Voices From India’s Poorest District: Bolangir
Outlook asked GFK Mode to do a survey of this perpetually cursed, drought-prone Bolangir district in Orissa. Twenty villages with a population of over 200 were selected. Touchingly, more than half of them think the government is doing enough to improve their lives.An eye opener for so many of us who have so much and yet are unfulfilled, unsatisfied and always want more.
| Do you think the government’s welfare schemes actually work? | |
| They are riddled with corruption | 63 |
| Yes, they work | 35 |
| DK/CS | 2 |
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| Do you think the government policies are helping the rich more than the poor? | |
| No | 56 |
| Yes | 42 |
| DK/CS | 2 |
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| Have the prices of daily commodities increased a lot in the last year? | |
| Yes, to some extent | 33 |
| Yes, to a great extent | 66 |
| DK/CS | 1 |
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| In times of crises, like drought, did you get any help from the government? | |
| No | 82 |
| Yes | 18 |
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| Is the government doing enough to improve your life? | |
| No | 47 |
| Yes | 52 |
| DK/CS | 1 |
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| What is the one thing you want the government to do to radically change your life? | |
| Ensure employment | 15 |
| Improve infrastructure and health services | 3 |
| High government subsidies | 3 |
| Help in agriculture | 32 |
| Higher and cheaper loans | 47 |
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| Have you ever participated in a government scheme? | |
| No | 20 |
| Yes | 80 |
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| Do you think the schemes help/have helped in improving your life? | |
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Those who have participated in government schemes: |
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| Helped/will help to a great extent | 13 |
| Helped to some extent | 86 |
| DK/CS | 1 |
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Those who have never participated: |
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| Helped/will help to a great extent | 15 |
| Will help to some extent |
82 |
| DK/CS | 3 |
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| How many days in a month are you employed?* | |
| Less than 14 days | 3 |
| 21-28 days | 31 |
| 14-20 days | 66 |
| *Those who don’t own farm land | |
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| Asked to persons who are aware of government-initiated employment generation schemes | |
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Have you ever tried getting work through state job schemes? |
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| No | 50.6 |
| Yes | 49.4 |
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If yes, have you worked under such schemes? |
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| No | 65.1 |
| Yes | 34.9 |
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| What is your monthly household income? | |
| Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,999 | 3 |
| More than Rs 7,000 | 2 |
| Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,999 | 37 |
| Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,999 | 58 |
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| What is the mode of payment in your remuneration? | |
| Cooked food | 3 |
| Food Grains | 23 |
| Cash | 74 |
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| Does your child go to school? | |||
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6-13 yrs |
14-18 yrs | 19-22 yrs | |
| Yes | 91 | 35 | 11 |
| No | 9 | 65 | 89 |
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| Does your child get mid-day meals in school? | ||
| Base: Children who go to school |
6-13 yrs |
14-18 yrs |
| Yes, gets it daily | 82 | 19 |
| Yes, but not daily | 4 | 0 |
| Never gets its | 7 | 75 |
| DK/CS | 7 | 6 |
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| What is your main source for drinking water? | ||
| Dirty water | 11 | |
| Clean water | 89 | |
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| Is there a toilet in your house? | ||
| Yes | 4 | |
| No | 96 | |
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| How far is the nearest primary healthcare centre for you? | ||
| 18-20 km | 10 | |
| 12-13 km | 30 | |
| 10-11 km | 10 | |
| 2-5 km | 25 | |
| 6-9 km | 25 | |
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| What healthcare facilities are available in your village? | ||
| Untrained dai | 100 | |
| Quack/ kaviraj, doctor | 80 | |
| Trained dai | 60 | |
| Auxiliary nurse, midwife | 30 | |
| Homeopathic doctor | 10 | |
| Ayurvedic doctor | 5 | |
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| Methodology: In each village, 10 eligible respondents were selected and interviewed ensuring geographical dispersion. The total sample was 201. The study was carried amongst adults of age group 20-45 years. Male-female ratio of 60:40 was maintained. It was conducted with the help of a close-ended questionnaire. All the interviews were conducted in Oriya. | ||
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