A Review on the Economy of the Mising Tribe of Assam Jharna Morang

Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 A Review on the Economy of the Mising Tribe of Assam Jharna Morang Abstract— Mising, the second largest ethnic group of Assam are the backbone of conducive economic development of Assam. As a riverine tribe, agriculture has been the prime occupation since time immemorial that shares a large percentage in the economy of the Mising society. Along with men, Mising women contribute a lot to the income of the family. Originally as they are the rural inhabitants, both men and women are engaged in numerous primitive economic activities. Participation of womenfolk in farm and non farm activities is notable one. There are certain hurdles in the path of development of economy of the Mising tribe. Although they are industrious people, economic backwardness are seen. With due course of time changing trend of economic activities are noticed. Now a portion of population of Mising engage in various public and private sector jobs, small trading etc. Thereby uplift their economic status as well as contributes in the advancement of economy of the society. In this paper various economic activities, role of women in uplifting the rural economy, changing economic trend and hurdles are to be addressed. Keywords— changing trend, farm activities, hurdles, Mising women, non farm activities, primitive economic activities, rural economy. —————————— —————————— 1 INTRODUCTION conomy is the indicator of a country’s progress and development. Economy is one of the factors that a E 2 ECONOMY country’s stability depends on. Country like India where multi ethnic groups reside is the fastest growing economy. 2.1 Agriculture and Rural Economy Among the eight sisters of North East part of India, Assam is Agriculture plays a dominant role in the rural economy significant which is considered as the largest economy in the of the Mising society since time immemorial. Still it is north east region. In Assam numerous tribes such as Bodo, continuing their practice of agriculture. Around 90% Mising Mising, Karbi, Deori, Tiwa, Dimasa, Kachari, Rabha, Hasong people involve in agricultural work. Ahu and Bau paddy and so on are found [1]. It is seen that to assess the economy of cultivation become popular widely grown by the Mising. Assam, it is necessary to understand the economy of the Different varieties of potatoes, pulses, cotton, maize, tobacco, various tribes that shares a large percentage in the economy of mustard seeds are also cultivated. Today Sali paddy Assam. In this paper one of the Major tribes of Assam viz the cultivation has become popular among the Mising which is Mising tribe’s economic activities are to be understood. traditionally planted in July-August and harvested in As per 2011 Census, the population of Assam is 31,205,576 November-December. Cultivated land pursuit in terms of out of which the Mising constitutes the population in Assam is yield, where Sali for harvesting is much higher than Ahu. 6,80,424( 2011 Census) [2]. Basically the Mising tribe resides Because of yearly floods of the wet land, the label of natural on the bank of the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries. fertility are constantly enriched where cultivation process in Mostly are scattered in nine districts of upper Assam namely Sali fields involve much care and much more labour inputs Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, than Ahu which is sown broadcast [4]. However the Golaghat, Sibsagar and Biswanath. Dhemaji is the highest development in the growth of economy is at a slow pace. The Mising populated district of Assam [3]. use of primitive technology by the flood victim Mising people As compared to upper caste people of Assam, the tribal has caused the low level of income to the family [5]. people are economically backward. Hence it is necessary to Significantly festive religious ceremony and discuss the problem of their economic backwardness. agriculture is closely connected. One of the colourful festive However the vital role played by Mising men and women in religious ceremony of the Mising is Ali-Ai-Ligang which is their economic improvement cannot be denied. Instead of observed before sowing the seeds. Again Dabar Puja is primitive economic activities now they have broadened their observed as a post harvesting socio religious festival. They activities. worship Kuber whom they consider to be the goddess of wealth and agriculture [5]. ———————————————— It is seen that the land used for cultivation by the tribe is not properly utilized. Small land holding is also an important factor for slow agriculture growth. There is an urgent need for Jharna Morang M.A in Political Science, Gauhati University, Assam, India conducive land use planning and adoption of suitable Email- [email protected] cropping pattern for improving their economic condition [6]. Contact no- 9957160867 Volume XII, Issue X, October/2020 Page No:1403 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945 2.2 Economic Backwardness : Hurdles The cultivation of multiple crops requires irrigation More than seventy percent Mising are still remaining facilities. But for the irrigation the Mising tribe completely backward economically although they now involve in various depends on nature. The cultivated land of Mising inhabited profession. It portrays a scenary of constraints that stand as a areas are deprived from the irrigation facilities of the barrier in the path of economic development. The problems government. So they cannot produce multiple crops [12]. are mostly related to agriculture. As a riverine tribe, the Lack of financial institutions such as banks, post Mising tribe have to face flood every year. The devastating office etc. in Mising inhabited areas may hinder in economic flood create people landless, damage crops, affects houses and development. There is no scope of saving and investment of lives of Mising people [7] their earnings [13]. Water stagnation after flood affects the agricultural The various ethnic organizations of Mising such as process. As there is no system of canalize the water to the Mising Ba:ne Kebang, Takam Mising Porin Kebang ( All river, it has caused the damage of crops by covering the Mising Students Union), Mising Agom Kebang( Mising cultivable land [7]. Literary Organisation), Takam Mising Mime Kebang( Mising Poverty is a major problem of the Mising tribe that Women Organisation etc. has been working hard for all round the village Mising people cannot buy modern scientific tools development of the tribe. However the initiative taken by in the cultivation. Uneconomic holding, excessive dependence these organizations in case of economic field is shown much on agriculture, participation of small portion of population in lesser. Lack of effective economic programme of these the secondary sectors, underemployment or unemployment organizations is another factor responsible for economic are major problems of poverty amongst the Mising tribe [8]. backwardness[14]. Lack of interest of business mind of Mising people cause a great lose of their economy. There is a scope of 2.3 Changing Trend growing dairy farm as they rear cattle and buffalo on the suitable river bank area. But due to their lack of interest in Since twentieth century onwards the Mising in a business they sell their produce milk to local milk man only. remotest village are engaged in various other economic Thus the Mising people have lost their source of business activities other than agriculture for their economic upliftment. income [9]. Now Mising people have engaged in business, government Market is a place where finished products are sold in services, wage labourers etc. Various factors are responsible appropriate price. Although Mising are agrarian people, due for such changing trends. Modern education is a major factor to lack of adequate market, the products cannot be used for for such upward change. Besides shortage of agricultural business purpose. Unfortunately the Mising inhabited areas lands, new marketing demand, new government policies, are not connected with market of other places of India. Due to economic downfall due to flood – under such circumstances poor transportation and communication system the people fail Mising people have expanded their activities which has to send requied goods to the market and therefore have to responded positively towards economic uplifetment of the sold it in cheap rate to the local businessman [9]. Mising tribe [14]. From educational side, the Mising are educationally Animal husbandry is another economic activities backward. Around 68% Mising are literate. Inspite of having which supplement the agriculture.The tribe rear pigs, poultry scope of establish small scale industries they failed due to lack and fowls but have no economic use of it, only used for of knowledge on scientific farming. It has to be mentioned domestic consumption and ceremonial needs. From around here that the low land area of the Dhemaji district probe to be 1970-1980s the commodity for consumption has been suitable for cultivate Red Rice. Recently it comes to know that transformed to commercial purposes due to compulsive the Red Rice become popular in the Texas province of USA. economic pressure. Their livelihood process started through Dhemaji district authority exported huge quantity of such rice earning income by selling pigs and poultry in the local market. to USA. But they failed to take this opportunity because of There is a steady demand for them. Now a days, Mising lack of knowledge on technical education [9]. people have started commercial production of potato in large Soil erosion is a major problem faced by the Mising scale [15]. tribe due to occurrence of flood in Mising inhabited areas that In the late twentieth century, it has been found that erode hectors of land every year. Thus due to flood and the young generation of the tribes are conscious of erosion agricultural field are decreased to a large extent. government policies and took the privileges.

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