Constraints and Prospects to Livelihood Diversification in Kohima and Phek Districts of Nagaland, India: Analysis using Response Priority Index

Livelihood diversification remains an important strategy that is adopted by individuals/households all over the world, which affirms that a household can escape poverty and enhance its well-being. In rural areas, livelihood is highly erratic and risk-veiled due to the differences in socio-economic, demographic, and geographical conditions, which generate distinct constraints to livelihood diversification. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the fundamental constraints of livelihood diversification to identify the challenges of rural development and interceding to elevate the people's livelihood. This paper explores some of the main constraints and the prospect for diversification by recording their priority for each constraint. The study was conducted in Nagaland, constituting 663 households randomly selected as the sampled households from four villages of Kohima district and four villages of Phek district. The study revealed that the significant constraints in the study area were lack of proper guidance and education, lack of family labor, health conditions, old age, lack of proper marketing facilities, credit and time constraints, and non-availability of land. Thus, concerned stakeholders should pay close attention to these issues and play a facilitator’s role in promoting investment and better outreach training programs to ensure a secure and sustainable livelihood

Perceptions of the Local Community Toward the Tourism Industry’s Impact on the Environment: A Focus on the Kaziranga National Park and Majuli

Tourism is an industry experiencing rapid growth, with impacts beyond well-being and quality of life, encompassing substantial socio-economic and environmental effects. The study investigates how the local community perceives the connection between tourism development and its environmental impact. The study population includes various tourism stakeholders, such as representatives from local communities, hoteliers, and tour operators active in the regions. We distributed 207 questionnaires and concise descriptions of key study variables to enhance respondent understanding. After confirming the instrument's reliability and validity, we analyzed the data using principal component analysis. The findings indicate that a significant proportion of residents actively contribute to preserving natural resources and landscapes, proactively securing their environment as a major tourist attraction. Furthermore, tourism expenditures have contributed to the preservation and conservation of both the environment and the local community, fostering collaborations between local self-help groups and non-governmental organizations. However, the study also identified progressive natural and environmental capital deterioration. Factors such as excessive land use, construction, traffic congestion, air and water pollution, and solid waste and sewage buildup were noted as key challenges. To address these, the proposed framework emphasizes harmonizing business and environmental priorities in sustaining an ecological system through government support and policy interventions. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing tourism development and the need for effective governmental policies to conserve environmental and natural resources while ensuring local communities' economic viability and social well-being

Opaque Political Funding: The Indian Experience on the Electoral Bond Scheme

This article analyses the issue of Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) which have been introduced with a series of amendments to the existing related laws and regulations, which was challenged in the Supreme Court.  The scheme has been a major area of discussion at various formal and informal forums among politicians, academicians, civil society and legal experts regarding it’s benefit and defects in the electoral politics. The regulatory character of the state and trade regimes provides ample scope to the politicians and political parties for unethical negotiation; creating a nexus between them and business sectors which is detrimental for electoral democracy. In this backdrop, the paper discusses the different major issues relating ‘Electoral Bond Scheme’ and the Supreme Courts observations and the effects of such a scheme of ‘quid pro quo’ to the democratic electoral system and the need for a proper transparent and accountable system of party funding which protects the electoral right of the citizens and strengthens the electoral democracy in India. Finally, the author tries to estimate the historic verdict delivered in February, 2024

Understanding The Regional Economic Growth and Sectoral Convergence in India: A Base Year Analysis

The This study will analyse a comprehensive overview of the research to investigate regional disparities and convergence in various sectors and sub-sectors of the Indian regions. It aims to determine whether Indian regions experienced absolute and sigma convergence or divergence during this period. It considers six base year series from 1970 to 2020 to understand the structural change. The study utilises a base year analysis approach, employing economic indicators and data from multiple sources such as EPWRF, RBI’s Data Warehouse, CMIE states of India, and reports. The Key economic indicators considered include the Net domestic product (NDP) at a constant price, per capita income, sectoral contributions, investment patterns, and human development indices. Furthermore, the study employs various statistical techniques and econometric models to assess the degree of economic convergence among Indian states and regions. In addition, the Log-Lin Model is used to analyses the CAGR. The study uses the Sample Regression Function to measure absolute convergence or divergence. However, given this framework, the research investigates the historical context of Indian economic growth and development, highlighting major policy reforms and financial initiatives. It explores how it affected regional economies and contributed to either convergence or divergence

Government expenditure and economic growth in North Eastern Region of India: Toda-Yamamoto causality approach

This study examines the impact of government expenditure on economic growth in the North Eastern Region of India, addressing whether government spending causes economic growth or vice versa. Using the Toda-Yamamoto causality approach, the analysis reveals that the Wagner hypothesis holds in one state, while the neutrality hypothesis is supported in the other states. These findings suggest that policymakers should consider not only the amount of government spending but also the efficiency of public expenditure when formulating fiscal policies

Multidimensional Poverty and Tribal Livelihood Sustainability in Rural West Bengal, India: A Micro Level Analysis

In this study 586 households have been surveyed to understand the condition of living and livelihood sustainability of the scheduled tribe population in selected villages in Bankura district. The study explores how the proximity of non-tribal population and the isolation of tribal population contribute to distinct scenarios of poverty within tribal life styles. Additionally, it investigates the interplay between poverty and sustainability of tribal livelihoods. To achieve its objectives, the study calculates two key indices for each selected village: the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and the Sustainable Livelihood Security Index (SLSI). Analysis of multidimensional poverty index value clarifies that more isolated tribal villages are more prone to multidimensional poverty as the highest and lowest values come up as 0.428 and 0.174. Both of the values are way over than the national MPI value of 0.123. MPI values of the surveyed villages have a strong positive relationship with LQ value of the villages with r2 value of 0.533. However, these villages exhibit a positive situation regarding the sustainability in their livelihoods. MANOVA calculated for three indices of SLSI, are showing p value of 0.021, 0.003 and 0.058 for Ecological, economic and social dimension of livelihood respectively at 95% significance level. This analysis clarifies that both ecological and economic dimension have significant relationship with concentration of tribal population. In conclusion, the paper suggests that understanding the nuanced dynamics between poverty and sustainability of tribal livelihoods, effective strategies can be developed to uplift tribal population and foster long-term well-being

