Introduction
Student Social Work Researcher has chosen livelihood impact assessment of Bundelkhand Relief Package which was given to Bundelkhand after several years of consecutive drought in the region. Bundelkhand. Bundelkhand is unique geographical region which falls in between of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and sex districts of Madhya Pradesh forms Bundelkhand. Bundelkhand has population around 15.5 million. Historically Bundelkhand region is known for the Bundela, Chandela kingdoms and for well famous Jhansi ki Rani. People of Bundelkhand also experienced the drought's in past at periodical interval of 15-20 years but since 2005 the region is facing consecutive droughts [1] . Even according to the J S Samra Committee report, on drought mitigation strategy for Bundelkhand, it is stated that historically the region had drought every 16 years in 18th and 19th centuries, which increased by three times during the period 1968 to 1992 (Bhagwat, 2008). Central Government has announced the Bundelkhand Relief Package as assistance to improve the socio-economic condition of the region with special focus on drought mitigation. Student Social Work Researcher wants to study the impact of this Bundelkhand Relief Package with respect to livelihood in rural areas.
Literature Review
Bundelkhand- Geography and Demography
Bundelkhand is a geographical region which falls in between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh having population of around 15.5 million. It spreads over an area of 294180 sq. km [2] . It is also surrounded by the Vindhyan Plateau in south, Yumuna river in north, ken river in east and by Betwa in west. Inspite of several water channels region still remains dry due to low periodic rainfall. Looking at Demography of Bundelkhand, 25.14% of the populace belongs to Schedule Caste (SC) and 0.02% is Schedule Tribe (ST). Whereas 82% of the whole SC population is residing in the rural part of the region [3] . According to the census 2001, there are 3243042 workers in the region out of which 68.58% were main workers [67% male and 33% female] and 31.42% were marginal workers [33% males and 67% females] Cultivators and agriculture labor were 74.55% of the total workers in the region. More than 80% of the farmers were small and marginal. Agriculture in Bundelkhand is highly dependent on the rain expect the western part of Jhansi and Jalaun district where canals play major role of irrigation. According to me above presented factual data reflects that livelihood of people highly depends on Agriculture and allied activities in Bundelkhand region.
Bundelkhand: Drought and Feudalism thrashing Livelihood
Looking at livelihood pattern of the Bundelkhand region, people are mainly engaged in agricultural and allied activities. While looking at broader picture of Agriculture in Bundelkhand, it is basically solo cropping area where majority of area gets cultivated in Rabi season. Despite the fact that the livelihood of about 75% of the population is directly reliant on the agriculture and allied activities, hardly 20% of the net sown area has been cultivated during Kharif season. In shortage of proper irrigation facilities and poor rain keeps near about 60 % of the gross cropped area remains unirrigated. Agricultural sciences shows that Kharif crops are highly dependen on rain but the erratic rainfall and non availability of the supplementary source of irrigation affect the crop session adversely. Many institutional studies also found that in Bundelkhand most of the farmers are small and marginal with average land holding of upto 2 hectares [4] . These small farmers are not only dependent on agricultural productivity but also engaged as farm labour in big farm lands etc, and thus their daily wage earnings also got affected adversely. The low agricultural productivity lead to low economy among the farmer community which further effected the market economy also, thrashing the livelihood of small enterprises like grocery shops, garments shops and general traders in the region. Gradual change in the cropping pattern of the farmers community in Bundelkhand i.e. use of hybrid seeds rather than the traditional ones, further makes marginal farmers vulnerable and insecure [5] .
