up 185 milk collection centres across five blocks of Sagar district - Deori, Jaisingnagar, Rahatgarh, Raheli and Sagar.

The company operates three chilling centres, each of 5500 litres capacity in three blocks, and is in process of setting up one more. The milk is supplied to Mother Dairy plant of NDDB at Itawa. Company has a plan to increase its milk collection by setting up another 15 collection centres in this year. Mahila Chetna Manch, a CSO working for women’s empowerment, launched about ten years ago dairy initiative in Bijawar, Ishanagar, Nowgaon and Rajnagar blocks of Chhatarpur district with milk chilling and collection centre at Bagouta, Chhatarpur. It was a part of their larger initiative to bring together 36 women dairy cooperatives with 1410 members and establishing a supply chain to link them

with Bareli chilling centre. Fifteen women dairy cooperatives with 375 members are currently linked and are supplying milk regularly. The members are getting remunerative rates and also the inputs like feeds and concentrates. The cooperatives are now planning to set up primary veterinary care centres in their operational areas.

Box 5.5 Devashree Dairy Devashree Women Producer Company was promoted by DPIP around 2007 in Kesli block of Sagar district as forward linkage to the cattles promoted under the programme. It was brought under NRLM in year 2012 to further augment the capacity by setting up two chilling units of 3000 litres and 5000 litres capacity. At present, it collects milk from 120 villages in Kesli block through 70 collection centres.

The company used to sell collected milk to Bhopal Milk Federation, which stopped buying milk in 2018 due to glut in the region. The company started searching for new buyers and tied up with a private dairy from Jabalpur. About a year ago, the contract was terminated after the payments became irregular. Thereafter, the company started selling milk to a private dairy in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. This roller-coaster ride led to the company and NLRM officials launching its own pasteurising and packaging unit. The company is in a process of setting up production unit of curd, buttermilk and paneer under the brand name Devashree.


Dairy can boost income of farmers

Khova Making : It is a traditional activity among buffalo farmers in villages around the towns like Orchha, Jatara, Mau Ranipur, Prithvipur in District Tikamgarh and near the city of Jhansi, selling it to the sweet meat shops in these towns. Almost every village around Orchha has about 15-20 families engaged in Khova making from buffalo milk. The price they fetch ranges from Rs 80 per kg with high moisture content to 140 per kg of relatively dry version. It increases up to about Rs 160-180 in summer. The farmers acknowledge that this business has low margin, but still prefer it because of assured market and less risk compared to selling fresh milk.

Box 5.6 Integrated Broiler Poultry Jatara Women Poultry Producer Company Limited was promoted by Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN, a CSO), under DPIP in 2006 as a group activity with 41 members. Currently, there are 435 members running as many poultry units in Jatara Block. It is a part of a larger integrated operation of Madhya Pradesh Women’s Poultry Company Limited (MPWPCL) promoted by PRADAN. The women members run units of 500 birds or 1000 birds each, obtaining the chicks, feed and other inputs from the Union, which has assured buy back after about 6 weeks. The initial investment is Rs 1 lakh for a unit of 500 birds and Rs 1.70 lakh for a unit of 1000 birds. Average net income is about Rs 4000 per month from a 500 bird unit and Rs 10000 per month from a 1000 bird unit. Success Factors : The MPWPCL runs hatcheries, feed mills and a professional veterinary corps providing necessary inputs to the members. It is a well organised enterprise model working like contract farming, with all inputs and technical and marketing support is provided by the company and the farmers focus only on farm level production. Their organisation structure from village to cluster to state level is the main strength, with professional staff managing the affairs.


5.2.6TraditionalVillageIndustries Bundelkhamd has a variety of artisans spread out all over the region. Brass utensils, wood work, bamboo handicrafts, trinkets, lacquer work and weaving were found in the districts covered. Few of these artisanal activities are cited here.

Handloom Carpet Weaving : Two Self Help Groups in villages Sukwan and Lugasi villages of Nowgaon block of District Chhatarpur were formed under Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana with guidance from village health workers. They sell the carpets locally and in marketing fairs (Gramashree melas) organised by the DRDA. Of late, they are facing the shortage of raw material and increasing costs of cotton yarn. They want to expand their operations, and require more working capital and marketing support.

Terra cotta Utensils : Akona Mahila Sangathan is a Self Help Group in village Akona of Rajnagar block in District Chhatarpur. It has 22 members from the traditional potter families, who were trained by DRDA. They produce articles worth Rs 3-5 lakh every year and sell it in the district and state level fairs organised by various authorities. They want to expand the scale of their operations, as more families are interested in entering the business. They need more financial support and market linkages, so that other artisans can be trained and inducted in this economic activity. Bangle Making : Satai Gram Mahila Bachat Samooha is a Self Help Group formed about 15 years ago in village Satai of Bijawar block of District Chhatarpur. It has 44 members actively engaged in bangle making. Both men and women of the member families are engaged in production, whereas the men sell the bangles in the local haats and in nearby villages and towns. 5.2.7Micro-Enterprises Several consumer products based on agriculture and allied sectors, like powdered spices, apparels (tailoring), incense sticks, cloths, etc can be marketed in the numerous local markets (haats) and the towns in the district. Few examples of these activities being carried out on a limited scale are presented here. There is a need to consolidate these efforts and support cluster level SHGs or FPOs to strengthen retail marketing. Sanitary Pads, Inscence stick

Box 5.7 Bamboo basket making Making fruits and vegetables baskets from bamboo is a traditional activity undertaken by Banskar community in village Bajitpura in Jatara block of District Tikamgarh. The baskets are produced in three sizes and sold mostly in Jatara market. Under Tejaswini Project, 15 women were trained in the village itself for 8 days in 2015, where they learned making articles like bouquet. The raw material is bought from the farmers in the village at about Rs 80 per bamboo. One family can make about 10-15 baskets per week, which are sold for Rs 40 for small, Rs 60 for medium and Rs 120 for large sized basket.


Soap making : Niwar Mahila Utthan Samiti is a Self Help Group was promoted by NRLM in village Niwar of Buxwah block of Chhatarpur. About 29 men and women are engaged in this activity. They get the raw material from Jhansi and sell their product locally. Initially, NRLM helped them sell the soaps to schools and hospitals, but now, they are selling it in the local haats and shops.

Cottage industries for value addition

Similarly, Annapurna Self Help Group of Ahirguwan Camp village in Panna block started this initiative in the year 2018 with ten members. They produce the soap in batches of 4 women at a time. Raw material for soap making is chemical base, colour, scent and wrapper. The group has 15 silicon rubber cast of 50 gm and 15 silicon rubber cast of 100 gm. A100 gm soap with retail price of Rs 20 is sold to shopkeepers at Rs 16, and the 50 gm soap with retail price of Rs 10 is sold at Rs 7. The group pays Rs 10 per soap to the members and retains the rest to cover the fixed costs. Initial batches of soaps were sold to hotels and hostels through NLRM officials. They received good feedback from these customers, but no repeat orders.