Unpacking The Unforeseen Consequences: A Comprehensive Examination on The Perception of Non-Profit Organisations on Goods and Services Tax

This study examines Indian Non-Profit Organizations’ (NPOs) perceptions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), focusing on compliance challenges and operational implications. Using mixed methods, primary data from 110 Tamil Nadu NPOs via structured questionnaires were analyzed alongside secondary sources. Descriptive statistics, reliability tests (Cronbach’s α = 0.897–0.898), t-tests, and ANOVA assessed awareness levels, compliance burdens, and demographic influences. Results indicate GST imposes significant challenges for NPOs, particularly smaller entities, due to ambiguous tax applicability for dual activities (charitable/commercial), stringent documentation, and limited input tax credits. While 59% of NPOs remained unregistered, registered ones reported increased tax liabilities (41%) and administrative strain. However, GST enhanced transparency, bolstering donor trust. Demographic analysis revealed age (p=0.040) and education (p=0.035) as key factors shaping GST perceptions, while gender and legal status showed negligible impact. The study highlights systemic gaps in GST frameworks, including complex compliance processes and insufficient sector-specific guidance. It advocates streamlined filing procedures, exemptions for non-commercial activities, and training initiatives to improve regulatory adaptability. By addressing empirical gaps in taxation research, this work provides policymakers with insights to align GST norms with NPOs’ operational realities. Findings underscore the urgency of collaborative dialogue between regulators and NPOs to reduce compliance inefficiencies and strengthen the sector’s socio-economic contributions. Such reforms would ensure GST supports, rather than hinders, NPOs’ public welfare missions while fostering equitable fiscal governance

Geographical Indications Regime in India: Commitments and Consequences

Getting into WTO willy-nilly brought many changes in India’s trade sector, with IPR being a dominant tool in the hands of powerful economies. Geographical Indicators (GI) are a form of complete ownership over knowledge-based products, sometimes even traditional articles, and their necessity is rationalized through their possibility of being used for the benefit of the owners/producers of commodities. This group of beneficiaries is believed to essentially include people with low incomes. This paper is intended to bring out specific fundamental issues like the distribution of benefits across sectors and beneficiaries. Here, we integrate qualitative and quantitative data using a mixed-methods methodology and some crucial case studies as support.  Data used are also from official GI registries, government papers, and academic literature, which provide secondary data to understand patterns in GI registrations across several product categories. The skewed distribution of the benefits of GI registration across beneficiaries is noted. It raises an issue of the possibility of GI favouring veiled capitalist tendencies of the usual market operators, with a new tool

Factors associated with menstrual cognition development among menarche, menstruating, and menopausal women in Coimbatore, Tamil nadu, India.

Several decades of research resulted in an abundance of cultural, social, clinical, logical understanding of menstrual practices. From these researches it was understood that the society encompass itself many socio-cultural norms, customs, beliefs, taboos, stigmas and behaviours related to menstruation. Menstrual practices and restrictions have been transmitted through generations. Girls who attain puberty are bound to adopt theses cultural belief systems as it is the nomenclature put forth by the family, friends, religion and other social institutions that shapes the society. According to (Sellers, Machluf, & Bjorklund, 2018) How a person perceives, thinks, and comprehends the world through the interaction of genetic and learning factors is known as cognitive development. Objective: To identify the factors that helped in menstrual cognition development among Menarche, menstruating and menopause women in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Methodology: A Cross-sectional study was carried out among 450 women. The samples were divided into 3 categories, 150 women who attains puberty recently (menarche), 150 menstruating women, and 150 menopause women from Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Results and Analysis: The significance of each factor was assessed using the KMO value of 0.915, and the factors were categorized into four categories namely “Micro system”, “Meso system”, “Exo system”, and “Macro system”. The reliability of the data was also assessed using the Cronbach's Alpha with the value of 0.716, 0.790, 0.832 and 0.940 respectively. Understanding these systems and their complex interactions is essential. More insights can be gained by, parents, teachers, institutions, social organizations developers, and policymakers to develop supportive interventions that promote healthy cognitive development among individuals. The identified factors “Micro system”, “Meso system”, “Exo system” and “Macro system” plays a vital role in acquiring information and knowledge about menstrual practices which helps them to develop their menstrual cognition. This study tries to prove the relationship between the four factors identified by Urie Bronfenbrenner

From Data to Delivery: How AI is Streamlining Apparel Supply Chains

This research examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI) affect the supply chain efficiency within the apparel sector, highlighting challenges faced by exporters in adopting AI technologies. The research examines factors like AI adoption, awareness, challenges, and performance improvements that influence supply chain operations in the apparel sector. By employing a simple random sampling technique with 50 respondents, data were analyzed using percentage analysis, factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Key findings suggest that AI adoption in the apparel industry leads to better operational efficiency, reduced labor requirements, and enhanced productivity. Nevertheless, obstacles such as substantial implementation costs, issued regarding data privacy and resistance to adoption were identified. The study provides practical suggestions for improving employee training, expanding AI applications, and focusing on women’s and children’s garments to capitalize on emerging market trends. The results underscore the importance of adapting to technological advancements to maintain competitive advantage and meet evolving customer demands