Data regarding socioeconomic characteristics were collected to relate with the
adaptation strategies practiced by the sampled households. Table 5.2 shows socioeconomic statistics of the sampled households.
Most of the households belonged to the backward and scheduled castes. Of the
total workers in the sampled households, more than one third listed their occupation
Table 5.2 Socioeconomic characteristics of the sampled households in the SBR
Characteristics
Subcategory
Percentage
Social group
General
46.8
OBC
13.2
SC and ST
40.0
Occupation
Daily worker
36.2
Fishing
15.3
Cultivator
16.1
Job and business
4.9
Nonworker
27.5
Education
Illiterate
37.9
Primary (1–5 standard)
25.0
Secondary (6–10 standard)
30.4
Higher secondary (11–12 standard)
6.7
Property
Own
70.5
Khas
14.2
Government land
7.2
Road/riverside
8.1
Household size
0–3
21.1
4–5
51.9
6–8
21.6
>8
5.4
Land
Landless
62.8
Cultivator
31.8
Land on lease
4.9
Types of house
Muddy
63.7
Semi-cemented
6.5
Fully cemented
11.2
Grass/bamboo
13.2
Other
5.4
Source of drinking water
Tube well/borehole
64.7
Hand pump
0.5
Pond/river
12.5
Near house
22.3
Distance to source
100–500 m
57.9
500–1000 m
24.6
More than 1000 m
17.5
Source: Compiled from the household survey conducted in 2018–2019 for 570 total surveyed
households with average income Indian rupees 1122
5 Evaluating Adaptation Strategies to Coastal Multihazards in Sundarban. . .
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