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The Garo Hills of Meghalaya is blessed with the abundance of natural resources (i.e. renewable and non-renewable resources). The population of the state is primarily reliant on the natural resources for their livelihood which put ever increasing stress on the natural resources.

Thus, it becomes an imperative to adopt a forward looking approach for optimum and productive utilization of the State’s natural resources such as Land, Water, and Biotic Resources in order to alleviate poverty from the State Pressure on natural resources due to increased needs and unsustainable resource utilization, etc. (Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, 2012). According to IBDLP report (2013), developmental framework ensures sustainable livelihoods, gainful employment opportunities, and inclusive growth. Better convergence and higher participation of the Community in the Developmental efforts are made for holistic development of the state with new initiative. Hence, with the perspective of promoting inclusive growth with a focus on poverty alleviation, employment generation and livelihood promotion, the Government of Meghalaya launched a state flagship programme titled “Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP).
        IBDLP programme is one of the livelihood programme for the ethnic tribe of Meghalaya which provides many intrusions for women to become self-independent. The programme delivers different types of trainings and business insertion. It identified the clusters to start their own enterprise or any small industry and offers many facilities without any cost or fees (Meghalaya, report to citizens, 2015). It also deals with different mechanisms of livelihood and provides many benefits to rural people. Financial supports and subsidiary activities are provided to the rural people who are registered under the programme in order to become self-independent to do any income generating activities. Therefore, to know the benefits available and up to what extent the Garo farm women were benefitted from this livelihood programme. The study on benefits derived from IBDLP programme by Garo Farm Women is felt and so, far few systematic studies has been conducted on this topic to assess the benefits of programme and hence a research study was undertaken with the following objectives.
        The main objectives of this study includes, to assess the benefits derived from programme, To identify the subsidiary activities of IBDLP programme and to study perceived changes after availing benefits from the programme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in two districts of Garo Hills of Meghalaya. West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills Districts of Meghalaya were the selected for the study. From, selected districts two Blocks were selected randomly for study (i.e, Rongram block from West Garo Hills and Betasing block from South West Garo Hills). Four villages were selected from each block (two villages from one block). Gondenggre and Asanang were the two villages selected from Rongram block and Purasingga and Adugre were the two villages selected from Betasing block of women of Garo Hills. Selections of the Villages were done through simple random sampling method. Total hundred respondents were taken for the study (i.e. Twenty five numbers of respondents from one village). Data were collected through Interview method using the semi structured interview schedule to collect the primary information. Predesigned and pretested interview schedule is a tool used in study area.
Statistical software like SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science) and MS-excel spreadsheet were used for analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

1. Benefits derived from programme
1(a) Assistance or support received from programme
The Table 1 (a) clearly depicted the benefits derived from programme and observed that 78 per cent received support from programme which may be in terms of loan or subsidy, industrial sheds or others whereas 22 per cent of respondents did not receive any support from programme.
Hence, it can be concluded that majority Garo farm women received support from programme. Probable reason that 22 per cent of farm women did not receive any support from programme might be due to negligence of farm Women to visit the office or failure to Women to visit the office or failure to asked officers about benefits available to them.  It may have happen due to unawareness also.
1(b) Kind of assistance or support receive from programme
The kind of assistance or support receive from programme were indicated in Table 1(b). The data from the table stated 41 per cent received loan with subsidy and 25 percent received loan without subsidy. Likewise, 34 per cent received industrial sheds or machinery.
Thus, it can be concluded that majority (41%) of farm women beneficiaries received loan with subsidy followed by loan without subsidy and industrial sheds or machinery.

