Enhancing Livelihood and Promoting Well-being: Reframing Development through LiFE

Livelihoods are fundamental to human survival and dignity, yet conventional development approaches often treat them narrowly as jobs or sources of income rather than as systems of capability, resilience, and wellbeing. This paper develops an integrated policy framework linking livelihoods, wellbeing, and LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), India's emerging model for sustainable development. Drawing on conceptual foundations from the sustainable livelihoods and capability approaches, and building on India's Mission LiFE and related policy ecosystem, the paper argues that livelihoods must be re-envisioned as multidimensional, ethical, and ecologically grounded.

LiFE is central to this shift because it promotes forms of livelihood that are regenerative, lowresource, community-oriented, and aligned with sustainable consumption and production. These livelihoods enhance agency, health, and social equity while reducing environmental risk, thereby strengthening wellbeing outcomes. They also expand capabilities by creating work that restores ecosystems, supports circular production, and embeds pro-environmental behaviours in daily economic activity. This aligns directly with the SDGs, especially Goals 3, 8, 12, and 13, by linking livelihood creation to climate action, responsible resource use, and inclusive growth.

The analysis synthesises evidence from India's national initiatives—including green finance, sustainable production, and behavioural change programmes—mapped against livelihood capitals and wellbeing outcomes. It demonstrates that LiFE provides a practical pathway for transitioning from growth-centred to wellbeing-centred development by anchoring environmental sustainability in everyday economic life. The paper concludes by outlining policy directions for integrating LiFE principles into national and global development strategies to advance inclusive, low-carbon, and capability-expanding growth.