Assessment of Livelihood Models in Sustainable Socio-economic Empowerment of Rural Community

The study has assessed the impact of viable livelihood models comprising effective mix of different technological interventions on sustainable livelihood empowerment to different categories of farmers of four selected disadvantaged districts, viz. Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad of West Bengal as a part of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP). The results have shown a positive change in indicators of economic empowerment like income (48.07%), employment (120.83%), investment (166.22%), savings (111.19%), assets (40.21%) and consumption (18.56%) of the beneficiaries after successful adoption of different on- and off-farm interventions through NAIP. Besides, participation of women in agricultural and allied activities and knowledge-based skill activities has pushed up their empowerment level and sustainability. The livelihood models of different income-generating activities for the rural people, particularly small and marginal farmers, and rural underemployed youths seem to be the sustainable development strategy for the socio-economic prosperity of rural community.