Presently they are selling these soaps in the local haats and nearby villages. Towel Weaving : This unit was promoted under DPIP in 2008 as a group activity in village Lidhora Tal of Jatara Block in district Tikamgarh. The project provided a work shed of about 100

Box 5.7 Incubation Centre in Tailoring This centre was set up by the CSO SRIJAN in September 2019 in village Lidhora, Block Jatara of District Tikamgarh to train rural women inn tailoring and apparel making. Ten electrically operated semi-automatic sewing machines were installed and basic tools were provided and a master artisan was hired as a trainer by SRIJAN. The women are trained for two hours every day for three months at a fee of Rs 100 per month. The women learn cutting and stitching salwar suit, frock, shirts, etc during the three-month course. So far two batches of 10 girls each have completed the course and are working in their own village. Some are earning Rs 1500-2000 per month, some are earning up to Rs 4000. SRIJAN is also facilitating the trainees for buying sewing machines with support from their SHG.


sqm and provided five electrically operated looms (mini power looms), out of which three are being operated at present. The capacity of each machine is making about 2 towels per hour, or a total of about 6-7 towels per hour. The raw material (thread) is brought from the town of Mau Ranipur, and the towels are sold to a wholesaler in the same town. The cost of production works out to Rs 40 per towel, which fetches Rs 50 each in wholesale. Regular power supply is the main constraint, and hence the production is limited about 300-500 towels per month. It can be doubled, if the power supply becomes regular. Sanitary Napkins : This activity was promoted by SRLM in two forms, one with manufacturing and another with repackaging. A federation of Self Help Groups in Patera block of District Damoh buy the cotton wool and raw material in bulk from Delhi or Mumbai and manufacture the sanitary pads in three different sizes. The machinery for manufacturing and packaging was provided on subsidy under SRLM scheme, and the working capital was obtained on bank load. For the first two years, majority of the production was sold through the schools. But, last year the government decided to provide sanitary napkins through schemes to schools at subsidised rates. As a result, the sales of the units have dropped, and the production had to be curtailed severely. At present, the unit has about 2,000 unsold packets as inventory.

Sankat Mochan Cluster Level Federation (CLF), based at village Ratnari in Rehali block of District Sagar, is a federation of 14 Self Help Groups under NRLM. They buy the sanitary napkins in bulk from Indore and repack the same using packaging machine in their unit. Each packet containing 8 pads is sold at Rs 30 locally and to the schools. The member working in the unit get wages of Rs 200 per day. Of late, the sale has reduced considerably as the government is providing sanitary napkins through schemes to schools at subsidised rates. The unit has around 8000 unsold packets as inventory. The CLF and NRLM is considering options to tap markets in the towns.


Incense Sticks Making : A Self Help Group in the Raheli Block of District Sagar got an electrically operated incense sticks (agarbatti) making machine under a scheme. The machine was not working since beginning, so they sold it to a local motor mechanic, who is running it profitabley. He buys the raw material – charcoal, sticks and wrappers - from an agarbatti vendor in Sagar city. He makes about 20 kg of incense sticks by operating machine for four hours and packs it in wrappers of 15 grammes and 30 grammes. He sells it to the same vendor from where he buys the raw material. He earns about Rs 50-60 per kg. He sometimes sells the 15g pack for Rs 10 and 30g pack for Rs 20 to those retail customers who buy it from his shop. He is trying to get a loan to buy more such machines for expanding his enterprise.

It is important to note that all these successful interventions received sustained support from either CSOs (or SRLM, in a few cases) in terms of technology, managerial assistance, capacity building and finances.

5.3NeedsandAspirationsoftheStakeholders

Interactions during the field study reflected the perspectives of the community and their institutions on rural employment as well as their needs and aspirations. These were gathered through Focus Group Discussions with farmers, youth, Self Help Groups and Farmer Producer Organisations, and through semi-structured interviews with the officials from concerned line departments, public institutions and individual entrepreneurs. 5.3.1Women’sSHGs Background : The Self Help Groups in the study area are mainly engaged in savings and thrifts, and a few in group based income generating activities. The Self Help Groups (SHGs) interviewed during the study were formed under various programmes like DPIP (2002-08), Poorest Areas Civil Society or PACS (2005-08), Tejaswini (2007-13), SGSY (1999-2011), etc. Most of these SHGs


got subsequently covered under the NRLM or NABARD programmes and continued to function. Some became non-functional after those programmes ended, while some others got resuscitated by other programmes that followed. During the last few years, NRLM has been effective in getting many such dormant SHGs reactivated. In districts Sagar and Tikamgarh, many non-functional groups were restarted by CSOs like Srijan, CARD and Development Alternatives in the last decade.

SHGs helped build entrepreneurship among women

Main Activities : Savings and internal lending are the main activities of these groups, the members borrowing for a variety of purposes like agricultural inputs, educational expenses, some emergent priorities and any emergency consumption needs, etc. Few individual members started, with borrowing money from the SHGs, micro-enterprises like grocery shops, trading, tent house, transport vehicles, buffalo and other livestock, etc. Group activities were few and far between. Few groups in districts Damoh, Panna and Sagar started milk collection at village level, as a part of cooperative dairy federation network. They experienced that many collection units had to be shut down due to shortfall in summer (seasonal variations). In some villages, SHG members were trained in income generating activities in agriculture, livestock to manufacturing and processing. But, most of these were one-off events which were not followed up with any other support on technology, finance, marketing, etc. Expectations : The SHGs in all districts expressed their interest in micro-enterprises based on local agricultural produce. The members of these groups requested training, technical guidance and marketing support for tailoring, goat rearing, poultry and dairy activity. In villages close to the forest lands, the women wanted to start trading in NTFP like Mahua and Chironji, and


