Workshop shares findings of study on Poverty Pathways in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 23 Aug: Poverty is inherently dynamic and is the net result of escapes and descents of households into poverty. Poverty eradication requires actively accelerating escapes and blocking descents. Analyzing the reasons for escape and descent will assist in policy planning, as the escape pathways can then be broadened and the pathways for descent narrowed down.
Therefore, in order to identify the linkages between economic growth and poverty pathways a study was undertaken by RM&DD jointly with the Institute of Rural Development, Anand (IRMA), Gujarat which is a premier institute in the field of rural development in the country. An official communiqué informs that the study titled “Poverty Pathways and Welfare State in Sikkim” was taken up in case-study mode and a sharing workshop was organized to present the findings on 22 August at Chintan Bhawan.
The workshop was chaired by Chief Secretary, Karma Gyatso IAS and attended by dignitaries and guests from related Departments and academicians from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, IRMA and Central University (Gujarat). Secretary, RM&DD, DR Nepal welcomed all the guests and also provided details of how the study was conceptualized, introduction to IRMA and the benefits from the study.
This was followed by presentation of the case studies on poverty pathways in Sikkim by Dr. Ajay Dandekar, Dr. Pratik Modi and Dr. Reetu Sogani.
The release mentions that the findings of this study indicate that many of the escapes from poverty have been supported by government interventions. Also the rural economy of the state has evolved from a predominantly agrarian base, into a diversified multi-occupational one. Better education has helped the young workforce to secure jobs.
Also, farming practices such as floriculture in green houses, vegetable farming, dairy farming, tomato farming, poultry and employment opportunities in the transportation and construction sectors have helped households escape from poverty. Well-off and middle class households fell into poverty largely as a result of the breadwinner being afflicted by life threatening health ailments and alcoholism.
This presentation was followed by an open house discussion in which several participants contributed actively. The chief secretary in his concluding remarks highlighted upon the various Missions of the State Government. He also asked for incorporating SWOT analysis in the study framework and elaborated the various exemplary initiatives of the State Government to conserve the environment and rich biodiversity of the state.
The release adds that the learnings from the workshop will help to better understand the impacts of the development interventions and how they affect the socio-economic profile of the rural households. Better understanding the dynamics of poverty, will also help in the Mission: Poverty Free Sikkim. The workshop ended with a vote of thanks to the chief guest and all the participants.