SOCIO- ECONOMICS OF SOIL CONSERVATION IN SHIWALIKS

Abstract

THE SCATTERED EFFORTS MADE IN SOIL CONSERVATION PROGRAMME HAVE FAILED TO BRING ABOUT RADICAL CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF DOWN TRODDEN PEOPLE RESIDING IN THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS SPECIALLY IN THE SHIWALIK FOOTHILLS AS HAS BEEN REVEALED THROUGH THE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN VILLAGES SUKHOMAJRI, DHAMALA AND NADA. STATING THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHAT CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE SAME LAND AND WATER RESOURCES , THE PAPER ADVOCATES THE NEED FOR MASS AWAKENING FOR CONVERTING THE SOIL CONSERVATION INTO PEOPLE'S PROGRAMME. A NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL PROJECTS FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING THE LOCAL PEOPLE WITH LIBERALISED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. THE PROJECTS SHOULD CONCLUSIVELY DEMONSTRATE THE POSSIBILITY OF RAISING THE INCOME BY NO LESS THAN 300% . IT IS THEN ONLY THAT THE PROGRAMME WILL GATHER THE MOMENTUM IT DESERVES