wanted license from the Forest Department for the same. They also showed interest in apiculture and starting honey trade. Many members had prior experience in livestock rearing, especially goats and milch cattle, and are interested in pursuing it on larger scale. They suggested dairy activity to be linked with a large cooperative federation or a private dairy, with proper planning of routes and revival of the milk collection centres. Most SHGs in district Sagar were aware of the Devashree Women FPO, and wanted to set up a similar unit. Similar expectations came from women in district Panna, where Tejasvini programme has indentified potential milk routes in Gunnor block with the help of Animal Husbundary Department, and established a few chilling centres. The members of all SHGS requested training, technical guidance and marketing support for tailoring, food processing (mainly, spices making and papad making) and dairy activity. Women from all districts suggested promotion of goats and poultry for smallholder families. 5.3.2Farmers Agriculture is main source of livelihoods in Bundelkhand, which is largely a two season rainfed crop system. Nearly half the farming families have access to irrigation, whereas the others are engaged in single season rainfed farming. All farmers grow Kharif crops, and nearly half of them grow Rabi crops, albeit on a smaller area. While all of them know that access to irrigation can stabilise their production and income, they are equally aware of the declining water resources in the region. Especially the irrigated farmers are wary of the long term impact of government subsidies for well digging and the pressurised irrigation systems being indiscriminately promoted. Farmers are also aware of the importance of livestock in their farming portfolio, but not many could afford to maintain cattle. Most farmers are aware of benefits of horticulture. Most of them have worked in the watershed projects in the neighbourhood, and wanted to start watershed project in their villages. Main Challenges: The farmers in all districts highlighted the following as the main challenges they are facing in agriculture and allied sectors. Basic resources

• Limited availability of water during Rabi season Inputs

• Poor availability of seeds and fertilisers at showing time and high price Technology

• Decreasing yield of soybean for the last few years, without any obvious reason Value addition

• Dairy activity is remunerative only in the villages close to the cities and towns • Farmers in remote villages do not prefer to cultivate vegetables because it is labour

intensive and they do not have market access due to poor transport infrastructure


Policy and Entitlements • Response to crop insurance under PMFBY is low because of poor record of settling

claims • Stray cattle destroy crops after Govansh Hatya Bandi Act • Irregular and erratic power supply hampers irrigation scheduling, and thus the yield • Nobody received any compensation under PMFBY in spite of complying procedures in

2015-16. Therefore, farmers stopped saying paying premium. • Farmers also expected the government support for land levelling, farm pond, fencing

from stray cattle, soil testing, technical advice on soybean cultivation, as also deep ploughing

• Strengthening SHGs and micro finance

Potential and Expectations : The farmers pointed out some of the opportunities towards addressing the issue of rural unemployment as per the follows. Basic resources • Repairing and developing the old Chandela tanks and improving irrigation facilities • Rainwater harvesting and watershed development • Rainwater harvesting, construction of small dams on nearby streams Inputs • Cluster level farm service centres • Modern implements and machinery to reduce drudgery and labour Technology • Access to advanced and scientific agricultural knowledge and technology at village level • Commercial forestry, horticulture (suitable fruits and vegetables), medicinal plants, livestock management practices • Farmers showed interest is certain crops and sought guidance on those. These specific crops are presented district-wise in the summary Table 4.3 at the end of this chapter. Value addition • Development of livelihoods infrastructure like road network • Some farmers tried contract farming for Jatropha and Tulsi, but the company they had done contract with did not come back to buy back

the produce. 5.3.3Youth

Innovative crops could be remunerative


Youth in the villages covered under the study were largely engaged in agriculture and farm related labour either on own farm or as hired labour on others land. Most of them have studied up to middle school, but could not continue education as there were no high schools in the vicinity. While most of the educated youth were keen to get into government jobs, their interest varied on industrial employment in cities. More than half of the girls are not engaged in any economic activity. In the villages covered under the study, nearly 15%-40% youth migrate after Kharif harvest to cities like Bhopal, Jhansi, Kanpur, Sagar or to the irrigated area in the vicinity. Key issues/ constraints : The youth highlighted the following issues during the interaction.

• Most of the youth were familiar with agriculture and wanted to continue working in farming, since it is the only source of rural employment available to them.

• Because of agriculture activity is limited to only two seasons, there are no employment in summer months, except for occasional MNREGA work. Suggested creation of irrigation facilities.

• They wanted information and guidance on schemes of dairy, poultry and seed treatment plant. They wanted to produce certified seeds in their farms.

• They did not have any information on schemes, nor did they get any information or guidance on getting employment or loans

• No beneficiaries of any such schemes like DDU-KVY, RSETI, Mudra, SRLM, DIC, etc. could be found in the study villages

• None of the youth present during the FGDs could recall any visit of any government officer or functionary to the village to talk about any schemes for the youth.

Expectations : The youth specifically sought help and guidance on the following aspects.

• Information on package of practices for remunerative crops and livestock rearing, especially poultry and goatry

• Facilities of food processing, primary processing of NTFP, medicinal herbs, etc • Warehousing, cold storage and packaging • Processing and grading unit for seeds, dal mill, oil mill • Primary processing of NTFP like Amla, Beheda, Chironji, and leaf plate making • Support for irrigation pumpsets and well digging • Information on schemes for youth on employment and self-employment • Activities like tailoring and garment making

• Special coaching - English conversation, marketing, salesmen District wise expectations on specific sub sectors and activities are presented in the Table 4.3 at the end of the chapter.


5.3.4GramPanchayatMembers The situation of employment and livelihoods in the village was discussed with the Gram Panchayat members and functionaries. It also covered the efforts made by the Gram Panchayat to address the issues of rural unemployment and livelihoods of the local community. The Gram Panchayat representatives were well aware of MNREGA provisions, but had limited information on the government schemes on agriculture. The members claimed to have been actively pursuing various welfare and development schemes of the government, especially on housing, drinking water and cattle camps. Main issues/ constraints : The Gram Panchayat representatives informed that almost entire village population is dependent on agriculture, and nearly half of the households also work as labour on others’ land to make the ends meet. They informed that rarely any work was taken up under NREGA in the last 2-3 years. The Gram Panchayats have been trying to get various development and welfare schemes from the block office, but the response was not always positive. They highlighted some constraints or limitations as follows.

• Process of obtaining funds from government was complicated and controlled by officers • Information on schemes was rarely provided by the block authorities or the Secretary,

especially on PM Mahila Kisan Yojana and PM Sinchai Yojana • There is always a delay in getting the funds under various flagship schemes like Swatch

Bharat or Awas Yojana, or Sinchai Yojana • Farmers never received any compensation under the Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance)

• Their demands or proposals for works under MNREGA do not get approved at the Block

level; instead, the Block authorities determine the works to be implemented in the village • Work generation through MGNREGA remains limited to non-productive and non-

welfare infrastructure like cement concrete roads, wastewater drains, cremation sites, etc. • Wages obtained on the MNREGA work are delayed by 1-2 months • MNREGA work is not remunerative as the work output norms are not favourable • In many villages, no work was done under MNREGA in the last 2-3 years

Expectations : The Panchayat members sought help on the following aspects.

