INCOME INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL HOUSEHOLDS IN ASSAM: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS USING GINI COEFFICIENT AND ECONOMETRIC MODELLING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v9.i1.2021.6863Keywords:
Income Inequality, Gini Coefficient, Tribal Households, Assam, Non-Farm Income, Ols Regression, Livelihood Diversification, Rural DevelopmentAbstract [English]
This paper examines the extent and underlying determinants of income inequality among tribal households in Assam based on primary data collected from 200 households through a multistage random sampling technique in December 2020. The study employs the Gini coefficient and related inequality measures to assess the degree of income disparity, while an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model is used to identify key socio-economic factors influencing household income. The findings reveal a moderate level of inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.41, indicating a significant concentration of income among relatively better-off households. The econometric results demonstrate that education and non-farm income opportunities have a strong and positive impact on household income, whereas larger household size and unequal land distribution contribute to widening income disparities. The study highlights that inequality among tribal communities is structurally rooted in limited access to education, livelihood diversification, and productive assets. It emphasizes the need for policy interventions focusing on human capital development, promotion of non-farm employment, equitable resource distribution, and strengthening of rural development programmes. The paper contributes to the limited micro-level empirical literature on tribal inequality in Assam and provides important insights for designing inclusive development strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Dr. Bidyut Bikash Baishya, Dr. Pankaj Saikia, Dipranjan Buragohain
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