Generational shift in occupational pattern among the Karbis of Karbi Anglong district in Assam

Abstract

The agricultural sector plays crucial role in the economic pursuits of the people of Karbi Anglong District. This traditional and labour intensive economic activity is the single largest contributor to the District Domestic Product accounting for about 44.9 p.c. of the total DDP of Karbi Anglong. More over 73 p.c. of the total working population are engaged in agricultural sector where 59 p.c. as cultivators and 14 p.c. as agricultural labour. They have lived on traditional occupational systems like – fishing, hunting, animal rearing and lumbering, etc. which are based on nature. After granting them the Autonomous District Council under the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution, autonomous political power has been changed their occupation, living standard, food habit, language, culture and political behaviour. The researcher through this research work has tried to find out the occupational mobility of the Karbi people living in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. The study has revealed that with the passage of time, many Karbi people have shifted to other occupations also. Those living in the urban areas are engaged in various occupations in the secondary and tertiary sector and those living in rural areas have also witnessed a change in their occupational patterns.