• Information on schemes Process of obtaining funds from government should be simplified

• Disbursement of crop loans to be done before the start of the crop season • Surveys for crop insurance should be done on time • Skill building of rural youth on repairing of agriculture equipment • Tailoring training and production centre for women and adolescent girls • Setting up of seed processing and grading plant in a cluster of 10-20 villages • Cold storage and godowns to store the agricultural produce


5.4SummaryofExperiencesandExpectations

• Strengthening agricultural extension services is a common need. Technical guidance to

improve productivity of main crops was identified as the most glaring gap in all districts.

• Seed processing plant serves as a local solution for both backward linkages for the farmers in ensuring supply of quality seeds and as forward linkages for seed producer farmers.

• Specific agro-processing activities that have proved to be success in the district are categorised as “Micro-enterprises” instead of classifying them under “Forward Linkages”.

• Cluster level farm service centres were in high demand in all districts to meet the needs of inputs and implements and other services. Supply of seeds, fertilisers, organic manures and inputs

• Systematic milk route operations was acknowledged as the key in successful dairy activity.

• Goat rearing and backyard poultry for poor families emerged as common demand in all districts

• Repairing of mobile and other electronic equipment shops - Scope exists for youth in peri-urban areas. Some units seen in Orchha and Sagar towns.

Table 5.2 : Consolidated Needs and Expectations of Stakeholders Chhatarpur

S No

Sub-sectors and Activities

Chhatarpur Damoh Panna Sagar Tikamgarh

1 Soil water conservation (on watershed basis)

• Farm bunds • Farm pond • Land levelling

• Farm bunds • Farm pond • Gully plugs •

2 Water resources Tank repair and rejuvenation

Tank repair and rejuvenation

Tank repair and rejuvenation

3 Forest based (NTFP collection, processing and trade)

Amla, honey, Mahua, Beheda, Chironji, sal

Mahua, Amla, Chironji and honey

4 Focussed crop promotion

Red gram, black gram, Bengal gram, sesame, groundnut

5 Key backward linkages

Inputs supply and seed plant

• Technical guidance

• Breeder seeds • Seed plant




6 Custom hiring centres for Agricultural implements

Few more custom hiring centres

Implements like Ploughs and threashers

Can be promoted through FPOs


7 Forward linkages for remunerative agriculture

Seed processing

Crop specific processing clusters - dal, oil, turmeric

Seed processing plant

Crop specific processing clusters - dal

Seed processing plants in few clusters

8 Aggregation and trade clusters of main commodities

Soybean, black gram, chick pea, etc

Sesame,

9 Horticulture Sapota, citrus, ber, mango, pomegranate,

lime, guava, Citrus, guava, papaya, mango, aonla

Guava, mango,

10 High value crops Potato, onion, cauliflower, tomato and carom seed (Ajwain),

Turmeric, potato, tomato, chilli, carom seed (Ajwain), apiculture (honey)

Turmeric, ginger, onion, tomato, gooseberry. black wheat as pilot

Turmeric, potato, tomato, chilli

Turmeric, ginger, tomato, apiculture

11 Fishery and aquaculture

• Fishery • Water

chestnut • Lotus seed

Inland and riverine fishery

• Fishery • Water chestnut • Lotus seed

12 Livestock development

• Cattle • Goat and

backyard poultry for poor families

•

Goat and backyard poultry for poor families



Buffalo Goat and Backyard poultry

13 Dairy development

Milk collection, chilling centre, and marketing

Milk collection, chilling centre, and marketing

Buffalo milk collection, Khova making

14 Women’s micro-enterprises

Primary processing of agri produce

• Dal mill, masala making

Oil mill, dal mill, masala making, leaf plate making

Dal mill, masala making

Medicinal plants, dal mill, oil mill, masala making, leaf plate making

15 Artisanal/ Traditional Village Industries

Woodwork Bamboo work Wood work

Bamboo handicrafts, brass work, brass utensils

16 Pilot scale enterprises

Mushrooms Tailoring Fly ash brick making

Tailoring Tailoring, Fly ash brick Weaving- towels, mushrooms


5.5Somesuggestionsnotfoundadvisable/feasible(AllDistricts)

While exploring potential for employment and growth, it is equally important to identify activities and sub-sectors which might prove counterproductive in the long run, and therefore, should be avoided. During the interactions, some stakeholders made suggestions based on their sporadic observations or information from other locations. Not all of those suggestions were found feasible. Few examples are cited below, which could be avoided in the districts.

• Commercial crops like citronella, eucalyptus, Aloe vera, may be avoided because of uncertain demand and total absence of local demand or consumption. Pilot scale demonstrations may, however, be taken by KVK and others. Commercial crops like black wheat, mentha and stivia may be tried on a small scale as the exact demand is not known, and market channels for selling these are not established in the region. Pilot scale demonstrations may, however, be taken by KVK and others to test the feasibility and viability. Commercial crops like eucalyptus, mentha, Giloy, Aloe vera, Safed Musli, etc may be avoided because of uncertain demand and total absence of local demand or consumption. Pilot scale demonstrations may, however, be taken by KVK and others.

• Commercial crops like sugarcane and mentha. Sugarcane should be avoided as it requires large quantity of water throughout the year, which is not available in Tikamgarh. Mentha needs local (on-site) processing facility of oil extraction, and secondly, its marketing is dependent on intermediaries located in faraway places.

• Rearing Kadaknath poultry should be avoided because the market so fancifully claimed is simply not available. As such, few criminal cases have been filed in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh against chick suppliers and marketing agents for cheating the farmers.

• Rearing Kadaknath poultry. It should be avoided because the market so fancifully claimed is simply not available. As such, few criminal cases have been filed in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh against chick suppliers and marketing agents for cheating the farmers.

• Micro food processing units were suggested on cluster level in district Tikamgarh. Few farmers and scientists suggested potato chips, ber (jujube) juice, phalsa (purple berries) juice and guava juice units. Potato chips unit should be avoided as the wafer-grade potato variety is not grown locally and also for scale economy. Fruit juice units can be viable only on a tiny local scale and as an occasional operation due to non-availability of larger market. Initial and working capital requirement is also high.

• Tailoring for women and adolescent girls was proposed. However, it cannot run as a commercial activity due to low demand in rural areas.

• Warehouses and cold storages for vegetables and fruits were requested by few farmers and the GP members. However, fruits and vegetables are highly perishable; not all types can be stored in cold storage. Further, many cold storages are running in red because of inability to use its capacity round the year. Erratic power supply is another constraint in its


operation. Warehouses for vegetables and fruits were requested by many farmers and the GP members. However, fruits and vegetables are highly perishable; only a few types can be stored in cold storage. Further, many cold storages are running in red because of inability to use its capacity round the year. Erratic power supply is another constraint in its operation.

