ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE ATMA BENEFICIARIES OF CHHATTISGARH

s : The present study was carried out during 2011 in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh state. This study was conducted in randomly selected 10 villages of three purposively selected blocks i.e. Ambikapur, Lundra, Surajpur located in Surguja district. The aim of this study to assess the socio-personal and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. A total of 150 respondents including 100 beneficiary and 50 non-beneficiary farmers were selected randomly. The data collection was done by the use of interview schedule through personal interview. Data were analyzed with help of suitable statistical tools. The findings reveal that the majority of the beneficiary and non-beneficiary respondents were of middle age groups (36 to 50 years) having middle school and primary school level educated, residing in nuclear family system with small size of family (up to 5 members). Majority of beneficiaries had high level of social participation as compared to nonbeneficiaries. Majority of the respondents were performing agricultural activities, however they were also engaged in 2 to 3 occupation. Majority of the respondents were having marginal land holding (up to 2.50 acre). Majority of the beneficiaries belonged to Rs. 30,001 to Rs. 50,000 (High category) annual income group as compare to non-beneficiaries earned Rs. 20,001 to Rs. 30,000 (Medium category). Majority of the respondents were taking short term credit facility extended by government organization.