A Study on Socio-economic Status of Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu Division of India

Abstract

Gujjars and Bakerwals are the third largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir and constitute more than 11.9 per cent of the total population of the state. The study was conducted in order to access the socio-economic conditions and migration status of Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu division. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed for the selection of districts, blocks, villages and ultimate respondents. The total sample size was 112. Pre-tested interview schedule was used for collection of data. The mean age of the respondents was 49.91±15.50 years and mean education was 2.29±2.09 years. 36.6 per cent of the respondents were illiterate. Majority of the respondents (60.71%) had marginal land holding and 19.64 per cent respondents had small land holding, in case of migration status only 47.3 per cent were migrating. Kacha houses were possessed by 63.4 per cent of the respondents. Further, it is concluded that the number of sheep, goat and buffalo affected the migration status of gujjars and bakerwals significantly (R2=0.580) followed by sheep, goat and cow (R2=0.556). This study gives a concrete fact about the background of "Tribal Developmental schemes" their impact on tribal people and social change came in their life due to it.