Local Resource-Based Industries and Rural Development: A Study in the District of Dhubri in Assam

Abstract

India cannot be developed without development in rural areas. Villages of the country are backward in every respect. Agriculture is the backbone for each of the rural economy. Dhubri district in Assam is not an exception to the general features of the villages of the country. Development of the district is not possible without active participation of the rural people in the channel of economic activities. Main objectives of the study are to know the utilisation of local resources to form resource-based industries and development in rural areas and to recommend suggestions to make utilisation of local resources for economic development. Study is based on secondary data, observation, and interaction with the rural people. In the district, growth rate of population is very high, and it is 24.44 percent. 89.55% people of the district live in rural areas. Literacy rate of the district is as low as 58.34 percent. The district is poor very poor and lagging other districts of the state. All-round development in the villages can be achieved with the establishment of local resource-based industrialisation. But this process involves several problems in rural areas like unskilled labour, rural poverty, infrastructural bottlenecks, flood problem, lack of training institute, etc. The mighty Brahmaputra flows along the district and this is boon for the district. Water can be utilised for fishery, irrigation in agricultural field and water transport purpose. There is huge production in agricultural field due to alluvial soil on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. So, there is greater possibility of growing agro-based industries. With the utilisation of local resources with people’s active participation and eliminating all hurdles faced on the path, rural economic development can be possible.