Socio Economic Condition of Target Group

Economy of Madhubani district is predominantly agrarian. But there are wide discrepancies in landholding pattern as 20 per cent upper caste people own 80 per cent cultivable land. The remaining population is either marginal farmers or daily wagers working in agriculture fields, or migrates to other cities in search of job. Very few households are fortunate enough to be in government and private jobs, or in business. Considerable stretch of land remains submerged for more than four months in a year, leading to low agricultural productivity and several other problems. There is total lack of entrepreneurship in the area.

Migration from the area leaves women and children back home. They are prone to exploitation by government machinery, dealers, contractors, politicians and antisocial elements. Economical problems are compounding due to growing unemployment among the youth and women in general. There is no existence of any cottage and village industries and because the agriculture absorbs very limited number of worker, more them half of the working force hangs between their domestic places and their job centres outside the state.

Living Conditions

Nearly 70 per cent people in the district live in a thatched mud houses in unhygienic conditions. Majority of people hardly have two rooms and often share the space with their cattle. Most of the families lack proper sanitation facilities.

Livelihood Opportunities

Agriculture is the main economic activity. But agricultural productivity is very low. Other livelihood opportunities are almost non-existent. Globalisation and capitalism have wiped out village and cottage industries. Public sector units existing once are closed now. As a result, the people have no option but to migrate. But there is significant difference in the causes of migration – while qualified people migrate for better opportunities, the poor, particularly Dalits of flood-affected area migrate for survival. According to an estimate, 40 per cent of the total workforce of the district migrates. Out of this 60 per cent of the migrants are from Dalits and Other Backward Castes, to work in agricultural and allied sectors in Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

In spite of fertile land, the farming pattern is very traditional and because of lack of knowledge of agricultural practices very few farmers grow cash crops. Nearly 65 per cent land is without irrigation facilities. Most of the agriculture is rain fed.

Purchasing Power of People

For livelihood, most of inhabitants, specially marginalised communities, are dependent on agriculture. These people work as agriculture labour or as share cropper. The average annual income of these groups ranges from Rs 9,000 to Rs15,000. As a result their purchasing power is too weak.

Medical Care

Though there is sufficient number of primary health centres (PHC), health centres (HC) and health sub-centres (HSC), they are almost defunct. All the doctors deputed in the PHCs either remain absent or are engaged in private practice. The health personnel do not provide services to the people. Necessary equipments and even emergency drugs are not available in PHC/HC. OPD (out patient department), ANC (ante natal care), PNC (post natal care), immunisation and RH (reproductive health) services are generally not available to the people.

Private health services are beyond the reach of the majority, particularly Dalits and marginalised, because of their very poor economic base. The prices of medicines are unaffordable for most of the families. Spurious drugs also flooded the market and so have quacks.

All the pregnancies are attended by the untrained TBAs and deliveries are performed at home. As a result of this, the district has high infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality ratio (MMR).

There is great lack of awareness among the people, particularly among women, about reproductive health issues and problems. Consequently, there are high incidences of reproductive tract related infections, complications and problems, which are well reflected in the health of the residents.

Earlier, most of the people used traditional systems of medicine, but now this is rarely practised.