Socio Economic Impact of Watershed Development

Study was conducted in Alwar district of Rajasthan by using ex-post facto research design and survey method, with randomly selected 100 respondents. The results revealed that respondents of watershed area have significantly higher level of risk orientation and socio political participation, higher level of income from agriculture, increased employment opportunities along with increased productivity of wheat and mustard compared to non-watershed villages. The benefit: cost ratio for mustard and wheat was significantly higher and the women's perceived drudgery in fetching water, fodder and fuel was found significantly low in watershed villages as compared to non-watershed villages. It is implied that watershed based development approaches are substantially capable of improving rural livelihood.