This project was completed in 2016 and resulted in the report written for the Indian Council of Social Science Research by Aparajita Bakshi and Arindam Das: “Income Diversification in Rural India, with a Special Focus on Dalit Households.” view pdf

The study used data from seven village studies in order to analyse household income diversification in rural India, and its implications for poverty and income inequality. Since questions of poverty and inequality in India are closely related to questions of caste and social exclusion, the report paid special attention to income diversification among Dalit households in the villages (there were significant proportions of Dalit households in all seven villages). The report analysed these processes in quantitative terms.

The seven villages studied in this report represented diverse production conditions and levels of development, and, in particular, diverse conditions with respect to agro-climatic circumstances, irrigation and mechanisation, rural infrastructure, and access to and distance from urban centres.

The villages therefore also showed wide variations in levels of income, occupational patterns, and the composition of income from various sources. This project was supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.