• Warehouses for vegetables and fruits were requested by many farmers and the GP members. However, fruits and vegetables are highly perishable; only a few types can be stored in cold storage. Further, many cold storages are running in red because of inability to use capacity round the year.

• Wood working and wooden furniture were suggested, in view of over 400 units functional in district Tikamgarh. It was noted that the raw material is not local, and the number of persons having required skills is limited. Thus, it is possible only on a limited scale.

• Some youth suggested to set up and run cattle camps (gaushalas) for employment. As such, it is a confirmed uneconomic activity, launched with political patronage. It can run only with regular financial grant of the government. Hence, it is avoidable.

• Some youth suggested to set up and run cattle camps (gaushalas) for employment. As such, it is a confirmed uneconomic activity, launched with political patronage. It can run only with regular financial grant of the government. Hence, it is avoidable.

• Home stays and tourism were suggested by few GP members and youth in districts Chhatarpur (around Khajuraho and the Sanctuary) and district Tikamgarh. However, it is an urban oriented service which is being studied by IGG separately, and hence, not covered in this study.

• Diamond polishing was also suggested in Panna. However, it was discouraged due to its tiny scale. Panna auctions had been around 12000 – 16000 carats annually over the last so many years. Further, skill building among the locals will be a challenge.

• Sanitary napkins production and local sale was suggested by some women in districts Damoh and Tikamgarh. It was also promoted by SRLM in the past, but it was a first-year-success story (initial sales contract could be done due to insistence of the respective District Collector). It is a viable activity on a limited scale, provided marketing support is available.

• Granite and sandstone quarry and trade was also suggested in district Tikamgarh. However, it was discouraged due to environmental concerns.


Chapter6.RecommendationsandWayForward Bundelkhand region is primarily agrarian with more than two-third of the rural workforce engaged in agriculture. Given the prevailing condition of rural poverty and the high rural unemployment rate, especially among women, the strategy should focus on making agriculture more remunerative, so as to provide higher income to the labour force engaged in it. It is possible to strengthen the agriculture and allied sectors with backward and forward linkages to address the twin problem of poverty and unemployment. In addition, availability of productive forest lands with reasonable tree cover presents scope for promoting NTFP based livelihoods. There are limitations to increasing employment opportunities in other sectors in the short run. Analysis of the findings of the study implied and pointed at the following measures to enhance the rural employment potential in the region. These recommendations are divided in four categories. • Promotion of new sub-sectors and activities and to revamp the existing ones • Skill building to improve employability and productivity of rural youth • Capacity building of the entrepreneurs • Establishing systems and other reforms

6.1Sub-sectorsandActivities

6.1.1SoilWaterConservationSeveral parts in the study area have a limited irrigation coverage necessitating productivity interventions in dryland farming domain. In such con\ditions, rainwater harvesting and efficiency in water use hold the key, thus prompting for integrated interventions on soil and water on watershed basis. It is recommended to increase the coverage of watershed projects in the entire region. 6.1.2NTFPTradeSeveral pockets in the study area have large forest areas with productive vegetation. Collection, aggregation and trade of non-timber forest produce has always been a conventional income generating activity for the poor living around these areas. Collection of non-timber forest produce support several households in villages around forest areas. These households could be organised into SHGs or Forest Protection Committees and provided with working capital support so that they can prevent distress sale. District-wise details of the types of various NTFPs and its potential are presented in Table 5.2 at the end of this chapter. It may be promoted through the SHGs. SRLM


should promote several FPOs in these clusters. Collection and sale of honey should also be promoted on a large scale in such clusters. 6.1.3AgricultureBundelkhand region has a wide variety of crops grown under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Paddy, wheat, soybean, gram and Bengal gram are among the most popular field crops. District Chhatarpur has a balanced cropping pattern, helping the farmers spread their risks evenly, whereas districts Sagar and Tikamgarh have very high preference for soybean and wheat. It can be developed with the objective of making this occupation more productive and remunerative. • Field Crops : Agro-climatic conditions in the region and the skill base of the farmers presents

a good potential for scaling up pulses and oilseeds. Crop yields of selected pulses and oilseeds like red gram, black gram, Bengal gram, lentil, sesame and groundnut can be further improved with strong technology support through extension services and improving timely supply of inputs. It is also recommended to increase area under these crops. Wheat and soybean should be discouraged, as also paddy in district Panna, because of their low returns and high risk involved. Black wheat has shown promising results in district Panna and should be expanded to larger area.

• Horticulture : Fruit crops account for less than 3% of net sown area, whereas vegetables are

grown on less than 5% of net sown area in the study districts. There is large untapped potential of growing fruits and vegetable in the district, in view of transport infrastructure and access to markets. There is a need to promote fruits and vegetable cultivation in the district, which is possible in view of the irrigation availability.

• Fruit and vegetable crops recommended for each district are presented in Table 5.1 below.

Cluster wise recommendations are given the district-wise report in detail. In addition, seasonal vegetables like gourds, brinjal, cucurbits, etc should be promoted among smallholders and as kitchen garden to realise the goals of POSHAN Abhiyan.

• Aquaculture : Bundelkhand region is known for its traditional water vodies constructed by

the Chandela and Bundela rulers. Districts Tikamgarh, Sagar and Panna have many such tanks where fishery is a common economic activity. In these districts, the poor families cultivate water chestnut and lotus seed. These activities can be expanded further and strengthened through technical and financial support.

• Backward linkages: Timely availability of seeds and fertilisers at affordable prices is a major

challenge in the rural areas, especially those villages away from towns. Extension services with on-site technical guidance and working capital support should be provided to existing FPOs to undertake it as a backward linkage. Promotion of organic manures and plant growth promoters through SHGs and farmers groups is also recommended, especially in the existing and prospective vegetable clusters. and working capital support should be provided to existing FPOs to undertake it as a backward linkage. Promotion of organic manures and plant growth


promoters through SHGs and farmers groups is also recommended, especially in the existing and prospective vegetable clusters.

• Agricultural implements : Districts like Sagar and Tikamgarh have a moderately high level

of farm mechanisations, with sizable presence of tractor and irrigation pumpsets. But, the penetration of bullock drawn and human operated implements, which are useful for smallholders is low. In all districts, there is a need for promoting simple implements like mould board ploughs, seed-cum-fertiliser drills, cultivators and harrows, which can significantly improve the productivity in agriculture. Appropriate implements and machinery to reduce drudgery of women in agriculture is an expressed need of the farmers. Given the poor state of electricity supply in the district, there is a good scope for promoting portable solar based pumpsets for irrigation under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Custom Hiring Centres should be established to cater to the demands of large machinery, whereas the small implements should be provided to the farmers on subsidy.

