Watershed and Livelihood

Watershed and Livelihood: Assessment of Two Micro Watershed of Angara Block, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Jagdish Kumar Mahto

Watershed projects play an increasingly important role in managing soil and water resources throughout the world. Research is needed to ensure that new projects draw upon lessons from their predecessors’ experiences. However, the technical and social complexities of watershed projects make evaluation difficult. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, which traditionally have been used separately, both have strengths and weaknesses. Combining them can make evaluation more effective, particularly when constraints to study design exist. This paper presents livelihood approaches for evaluating watershed projects in the framework of two micro watershed of Angara block, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The study highlights the changes in the livelihood assets of the villagers after the implementation of the IWMP though significant changes are yet to come.

Key Words:  Watershed, Livelihood, Assessment, Angara block.