Bioresource Centres (BRCs) are community-based enterprises that manufacture and distribute standardized biological inputs for natural farming-including Agniastra, Brahmastra, Neemastra, Ghan Jeevamrit, Multiseed Formulation, and Beejamrit/Handidava. This paper presents an economic surplus analysis of a five-year pilot BRC operated under the PRADHAN programme in Chhattisgarh, and develops a scale-up framework for 80 BRCs across 10 aspirational districts. Pilot data demonstrates a five-year cumulative Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.79, net profit of ?10.36 lakh per BRC, and profitability from Year 1 without subsidy dependency. Applying the economic surplus model, we estimate that the 80-BRC programme generates: (i) a producer surplus of ?8.29 crore in direct enterprise profit; (ii) a consumer surplus of ?194.40 crore through farmer input-cost savings of ?9,000–?13,500 per household per annum; and (iii) a total economic surplus of ?202.69 crore against a government outlay of ?5.72 crore — a programme-level BCR of 38.7×. The model further demonstrates that 64,000 farm households will benefit from a 40–60% reduction in cash input costs by Year 5. The paper concludes with institutional design recommendations, phased implementation pathways, and a monitoring framework for evidence-based programme management.

Keywords: Bioresource Centres; Natural Farming; Economic Surplus; ZBNF; Aspirational Districts; Community Enterprise; Biological Inputs; Chhattisgarh; Producer Surplus; Consumer Surplus

Development-induced displacement remains one of the most persistent contradictions of India’s post-independence development path. Large dams, mining projects and industrial development have generated economic gains while simultaneously uprooting millions of people, particularly indigenous and tribal communities whose livelihoods, cultural identities and ecological relationships are intimately tied to land and forests. This paper studies the divergent governance trajectories of two emblematic mining conflicts in Odisha-the Niyamgiri Hills movement and the proposed Sijimali bauxite mining project-within the wider context of development-induced displacement. Drawing on secondary sources, the analysis integrates Cernea’s Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction model, the Sustainable Livelihood Framework and a rights-based development approach. It demonstrates that Niyamgiri institutionalised Gram Sabha sovereignty and Free, Prior and Informed Consent under the Forest Rights Act and PESA, whereas Sijimali illustrates procedural compliance without substantive community consent. The study further situates these cases against global internal-displacement trends and documents the multidimensional impoverishment risks-landlessness, joblessness, loss of common property resources, social disarticulation and cultural erosion-faced by displaced tribal populations. Findings show the inadequacy of compensation-centric rehabilitation and the acute need for participatory, rights-based and livelihood-reconstructive policy models.

Keywords: Development-Induced Displacement, Tribal Livelihoods and Rights, Mining Governance in Odisha, Sijimali.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019 by the Government of India, represents a paradigm shift in rural water governance, aiming to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024, with a focus on sustainable and inclusive access to safe drinking water. This paper examines the mission’s profound impact on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), persons with disabilities, and women in marginalised communities, drawing from secondary sources such as government reports, academic studies, and success narratives. Through decentralised community-led implementation, JJM has alleviated drudgery, enhanced health outcomes, and fostered gender empowerment, transforming water from a scarce resource into a catalyst for social equity. Key findings highlight over 81 per cent national coverage as of 2024, with targeted interventions in tribal areas reducing waterborne diseases by up to 40 per cent and enabling women’s participation in livelihoods. Success stories from regions like Bankura (West Bengal), Jorhat (Assam), and Chhattisgarh illustrate tangible changes, including reduced medical expenses and increased school attendance. The policy framework emphasises source sustainability and behavioural change; however, challenges such as uneven state-wise progress persist. Recommendations call for enhanced monitoring, climate-resilient infrastructure, and integration with sanitation missions to support holistic development. Ultimately, JJM not only quenches thirst but ignites hope, aligning with SDG 6 and paving the way for inclusive rural India.

Keywords: Jal Jeevan Mission, Vulnerable Communities, Water Security, Gender Empowerment.

The paper explores the socio-economic factors that determine the transformation of the rural workforce in Dhubri district of Assam. In addition, the study investigates the extent of transformation describing the socio-economic conditions and present employment patterns of the respondents. The empirical study was carried out utilising primary data that was collected through a survey schedule following a multi-stage sampling method. The findings suggest that the transition from farm to non-farm sector in Assam is distress-induced, resulting in the casualisation of rural workers. Several socio-economic factors such as per capita land, indebtedness, religion, and age, among others, have affected the transition of rural agricultural workers into non-agricultural activities.

Keywords: Rural Workforce; Transformation; Agricultural employment; Non-agricultural employment; Assam.

Traditional industries continue to occupy an ambiguous position within India’s development discourse, often celebrated for employment generation while remaining marginal to broader debates on social transformation and inequality. This study examines the coir economy of Alappuzha as a site where industrial change, labour reorganisation, and social development intersect. Drawing on a synthetic analysis of census data, sectoral reports, labour studies, and historical research, the paper investigates how successive phases of mechanisation and product diversification—particularly the expansion of coco coir—have altered the relationship between labour, knowledge, and value creation. The analysis demonstrates that while industrial transformation has enhanced productivity and export integration, it has simultaneously weakened labour absorption, displaced gendered livelihood systems, and marginalised indigenous knowledge embedded in household production. By conceptualising coir transformation as a shift in value regimes rather than a linear process of modernisation, the study highlights patterns of uneven development that remain obscured in policy-centric evaluations. The paper contributes to social development scholarship by offering an integrated framework for analysing traditional industries as socio-economic systems, where growth outcomes must be assessed alongside questions of inclusion, knowledge retention, and distributive justice.

Keywords: Coir Industry; Social Development; Labour Transformation; Traditional Industries; Alappuzha; Value Regimes.

The condition of sanitation workers in private organisations is a matter of concern from their employment, income and social security point of views. This study examines the socio-economic conditions of housekeeping workers in organized private sectors in Coimbatore, India. Based on a filed survey of 100 workers, selected based on simple random sampling. The descriptive statistics and tabulation methods are used to analyse the data. The analysis is made across three categories of works such as permanent, temporary and outsourced. The results show that a significant gender wage gap is evident, with male workers earning a much higher average income than female workers. While permanent staff usually have better job security and more access to benefits, a significant number still face financial difficulties. Temporary and Outsourced workers, in particular, deal with greater financial instability, fewer benefits, and lower job retention, even though they often feel respected by their peers and supervisors. And among the respondents, no one were aware of the welfare schemes for these workers provided by the government, only few female respondents were receiving benefits from the scheme of TN government which is for women welfare. The findings also show uneven income distribution, with women and certain social groups more often found in the lower income brackets. Although most workplaces are rated positively in terms of environment, many workers still face tough realities like physically demanding tasks, repetitive routines, low pay, and limited control over their schedules. These challenges contribute to financial insecurity and limit chances for growth and progress. Overall, the results point to the need for support housekeeping workers, especially those in less stable roles. Improving job security, offering fair pay, and increasing access to benefits are key steps toward ensuring fair treatment and a better quality of life for this essential workforce in Coimbatore’s organized private sectors.