• Forward Linkages : All the districts covered under the study presented very good scope for

promoting food processing units in form of rice mills, dal mills, oil mills, fruit processing units and processing units for turmeric and other vegetable crops. These could be promoted on cluster basis. Few such clusters and identified during the study and mentioned in the district wise detailed reports.

6.1.2LivestockLivestock is an integral part of farming in the entire Bundelkhand. In rainfed areas, livestock provides a buffer against climate induced stresses, and is an integral part of the farming system. Livestock provides a synergistic support to agriculture in coping with various kinds of stresses, and is an integral part of the farming system. Buffalo rearing is a common practice, which may be encouraged along with fodder cultivation. Goat and backyard poultry should be promoted among the poor households across all districts. Milch cattle may be promoted with systematic route planning in few clusters with road infrastructure. Provision of animal healthcare would greatly improve the profitability in livestock sector, and hence such services may be provided through farmers’ producer organisations. Cattle feed manufacturing plant is recommended as a backward linkage, which could be taken up by a cluster level FPO. Specific receommendations of types of livestock in various sub-regions are presented in the district-wise reports and an indicative listing is given in Table 5.1 below. There is a good scope of strengthening dairy activity by supporting village level milk collection and cluster level chilling centres. These could be strengthened in the southern and central parts of the district along the potential milk routes identified by SRLM recently. Such efforts may be supported institutionally. 6.1.6TraditionalVillageIndustries


It is suggested to strengthen the existing traditional village industries like wood work, carpet weaving, bamboo crafts and brass ware by providing working capital and by providing systematic marketing channels for their produce. These being artisanal products, market linkages with handicrafts commissioner and marketing fairs would help the artisan families to sell more as well as get better prices. SRLM or KVIB may provide the necessary financial and market linkages. 6.1.7OtherenterprisesThe district has a limited market for product like woven fabric, apparels (tailoring), incense sticks, soaps, sanitary napkins, etc. These are being carried out as individual and group activities on a limited scale and are being marketed in the numerous local markets (haats) and the towns in the district. There is a need to consolidate these efforts and support cluster level SHGs or FPOs to strengthen retail marketing.

6.2SkillsandCapacityBuildingofYouthandFarmers

One of the main factors for low agricultural productivity and growth in the region is the lack of consistency and timeliness in extension services, as it has affected transfer of technology and promotion of remunerative crops. It is recommended to build the skills and capacities of the farmers and youth in appropriate farming techniques, on-farm and off-farm technologies. For this, extension services in agriculture and livestock need to be seriously strengthened and outreach increased to the farm level. It is recommended to engage CSOs, one or more per block, to provide training, field level technical support, other extension services and field level follow up on a massive scale, as it will take some time for the government departments and KVKs to get prepared for this challenge to deliver the services at the farm level through regular T&V or FFS approach. The objective of this capacity building is more for increasing productivity than employability, since a sizable proportion of the people engaged in agriculture are self-employed (farmers). Some youth also work as labourers, who can be trained in appropriate farming practices. It is recommended to develop cadres of barefoot professionals for agriculture and for livestock healthcare in all blocks. It is possible to promote new FPOs and strengthen the existing ones for this extension and promotion of scientific agriculture.

6.3CapacityBuildingonEntrepreneurship

The interest of the rural women and the youth is presently limited to primary processing of local agricultural produce. Many past and present efforts in rural entrepreneurship have been successful in small areas. One of the reasons for limited expansion and growth in rural entrepreneurship or non-farm income generating activities is the limited exposure to and transfer of skills, besides consistent efforts of entrepreneurship development. It is suggested to build capacities of individual


and group entrepreneurs in terms of enterprise-specific knowledge and skills on a limited scale in the next few years. Simultaneously, it is necessary to strengthen the SHGs in the district. Many examples of novel initiatives on rural entrepreneurship were found, which also coincided with short life span of enterprises. Many examples of rural entrepreneurship or rural income generating activities, narrated as case studies in section 4.2 earlier, presented a sudden success and subsequent decline in productivity or profitability. It is partly due to limited transfer of skills and knowledge to the rural entrepreneurs, highlighting the need to build capacities of both individual and group entrepreneurs in terms of enterprise-specific knowledge and skills, including that of mobilising technical and financial support available in the district and outside. Therefore, strengthening of groups - SHGs, FPOs, FPCs, etc - is recommended with a long term development perspective. A word of caution is in order here - managerial and marketing skills should be built in entrepreneur groups, but attempts to teach every farmer or every woman or every entrepreneur to become an accountant or a manager or a salesperson or a trader and a marketer should be strictly avoided. It must be understood that these skills are diverse, and the acumens are not omnipresent in every individual. Therefore, need assessment of various entrepreneurial skills is a must - it must be assessed that on which scale or at which level such skills are required, together with the number of persons to be equipped with those specific skills. It is only after a systematic need assessment, such skills should be built in different members of the groups.

6.4EstablishingSystemsandSectorReforms

6.4.1Agricultureextension This was found to be the weakest link in development of agriculture and allied sectors in the entire region. It is evident from the very limited knowledge among farmers about appropriate agricultural and livestock rearing practices. It was often noticed that the department functionaries visited the villages only to fill up scheme forms, and never visited the farmers’ fields to advise them on the steps to be taken at various stages of crop growth during the crop season. The government should take urgent steps to correct this malady. While this issue is getting addressed, it is recommended to engage CSOs to provide training, on-site technical support on a massive scale. 6.4.2Institutionalcredit Access to institutional credit is a constraint experienced by farmers and entrepreneurs in the entire region, and in the past few years it had been inconsistent. It is recommended to expand the borrower base through SHGs and FPOs and to allocate more funds through banks and micro-finance route to rural areas under the recently launched Atmanirbhar Bharat programme of the government. The District Lead Bank and NABARD can take initiative in this direction together with DRDA and SRLM.