In the past, Bundelkhand has been acknowledged for lakes, ponds, tanks, bavdis, wells etc. These water supply points contributed to stirring of the underground water, raising the intensity of water in wells and increasing soil wetness to allow healthy vegetation [6] . Building of ponds known as 'Taala' in each and every village for providing drinking water for cattle, irrigation to nearby farms etc was a traditional practice and later different ponds were constructed for different uses like for drinking water for the cattle- 'Gau Ghat', 'Talaiya' for kitchen gardens, ponds for the collection of the rainwater, for the irrigation, etc. After the independence hardly any attention had been given by the local self governance or state administration on the proper maintenance of the traditional water resources of the Bundelkahnd. Rather the policy of leasing of the ponds to the private persons has contributed towards the distortion of such resources. At some places the local landlords occupied the ponds and most of the ponds were allotted to the local influential persons. This further worsen the situation in the drought hit period, when marginal farmers were not able to get water during sowing time thus reduced the agriculture productivity, reduced animal husbandry due to shortage of fodder and water for cattle.
Bundelkhand Drought: Agriculture Economy and Water Scarcity
Since the time consecutive droughts are prevailing in Bundelkhand, approximately 50% agricultural land remains empty in the Rabi season due to either non-availability of water or credit, which imbalanced the village economy and food security of the region. Majorly non availability of irrigation facilities in the region also affecting the crop growth and it is assumed that the farmers will be in the loss in the coming years of the drought discourse. Whereas Water Canal System of the Bundelkhand area is also not supplying water for the purpose of irrigation, just one canal named 'Paricha Canal' is giving irrigational supply for 45 days for irrigation facilities in a small part of Jhansi & Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh (Drought mitigation strategy for Bundelkhand Region , 2008). This 45 days' supply has not met the target of 120 days which is required for the crops like wheat, gram and pea, major crops of the area. In this pathetic condition, equitable and proper distribution of water is major concern in the region, as dominant groups has strong control & access over water sources which denies the rights of marginal farmers to have access over water sources for irrigation purpose.
In context of livelihood, villagers are not receiving wage employment especially agricultural wage labour which further reduces opportunities in agriculture based livelihood issues Agricultural related on farm livelihood sources like value addition work of agricultural product, molasses making, rope making work etc affected and not meeting the need of the poor community group. This mainly happened due to low agricultural productivity because of low rainfall in consecutive years.
Budelkhand Relief Package: A Ray of Hope
Drought-hit and rain-stripped Bundelkhand region got a substantial government relief package in 2009 with name as 'Bundelkhand Relief Package' from the UPA led Government of India. In 2009 package had been approved. Later National Rainfed Area Authority and Planning Commission played the supervisory role in implementation of package with the respective state governments. Optimization of water bodies through rain water harvesting and through proper utilization of river systems, canals and other territorial water bodies was the major agenda that was covered under the package for the next three years.
The overall sanctioned budgetary lay out of the package is Rs.7266 crore out of which Rs. 3506 crores for U.P.and Rs. 3760 crores for M.P. The package is under implementation since last three years with a multi-sectoral approach, giving major emphasis for developing and managing water resource bodies and livelihood improvement. Highest Priority has been accorded to water management especially for completion of ongoing and incomplete irrigation projects for speedy accrual of benefits to farmers.
Appraisal of Bundelkhand Relief Package
From the available data of National Rain Area Authority, the Bundekhand Relief Package is being implemented in 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh and 6 districts of Madhya Pradesh states with total approved cost of Rs. 7466 crore comprising Rs.3606 crore for Uttar Pradesh and Rs.3860 crore for Madhya Pradesh. It is envisaged to provide Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to the tune of Rs. 3649 crore (49%) for implementing the package. Of the allocated funds from ACA component, release of Rs. 860.97 crore (50.77%) to Uttar Pradesh and Rs. 1060.46 crore (54.29%) to Madhya Pradesh has been made till 31.7.2011. Funds for rural drinking water supply have also been passed on to both the States [7] . If we look at further data produced by state and central governments regarding Bundelkhand Progress in region due to intervention of special package, it shows that in U.P. irrigation potential in 33,530 hectare (33%) created against targeted 1,01,334 hectare. Whereas Area under Kharif crop increased by 60% in U.P. but not much improvement in production due to prevailing drought conditions.
