Thematic Research

ILRT conducts value chain situation analysis in agri-value chains, horticulture, floriculture and agri allied activites. Under agriculture value chain studies of food grains, cash crops and oil seeds is undertaken. This may include paddy, wheat, maize (food grains); sugarcane, coffee, tea, rubber, cotton, jute, tobacco, vanilla (cash crops); groundnut, soybean, rapeseed, mustard (oilseeds). Value chain studies under horticulture may include fruit crops or vegetable crops. The subsectors could include orange, mango, grape, banana, guava, pineapple, cashew and mushrooms (fruit crops); potato, onion, peas, cauliflower, tomato, brinjal, okra, cabbage (vegetable crops). Floriculture based value chain studies could include that of Rose, Lotus, Jasmine, Hibiscus, Pansy, Tuberose, Glads, Anthurium, Carnations, Marigold. Agri-allied value chain studies could be of diary, goatery, sheep rearing, piggery, duckery. A situation assessment is undertaken at pre-production, production and post-production stages. Recommendations are provided for strengthening of subsectors. Scope for strengthening value chain linkages, capacity building areas, market are explored.

It is estimated that 275 million rural poor in India are dependent on NTFP in India. India produces a variety of NTFPs such as sal seed, harra, gums of kullu, tamarind, chironjee, guthli, lac and mahua seed. ILRT undertakes studies on NTFPs across the country. Similar studies have been undertaken in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand etc. The studies do provide action plan and recommendations for strengthening NTFP based value chains.

Fisheries sector is said to be employing about 145 million in India. India ranks second in aquaculture and third in fish production. With 7,516 square kilometres of marine coastline, India has a significant population dependent on marine fishing in coastal belt. Besides this fishing activities is also undertaken in inland water bodies such as rivers, canals, reservoirs, ponds, lakes and other water bodies. Fishery communities face challenges related to fishing which include lack of extension facilities, lack of insurance facilities, indulgence of middlemen, poor marketing, lack of credit facilities, low level of diversification etc. ILRT conducts research on specific challenges on fisheries.

There are different types of household manufacturing industries such as khadi, handloom & hanicrafts, agarbatti-making, medicines other than allopathic, electronic items, sewing machine, garments, bangle making, typewriter, Atta Chakki, biscuit, candles, sweets, jute products, photosetting, and toys manufacturing etc. These enterprises are located in rural or urban areas. Such enterprises do not realise their potential due to gaps in financial, technical and business aspects. Studies around these sectors can be conducted.

Service sector offers employment to about a quarter of the labour force. While there are high tech service sub-sectors such as IT, Banking & Finance which cater to the higher end, a large number of bottom of the pyramid are employed in the lower end of the service sector employment. These could be enterprises such as retail (managing small kirana shops), food enterprises (managing road side tiffen centres and hotels), transportation services (auto, rickshaw or taxi), repairing services (mobile, bike, car, electrician, motor mechanic) etc. ILRT explores possibilities for self-employment and employment creation in service sector.

A significant proportion i.e., 93% of Indian labour force is in informal economy. Being in informal economy denies them opportunities for decent work. They live under poor working conditions, have less scope for unionisation, lack adequate payment for their work, limited restrictions on working hours exist, work is insecure and lack social security. ILRT conducts research to understanding the country’s informal economy. Such studies have been conducted in Jharkhand and also form an integral part of its livelihood studies.

Micro-enterprises provides self-employment opportunities to a major segment of Indian population. Micro-enterprises face challenges such as low entrepreneurial and business capacities of the entrepreneurs, low levels of skills, problem of raw material, finance & marketing, lack of technological and skill upgradation, lack of supportive eco-system etc., ILRT conducts research on specific challenges of micro-enterprises and explores solutions for addressing the same.

While women constitute about 50% of the population and play an important part in rural and urban economy, a major challenge faced by women is the declining rate of labour force participation rates of women. This has posed a challenge to researchers and policy makers on addressing this challenge. Both gender factors such as physical restrictions on mobility, social norms on economic participation of women, cultural factors of looking at women as unequal, low opportunities given for decision making and economic factors such as lower thrust provided to enterprises which generate female employment are factors which have resulted in low women employment. ILRT undertakes research to understand the specific challenges for employment and unemployment of women as well as factors for promoting their employment. ILRT has undertaken a number of studies related to SHG women and their potential in enhancing the economic participation of women.

India is considered to be a young nation. Its average age is 29 years. 50% of its population is below 25 years and 65% below 35. The higher proportion of youth is expected to provide the benefits of demographic dividend. However, a major challenge faced is low level of employment generation taking place in the country. This is preventing absorption of youth workforce into employment and self-employment. Promotion of youth employment assumes a major importance. In this regard, ILRT has undertaken a number of studies in the past to identify scope for skilled employment and self-employment for youth. Recommendations for strengthening youth employment based on assessment of youth aspirations, industrial and work opportunities in the area has been undertaken.

The tribal population in India is about 10.2 crores. Despite the multiple schemes and policies of the state, the tribal population continues to be deprived of proper livelihoods. ILRT has undertaken a number of studies related to livelihoods of tribal communities particularly in relation to opportunities through non-timber forest produce, horticulture, agriculture, skilled employment & entrepreneurship. The more marginal segments within the tribal communities such as particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) has also been studied.

The rural poor may include farmers, agri and non-agri labour. The informal nature of Indian economy prevents the rural workers to benefit from decent work. Efforts in formalisation of the workers include development of collectives such as farmer producer organizations, producer groups, self help groups etc. ILRT undertakes studies on rural poor in the larger context of addressing the conditions of rural poor through producer collectives. Similar studies on FPOs, SHG federations and SHGs have been taken up in the past.

It is expected that urban poor in India would be 600 million (40%) by 2031. In 2018, Urban India has an estimated 161 Million workers. Of this 129.4 Million are in informal sector. The major constituents of urban informal sector include Home-based workers (53.7 Million), Street-vendors (29.5 Million), Domestic workers (27.7 Million), Waste pickers (4.8 Millions), Construction workers (14.2 Million) and others. Each of these segments, has its own specific challenges. ILRT conducts research to understand the challenges of these specific segments and explore possibilities for potential solutions.

India has an estimated 45.36 crore internal migrants. About 12% of these is considered to be inter-state movements. Despite internal state migrant act, India faces the challenge migrants. The internal migrants are engaged as construction workers, daily wage labourers, street vendors, domestic workers in cities. In destination states they lack of proper access to food, housing, sanitation, health, education, transportation services. Despite their contribution to urban areas, they lack social security to employment and decent working conditions. ILRT conducts research on migrant issues. These could be inter-state migrants, intra district migrants or intra-state migrants.

Donor and implementation agencies do require some specialised studies on livelihood situation in a district. These studies are based on analysis of macro-database on livelihoods in the districts, interaction with the sectoral experts and sectoral players and discussions with the community and community collectives. A two phase studies are undertaken. The initial phase captures all possible livelihood opportunities in the district. Based on low potential, medium potential and high potential sectors, detailed livelihood studies are taken up in identified sectors and subsectors in second phase. The district livelihood studies provides a clear indication to agencies on livelihoods to be focused on in the identified geography. ILRT had undertaken similar district level livelihood studies in the past in Gaya (Bihar), Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), Doha (Jammu & Kashmir), Sidhi (Madhya Pradesh) and various districts in Meghalaya. Similar studies were conducted at Block level at Murtizapur (Maharashtra) and village level at Nelaturu, Musunurvaripalem and Mamidipudi villages in Muthukur mandal of Andhra Pradesh.