6.4.3Outreachofschemes Similarly, the youth and farmers have limited information of development schemes of the government. It was claimed that the Gram Panchayats announce the scheme details and select the beneficiaries in Gram Sabha, but in practice very few people could understand the relevance and nature of the schemes. It is recommended to reach out to the potential beneficiaries of various rural development schemes with regular outreach programmes. It should be made into a performance monitoring parameter for the GP Secretary. SRLM should be entrusted with this responsibility in the villages covered under their programme. In other areas, CSOs should be engaged to implement regular outreach programme. It is further recommended to include the outreach parameter in the Village Score Card of the Gram Panchayats. 5.4.4Marketinformationandlinkage This is lacking in case of fruits, vegetables, farm-processed goods, and many products in rural areas. While there is a huge amount of raw information available on the internet or announced on radio broadcasts, there is a need to process it and present it in a comprehensible and meaningful manner to the farmers and entrepreneurs in the villages. It is possible to develop such a mechanism on cluster basis. It should be possible with the recent enactment by the union government of the acts on farmers’ welfare. 5.4.5Clusterapproach Cluster approach is recommended in most of the initiatives recommended above, as mentioned in Table 5.2 below on the activities suggested by the primary stakeholders. It should be implemented with a long term perspective, with clearly defined outcomes for each blocks of the next five years. Support on appropriate technology, marketing and institutional credit should be made available through a single window. NRLM and DRDA should be entrusted with the responsibility of setting up these single windows, one for each cluster. CSOs may be engaged in areas where NRLM is not present. The single window system and cluster approach could enhance the effectiveness of the efforts under Amtanirbhar Bharat.


6.5SummaryofRecommendations

The main recommendations to increase the employment potential in rural areas of Bundelkhand are summarised below in the following table (Table 6.1). These recommendations would be useful to the development planners and implementers to effectively address the issues of employment in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

Table 6.1 : Recommendations on Key Sub-sector Activities All Districts Sub-sectors and

Activities Chhatarpur Damoh Panna Sagar Tikamgarh

Soil water conservation (Integrated watershed management)

Farm bunds, farm ponds, Gully control and slope stabilisation

NTFP collection and trade

Amla, Mahua Chironji, Beheda

Amla, Mahua, Chironji, honey

Honey, Chironj, Mahua

Neem seed, Chironji, Mahua, leaf plate making

Main crops: Focus on pulses and oilseeds

Red gram, black gram and Bengal gram. Sesame and groundnut

Red gram, black gram, lentil and Bengal gram.

Bengal gram and black gram. Sesame and groundnut. Black wheat as a pilot.

Red gram, black gram, lentil and Bengal gram.

Bengal gram and black gram. Groundnut and sesame

Horticulture -Fruits

Citrus, guava, ber, mango, papaya, pomegranate

Citrus, sapota, ber, mango, papaya, pomegranate

Guava, papaya, lime, gooseberry.

Citrus,papaya, gooseberry, pomegranate

Guava, pomegranate, lemon, papaya, gooseberry

Horticulture - Vegetables

Turmeric, potato, tomato, chilli, and cauliflower

Turmeric, potato, tomato, chilli, carom seed

Ginger, turmeric, onion, tomato and chilli

Tomato, turmeric, potato and chilli

Ginger, turmeric, taro root, potato, chilli

Aquaculture Fishery, water chestnut and lotus seed

Fishery, water chestnut and lotus seed

Fishery, water chestnut and lotus seed

Livestock Milch cattle in identified clusters

Promotion of dairy units in certain clusters

Buffalo rearing with fodder cultivation

Small Livestock Backyard poultry and goat and for the poor

Backyard poultry and goat and for the poor




Forward linkages

Dal mill, Besan mill, Masala

Dal mill, oil mill, Masala (spices)

Dal mill, spices

The above activities should be promoted using a cluster based approach. In order to be successful, these activities would require some supportive interventions as given in the following table (Table 5.2).


Table 5.2: Recommendation on Allied Activities and Support Services All Districts

Sub-sectors Allied Activities Support Services

NTFP collection and trade • Working capital to SHGs or JFMOs

• License by Forest Department

• Aggregation and marketing through JFMOs or SHGs

• Capacity building

Field crops • Soil water conservation on watershed basis

• Supply of seeds, manures, fertilisers and pesticides.

• Organic manures and growth promoters

• Custom hiring centre of critical farm implements

• Promoting farmers groups • Technology support in terms of

on-site guidance and extension • Collective marketing through

FPOs or SHGs • Capacity building

Fruits and vegetable • Technical guidance • Alternative marketing channels • Rearing saplings of fruits and

vegetable crops. • Processing of spices along with

systematic marketing

• Technology support in terms of on-site guidance and extension

• Collective marketing through FPOs or SHGs

• Capacity building • Farmers’ groups for inputs

supply and marketing

Aquaculture • Soil water conservation and tank revival

• Training and capacity building • Financial support

Livestock : Mainly cows ands buffloes

• Livestock healthcare services • Setting up cattle feed plant • Collection centres and chilling

centres

• Cadre of barefoot technologists • Training and capacity building,

especially on marketing • Systematically planned milk

routes

Small Livestock (Goat and backyard poultry for the poor)

• Setting up feed plant and livestock healthcare services

• Training and capacity building, especially on marketing

• Cadre of barefoot technologists

Forward linkages • Technology support • Working capital • Minor support on cluster basis

in transport infrastructure • Cluster based set up suggested

for scale economies


• Market linking through fairs

Women’s micro-enterprises • Technology support • Working capital • Cluster based set up suggested

for scale economies



Traditional Village Industries • Training and capacity building, especially on marketing



BibliographyforRuralEmploymentStudy

A.StandardReportsandCompilations

Agriculture Contingency Plans for all Districts; Published by Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) under National Agriculture Research Programme (NARP) for 2013-14 or 2014-15 District Agriculture Contingency Plan (latest available); Published by the respective District Agriculture Officer or Deputy Director, Agriculture, for all districts District Census Handbooks, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) and Part XII-B (Village and Town-wise Primary Census Abstract); Census of India 2011, for all districts. Published by Directorate of Census Operations, Madhya Pradesh (invariably between 2014 and 2016). District Nutrition Profiles (for all districts); Prepared by IFPRI for Poshan Abhiyan District Statistical Handbooks for all districts (latest available, mostly updated with data for the year 2017-18); Published (in soft-copy or print form) by the respective District Statistical Officers, Government of Madhya Pradesh Potential Linked Credit Plan 2019-20 (for all districts); Prepared by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD); Madhya Pradesh Regional Office, Bhopal

B.Reports,papersandpublications

Bhatt V.V.; Employment and Capital Formation in Underdeveloped Economies; Bombay, Orient Longman; 1960, p.4 Carletto, Gero, Benjamin Davis, Kostas Stamoulis, Alberto Zezza, Katia Covarrubias, Marika Krausova, and Paul Winters (2007) : Rural income generating activities in developing countries: re-assessing the evidence; electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA) FAO; Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007, pp. 146-193. Available online at www.fao.org/es/esa/eJADE (Accessed January 2020) Carletto, Gero, Benjamin Davis, Marika Krausova, Kostas Stamoulis, Paul Winters and Alberto Zezza (2007), Rural income generating activities in developing countries: re-assessing the evidence; eJADE electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics; Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007, pp. 146-193