Table 1 (a): Assistance or support received from programme

Table 1(b): Distribution of farm women according to their kind of assistance or support received from programme (n=78)

Table 2: Subsidiary activities undertaken by IBDLP Programme

Table 3 (a): Changes after availing benefits of IBDLP programme

Table 3 (b): Distribution of farm women according to their types of changes after availing benefits from programme (n=62)

Table 3 (c) Distribution of farm women according to their perceived benefits from IBDLP

 

2. Subsidiary activities undertaken by IBDLP programme   
Different activities undertaken by programme to increase the livelihood of rural farm women were depicted in Table 2 and observed that 42 per cent of farm women benefitted from piggery under livestock mission, 19 per cent from handicraft, and 17 per cent from cattle rearing followed by ration depot (10%), poultry farm (10%) and nursery plantation (10%) and 6 per cent from food processing.  Only 3 per cent were benefitted from vermi composting activity.
Hence, it can be concluded that majority (52%) of Garo farm women benefited from piggery and poultry farm under the Livestock mission followed by handicraft, ration depot, food processing, vermi composting and nursery plantation. The probable reason that majority of farm women benefited from subsidiary activities like piggery and poultry farm might be that they earned more income from rearing of animals which have increased their livelihood security. Therefore, the majority of Garo farm women performed piggery and poultry farm as one of their livelihood activity.
3. Perceived changes after availing benefits
3 (a) Changes after availing benefits of IBDLP programme
The above Table 3 (a) revealed that more than half (62%) of farm women find changes after availing benefits from programme whereas 38 per cent did not found any change after availing benefits from programme.
Hence, it can be concluded that majority of Garo farm women find change after availing benefits from programme.
3 (b) Types of changes after availing benefits from programme
The data in the Table 3 (b) clearly shows that maximum of farm women find change in their day to day life after availing benefits from programme. The Table revealed that 32 per cent of farm women find change as it increase income of the family which rank first, 25 per cent gain in more knowledge on new technology and machinery (rank 2nd) followed by 19 per cent find change as it upgrade the family status rank 3rd and able to start up new venture (13%) rank 4th. Likewise, to become self-employed (11%) ranked last respectively. Hence, from above Table it can be concluded that increased in income of the family rank first might due to the utilization of livestock and horticulture mission helps to increase the income of the family by gaining knowledge on different technology and machinery through training programme which help to become self-independent.
3 (c) Perceived Benefits from different mission of the programme
To know the perceived benefits by Garo farm women, the scale consisting of 5 point is considered i.e. 5 (Extremely benefited), 4 (Highly benefited ), 3 (benefited), 2 (somewhat benefited), and 1 (not at all benefited). The Table 4.7 (c) clearly indicated the perceived benefits from programme. It was observed that livestock mission rank first with highest mean scores (3.55) followed by horticulture (3.31), forestry and plantation (3.2), aquaculture (1.83), and water (1.49).  Likewise, rural energy (1.42), tourism (1.38) and apiculture mission (1.2). The sericulture mission ranked last with lowest mean score (1.18) respectively.
Hence, from Table 4.7 (c) can be concluded that Garo farm women highly benefited from livestock mission which rank first with highest mean scores (3.55) and horticulture mission rank second with mean scores (3.31). The reason that farm women highly benefited from livestock and horticulture might be that by rearing animals and growing organic vegetables can help to earned more income. Sericulture mission which rank last with lowest mean scores is not at all benefited by Garo farm women in selected areas. The reason might be that farm women of selected areas may not aware of the sericulture mission to utilize and gained the benefits.

CONCLUSION

The benefits derived from IBDLP programme helps to earned more income and gained more knowledge about different income generating activities. Availing benefits from livestock mission were maximum than other livelihood mission. Loan with subsidy and industrial sheds are provided for rural people to become self-independent. Majority of farm women benefitted from Livestock and Horticulture mission only. Therefore, subsidiary activities under different mission should be introduce to rural farm women. So, through different subsidiary activities the rural people may increase their livelihood security.

REFERENCES

IBDLP report, (2013). Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme. Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Shillong. pp. 1-12.
Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, (2012). Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion. Shillong. pp. 1-21.

Meghalaya, report to citizens. (2015). Meghalaya State Financing Co-operative Society ltd. Bethany Hospital, Nongrim Hills. pp. 1-84.