people of Brahmaputra valley and their socio-economic conditions
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Answer:
The Brahmaputra River has been and continues to be the lifeline to millions of people in Assam irrespective of different occupations they pursue. Our analysis on the impact of the river on the socio economic life of people of Assam with the help of secondary as well as primary data clearly brings out the same. It helps the farmers in cultivation of their lands by way of irrigation and delivery of vital nutrients to their fields. It also acts as a means of transport of men and material. Many people are earning their livelihood and dependent directly and indirectly on the river either as fishermen or boatmen or as daily labourers. Though there exists enough potential of tourism related activities in the River much has not been done to explore and develop the same. However, this Mighty River which was up to 1950s a certain developmental noble has turnout to be a necessary evil for many. Albeit its positive impact on the economic conditions of the people it has its widespread negative impacts in various ways. It causes misery to the people. It has earned notoriety for the awesome hazards of annual flood and erosion that create mayhem every year, shatters the fragile agro-economic base of the region and damages the banks of the River. Thousands acres of cultivable lands are lost. Besides, it deposits tons of sands on nearby cultivable lands making it less fertile or unusable by the farmers. Due to this many farmers have become landless and have been forced to migrate to different parts of the country in search of alternative sources of livelihood. Due to frequent floods of violent nature many houses, properties and community infrastructure are damaged on regular basis and there is loss of human and animal life. To put it in the language of current developmental paradigm, a riverine system which was a trademark and assurance for promotion of sustainable development in its social, economic, environmental and cultural dimensions, has for many, turned out to be a cause of their untenable development. Although certain steps are undertaken to minimize the losses of life and property of people in the form of embankment etc., it is observed to be inadequate, adhoc, piecemeal, and unsatisfactory.To reduce the devastating effect and to continue to realise its benevolence on the socioeconomic life; immediate, short term and long term measures in the form of environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable measures need to be taken up by all the relevant stake holders that includes the Government, the industrial houses, the affected and affecting communities and the civil society.Since the current and potential socioeconomic developmental outcomes centred on Brahmaputra are inextricably linked to the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental dynamics of Assamese society, an all-out holistic multi stakeholder based approach would be the appropriate response.