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M. Goswami and S. Nautiyal
to the present decade, which is highest among the fishermen of high urban area in
present decade, Rs. 189,800 per annum. The average annual household budget of
fisherman households of Deepor Beel area was Rs. 2662 during 1990s (Kakati 1999)
with fishing as the primary livelihood options. During that period, the other small
subsidiary income sources of fisherman households were small business, daily wage
labour, rickshaw pulling which varies from Rs. 700–1200 and the agricultural income
was below Rs. 1000 per annum. It was noticed that the required expenditure i.e. basic
necessity was much more (30%) than their actual income level. However, the present
study shows, more than 73% of households with fishing as primary livelihoods earn
more than Rs. 200 per day which even reaches Rs. 1000 on a good fishing day. The
market price of most commercial fishes during 1990s was Rs. 12–14 per kg (Assam
Fishery Development Corporation), whereas the same in the present year reaches
more than Rs. 1500 per kg (The Sentinel, 16th January, 2016 stated that Rs. 10,000
for 4–6 kg of fish).
Another auxiliary income from the lake for fishermen households comes as fish
vending; mostly women either buy the fish from other fisherman or get it from their
family members (husband or son) who go for fishing. They sell fish for around Rs.
1200–1500 and make a profit of Rs. 200–300. Six of the respondents told that they
used to go for door-to-door selling of fish earlier in 1990s, even travelled to the city
centre. However, in recent years they do not have to go to other areas as demand for
fish in this market is very good because of the growth in that area, as well as the
increased number of vehicles on the National highway passing through the market
who stop for buying fresh fish. No fish is left unsold at the end of the day as told by
all the respondents. They do it for 20–25 days/month. Most of the women do save
Rs. 20–25 per day from their earnings, mostly in chit funds.
6 Forest Resources and Livelihoods
The threats to forested landscape are ever increasing for the needs of agrarian expansion that only intensified with time. Forest tracts in the foothills areas are diminishing
due to increased harvest of timber and fuelwood (Sharma 2017), agrarian practices
or encroachments. The forests are closely linked with domestic sector, agriculture,
animal husbandry and provide food, fodder, leaf litter for agriculture and timber,
etc. (Nautiyal 1998). Though there is a huge scope for rural non-farm sector as a
whole in Assam; poverty, lack of opportunities etc. have been augmenting the use of
forest resources for energy and livelihoods (Billand et al. 2012). Because of the economic backwardness in the areas, the opportunity to go for an alternative livelihood
is inadequate and that makes them more dependent on forests.
Apart from revenue earning, forest provide source of sustenance to poor people
especially those living in the hills and in the vicinity of forest. Although forests as a
source of state revenue contribute only 0.30% of the total State revenue earning, it
M. Goswami and S. Nautiyal
to the present decade, which is highest among the fishermen of high urban area in
present decade, Rs. 189,800 per annum. The average annual household budget of
fisherman households of Deepor Beel area was Rs. 2662 during 1990s (Kakati 1999)
with fishing as the primary livelihood options. During that period, the other small
subsidiary income sources of fisherman households were small business, daily wage
labour, rickshaw pulling which varies from Rs. 700–1200 and the agricultural income
was below Rs. 1000 per annum. It was noticed that the required expenditure i.e. basic
necessity was much more (30%) than their actual income level. However, the present
study shows, more than 73% of households with fishing as primary livelihoods earn
more than Rs. 200 per day which even reaches Rs. 1000 on a good fishing day. The
market price of most commercial fishes during 1990s was Rs. 12–14 per kg (Assam
Fishery Development Corporation), whereas the same in the present year reaches
more than Rs. 1500 per kg (The Sentinel, 16th January, 2016 stated that Rs. 10,000
for 4–6 kg of fish).
Another auxiliary income from the lake for fishermen households comes as fish
vending; mostly women either buy the fish from other fisherman or get it from their
family members (husband or son) who go for fishing. They sell fish for around Rs.
1200–1500 and make a profit of Rs. 200–300. Six of the respondents told that they
used to go for door-to-door selling of fish earlier in 1990s, even travelled to the city
centre. However, in recent years they do not have to go to other areas as demand for
fish in this market is very good because of the growth in that area, as well as the
increased number of vehicles on the National highway passing through the market
who stop for buying fresh fish. No fish is left unsold at the end of the day as told by
all the respondents. They do it for 20–25 days/month. Most of the women do save
Rs. 20–25 per day from their earnings, mostly in chit funds.
6 Forest Resources and Livelihoods
The threats to forested landscape are ever increasing for the needs of agrarian expansion that only intensified with time. Forest tracts in the foothills areas are diminishing
due to increased harvest of timber and fuelwood (Sharma 2017), agrarian practices
or encroachments. The forests are closely linked with domestic sector, agriculture,
animal husbandry and provide food, fodder, leaf litter for agriculture and timber,
etc. (Nautiyal 1998). Though there is a huge scope for rural non-farm sector as a
whole in Assam; poverty, lack of opportunities etc. have been augmenting the use of
forest resources for energy and livelihoods (Billand et al. 2012). Because of the economic backwardness in the areas, the opportunity to go for an alternative livelihood
is inadequate and that makes them more dependent on forests.
Apart from revenue earning, forest provide source of sustenance to poor people
especially those living in the hills and in the vicinity of forest. Although forests as a
source of state revenue contribute only 0.30% of the total State revenue earning, it