All the above mentioned data taken from government reports depicts figures of development but in actual just benefiting very small chunk of population in the rural areas who are already established in context of social and economic status or they are managing with distress of the prevailing drought conditions in the area. Distribution of land holding size is highly skewed. About 30% of the farmers own land holding of 0.29 ha. About 56% of the farmers belong to marginal (< 1 ha) category with land holding size of 0.49 ha. Another 23.65% farmers belong to small (1 to 2 ha) category with land holding size of 1.46 ha. Majority of these farmers are engaged in agriculture for subsistence. Fourteen percent of the farmers have a land holding of 2.78 ha; 7% have 5.92 ha while less than 1% has greater than 10 ha. While all districts have more than 75% small and marginal farmers, Jhansi alone has more than 82%.
Land holding pattern shows that it is highly caste based in the region. Majority of marginal farmers either belong to Schedule Caste or Other Backward Caste. Whereas farmers of high caste are highly influencing in political and economical context. Further, output of special package in agriculture sector is that it is only benefitting the farmers who are highly established in socio-economic power structure and marginal farmers being illiterate and resident of remote areas remains out of beneficiary list.
Study Design and Methodology
Rationale
Bundelkhand region has already suffered a lot due to consecutive droughts, poor agricultural productivity. Further poor local governance, careless attitude of bureaucrats and low response of central and state government has worsened the situation in the region. Later central government has sanctioned the Bundelkhand Relief Package to improve the socio-economic condition in the area through drought mitigation strategies under the banner of National Rain fed Area Authority. Several media reporting's and people experience brought many irregularities, high corruption in the utilization of funds and poor quality of service under relief package. People remain entangled in the vicious circle of poverty and debt even after three years of package sanctioned. Thus Student Social Work Researcher proposes to undertake a Livelihood Impact Assessment of Bundelkhand Relief Package in Bundelkhand.
Objectives
Expected Output will be as given below:
Assess the status of implementation of Bundelkhand Relief Package at Village level.
Assess the impact of Bundelkhand Relief Package on households, migration rate, and income as a whole in Bundelkhand.
Ascertain the efficacy of assets created under Bundelkhand Relief Packages in strengthening livelihoods options.
Assess to what extent Bundelkhand Relief Package has strengthened livelihoods of rural people in Bundelkhand.
Key Research Questions
What has been the impact of Bundelkhand Relief Package on livelihoods of rural people in Bundelkhand?
What has been the impact of Bundelkhand Relief Package on income generation activities in Rural Bundelkhand?
Does the package created any employment opportunities or livelihood options?
Whether Bundelkhand Relief Package has been able to ensure food entitlements for the poor?
Does Bundelkhand Relief Package have been able to address the issue of distress migration and farmers suicide?
Sampling of the Study
In this study the sample selection will be based on multi stage sampling. In this sample will be selected in various stages but only the last component will be studied. There will be three stages of sampling i.e. District, Village and Household level. In Bundelkhand there are 13 districts out of which 4 districts will be selected by using systematic sampling by arranging the districts in alphabetical order. Within these 4 districts, 4 villages will be selected per district by using area sampling. At last village level, 10 households will be selected per village using by using simple random sampling through lottery method.
Hence data will be collected in all 10 households x 4 villages x 4 districts = 160 households for the purpose of the study [8] .
Data Collection Methodology and Tool
Student Social Work Researcher will use the survey as the method of the data collection and questionnaire as the tool for the study. Based on the sample from Bundelkhand, survey will be conducted with the selected households in the study area. The questions ranges from the people's livelihood, income, expenditure, agricultural productivity, any assistance given under Bundelkhand Relief Package, availability of irrigation, credit, debt, annual income in 2005-06, annual income in 2011-12, any migration in family etc. In the questionnaire questions will be open ended as respondent may feel uneasy while answering questions about their economic status etc.
Ethical Concern for the Study
