Livelihood resources are varying from one region to another due to natural and human factors. There are no such studies that consider a broad geographical region and tribal livelihood options and livelihood security. So the present study can fulfil such a literature gap. The present study makes an attempt to analyse livelihood options and livelihood security among the tribals. The study was carried out along the south western plateau and highland region in West Bengal. Secondary data and the primary data have been used. Purposive stratified random sampling technique was used to collect the primary data. Sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) has been used for the selection of factors and indicators. The core outcome of the research is that small landholding size and traditional technology are no longer to meet the rising demands of tribal population. Forest resources are also very rapidly declining due to the huge industrial demands and ever-increasing household needs. Now tribal people are travelling long distances to collect forest products than ever before. The better education opportunities to the younger generation could open up new occupational opportunities and economic diversification and that definitely leads to the good economic status of the tribal people.

There is much discussion on the issue of forest-dependent livelihoods of tribes and their unique culture. It is essential to know the demographic structure of the tribal household and to understand the socio-economic status of the tribal household. The present study has attempted to analyze the demographic structure of the tribal household and to investigate the socio-economic status of the tribal household. The study mainly depends on the primary household survey. Only a base map has been collected from the secondary source. Purposive stratified random sampling technique has been used to collect primary data. A total of 150 households were surveyed. The findings indicate that the socio-economic status of the tribal household declined from east to west of the study region due to natural and human resources showing a declining trend towards the same direction. Also, the study compares inter-regional variation of different socio-economic factors. For their socio-economic empowerment, the tribal people deserve a very intensive development policy implementation with a bottom-up approach. The earlier studies are fragmented, haphazard and maximum works are on the cultural level, that’s why this study is very unique and important.

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This study examines the impact of infrastructure, more specifically education, health, and road network infrastructure, on information and communication technology (ICT) penetration in the districts of West Bengal. Besides, the study also investigates the spatial distribution of infrastructure and ICT in the districts of West Bengal. The whole research is based on primary and secondary data. Data have been collected from the District Census and District Statistical Handbooks. The principal component analysis and correlation coefficient techniques are used to assess the impact. The study reveals that the degree of correlation between infrastructure and ICT variables is medium to high, except in some cases. As the Infrastructure Index increases, the ICT index also tends to increase. It is found that a moderate positive relationship (r = 0.503) was found between the infrastructure index and the ICT index. Significant policy regarding basic infrastructure services is of utmost necessity for ICT diffusion within the study region.

Although natural resources play a central role in rural livelihoods across the globe, little research has explored how different livelihood capital is distributed over a broad geographical and political region and its associated effects on the human population. This study aims to analyze the geographical variations of livelihood capital in the Rarh region of West Bengal and its associated effects on the overall population. Secondary data from 121 community development (CD) blocks have been used for the study. GIS methods have been used for mapping purposes and generating more micro-level data. The study found that the pattern shows a significant increase in livelihood capital from the western to the region’s eastern part. Higher proximate natural resources are associated with more significant financial, human, and social capital. Population residing in the eastern part of the region have, on average, more significant financial, physical, human, and social capital than the western part. The research highlighted the importance of providing credit to households located in the western portion of the region and access to improved crop varieties (particularly those linked to dry farming), rural governmental infrastructure, and time-bound targeted resource allocations. The research has relevance beyond the immediate context to other areas like the South-Asian developing countries.