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Socio-Economic Profile and Quality of Life of villages in and around mining area of Keonjhar District, Orissa, India

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Independent Researcher in Environmental science, Odisha, INDIA
  • 2 Geography, Government College (Auto.), Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi, Odisha, INDIA
  • 3 Geography, Department of Geography, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 4, Issue (6), Pages 31-39, June,14 (2015)

Abstract

Though mining activity in odisha has played an important role in industrial growth of state, but it has led to affecting the environment and social life of the community located nearby. The effort taken by mining companies in minimizing the adverse impacts on the environment and society is in-adequate and not matching the need of hour. The current research paper has attempted to give a picture on the impact of mining activity on the socioeconomic condition of the local inhabitants living around the iron ore mines of Keonjhar district in Odisha. The study area is habituated by Paudi bhuyan and Juanga, two primitive tribal group of Eastern India. A sum of 300 households comprising 1204 individuals was selected and interviewed through the help of a pretexted structured questionnaire. The Quality of Life (QOL) has been indexed in a 0-10 point scale based on some important value function like occupation, caste and prevailing economic and social condition. Data on socioeconomic conditions as well on several indicator parameters like housing, source of water, sanitary facility, type of food intake, prevalence of common disease, education level, medical facilities, communication facilities, occupation, fuel and energy used, assets possessed, own transportation, per capita income, recreational facilities and mal-nourishment. The overall quality of life index based on the value functions ranged from very poor to average with overall average score of 39.38. The major findings shows that the socio-economic and overall quality of life of inhabitants, is far from satisfactory as the natives are very poor having poor educational status, sanitary and housing facilities, less possession of asset and vehicle, and low per capita income. There is an urgent need to launch income generation, educational and health awareness program as well as to make them aware and help them. Therefore, in future both mines as well as government authority should give emphasis on improving the economic status of the people thus enhancing the quality of life.

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