CGWB (2013); District Groundwater Information Booklet - Panna District; Bhopal, Cental Ground Water Board, North Central Region, Ministry of Water Resources; 2013 CGWB (2019); National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2017; Faridabad, Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, July 2019 Chadha, G K (2003) : Rural Employment in India: Current Situation, Challenges and Potential for Expansion; Geneva, Recovery and Reconstruction Department, International Labour Office; February 2003 Chauhan, Swati (2015); Producer Companies in Madhya Pradesh: An Evaluative Study; International Journal of Recent Research Aspects, Vol. 2, Issue 3, September 2015 (ISSN: 2349-7688), pp. 66-77 Dasgupta, A K (1956) : Disguised Unemployment and Economic Development; The Economic Weekly; August 25, 1956; pp 1011-1014 Deshingkar, Priya and Daniel Start (2003); Seasonal Migration for Livelihoods in India: Coping, Accumulation and Exclusion; ODI Working Paper 220; London, Overseas Development Institute; August 2003; pp 31 Ducoff, Louis J. and Margaret J. Hagood (1957); The Meaning and Measurement of Partial and Disguised Unemployment; In volume The Measurement and Behaviour of Unemployment; The National Bureau of Economic Research; pp 155-166. Available at http://www.nber.org/chapters/c2641 (Accessed January 2020). FICCI (2015); Transforming Agriculture Through Mechanisation - A Knowledge Paper on Indian farm equipment sectorprepared by Grant Thompson Ltd; New Delhi, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerece and Industris, 2015 GoI (1970); Government of India; Report of the Committee of Experts on Unemployment headed by M. L. Dantawala; New Delhi, Planning Commission; 1970, p.17 GoI (2016); Brief Industrial Profile of Sagar District Madhya Pradesh; Indore, MSME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India GoI (2016); Industrial Profile of Panna District Madhya Pradesh updated in 2015-16; Indore, MSME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India GoI (2016); Industrial Profile of Tikamgarh District Madhya Pradesh Updated in the year 2015-16; Indore, MSME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India


GoI (2016); State of Indian Agriculture 2015-16; New Delhi, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of India; February 2017; pp. 275 GoI (2019); Agricultural Statistics at a Glance – 2018; New Delhi, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Government of India, January 2019 GoI (2019); Handbook on Fisheries Statistics 2018; New Delhi, Department of Fisheries Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India; September 2019 GoI (2020); The 20th Livestock Census; New Delhi, The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying GoMP (2017); Madhya Pradesh Ka Aarthik Sarvekshan 2015-16 (in Hindi); Bhopal, Directorate of economics & statistics Madhya Pradesh; February 2016; p.196 GoMP (2018); District-Wise Socio-Economic Indicators of Madhya Pradesh 2014-15 - 2015-16; Bhopal, Directorate of economics & statistics Madhya Pradesh; Spetember 2018; p.184 GoMP (2018); Madhya Pradesh Ki Vividh Sankhyiki 2014 (in Hindi); Bhopal, Directorate of economics & statistics Madhya Pradesh; February 2016; p.196 Gupta, A. K., Sreeja S Nair, Oishanee Ghosh, Anjali Singh and Suanada Dey (2014); Bundelkhand Drought: Retrospective Analysis and Way Ahead; New Delhi, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM); pp-148. Hsieh, Chiang (1952); "Underemployment in Asia, I. Nature and Extent," International Labor Review, June 1952. As quoted in Ducoff and Haggod (1957) Islam, Nurul (1964); "Concepts and Measurement of Unemployment and Under-employment", International Labour Review (March 1964); pp. 240-256. Katyal, R P, M. G. Sardana and J. Satyanarayana (2001); Estimates of District Domestic Product; Human Development Resource Centre Discussion Paper - 2; New Delhi, United Nations Development Programme; pp 23. Labour Bureau (2014); Report on Youth Employment-Unemployment Scenario (2013-14) Volume II; Chandigarh, Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment; November 2014 Labour Bureau (2016); Report on Fifth Annual Employment - Unemployment Survey (2015-16), Volume I; Chandigarh, Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India; pp. 275. MSS Research; Employment strategies for developing countries; undated. Available on http://www.mssresearch.org/?q=print/171 (Accessed January 2020)


NITI Ayog (2015); Raising Agricultural Productivity and Making Farming Remunerative for Farmers ; An Occasional Paper by Task Force on Agricultural Development ; New Delhi, NITI Ayog; December 2015 NSDC (2013); District wise skill gap study for the State of Madhya Pradesh; New Delhi, National Skill Development Corporation; January 2013; p.625 Pandey, Lalmani and A. Amrender Reddy (2012) : Farm Productivity and Rural Poverty in Uttar Pradesh: A Regional Perspective; J Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 25 (No.1), January-June 2012; pp 25-35 Papola, T S (2008); Employment Challenge and Strategies in India - An Assessment in the Framework of ILO’s Global Employment Agenda; ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series (ISBN: 978-92-2-120882-2); New Delhi, ILO Sub Regional Office ; January 2008 Papola T S (2012); Employment Growth in Post Reforms Period; ISID Working Paper 2012/07; New Delhi, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development; December 2012 Patidar, Rahul, S.P. Singh, Kamini Bisht and Sheela Raghuwanshi (2019); Impact of Rural Youth Migration on livelihood Security in Bundelkhand Region of Madhya Pradesh; TECHNOFAME - A Journal of Multidisciplinary Advance Research, Vol.8 No. 2, 67–71 (October 2019); pp 67-71 PWC (2014); Vision Document for Food Processing in Madhya Pradesh Prepared by Price Waterhouse Coopers Pvt Ltd ; Bhopal, Department of Horticulture and Farm Forestry, Government of Madhya Pradesh; September 2014; pp. 154 Raj, K.N. "Trends in Rural Unemployment in India : An Analysis with Reference to Conceptual and Measurement Problems"; Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. XI, Nos. 31-33, August 1976; pp. 1281 -1292 Rama Rao C A, BMK Raju, AVM Subba Rao, KV Rao, VUM Rao, Kausalya Ramachandran, B Venkateswarlu and A K Sikka (2013); Atlas on Vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to Climate Change. Hyderabad, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA); p. 116 Robinson, Joan (1936) : Disguised Unemployment; The Economic Journal, Vol. 46, No. 182 (Jun., 1936), pp. 225-237. Available on http://www.jstor.org/stable/2225226 (Accessed January 2020) Tewari R.K., Asha Ram, Inder Dev, Ramesh Singh and Naresh Kumar (2018); Contingency plan during abnormal weather for Bundelkhand region; Technical Bulletin 3/2018; Jhansi, ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute; pp. 40

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