The Status of Sustainable Livelihood Security in Rajasthan

The existing status of sustainable livelihood security has been measured in all the districts of Rajasthan by constructing a Sustainable Livelihood Security Index (SLSI) on the basis of three component indices, viz. Ecological Security Index (ESI), Economic Efficiency Index (EEI) and Social Equity Index (SEI). The SLSI has been found to reflect the picture of overall performance of a district in the three dimensions of sustainability. The study has revealed that no district had a ‘very high’ status of sustainable livelihood security in Rajasthan. Out of 32 districts in the state, only nine were found under ‘high’ status and 22 were under ‘moderate’ status of sustainable livelihood security. It was also revealed that only one district (Jaisalmer) was found under ‘low’ status of SLS because of its least ESI and SEI values, hence ecological and social development requires special attention in Jaisalmer district. In general, the districts of non-desert area of the state have been found performing better with respect to the sustainable livelihood security as compared to districts of the desert area.