Impact of Warana Co-Operative Complex on Standard of Living in Central Warana Basin of Southern Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The present paper, mainly based on the primary data, attempts to analyze the standard of living of people in Central Warana Basin in parts of Kolhapur and Sangli districts of southern Maharashtra State. David Smith’s ‘Z’ score method was employed for measuring the standard of living at village level by considering sixteen socio ecomic indices. It was assumed that nearer the village to the Warana co-operative complex higher is the standard of living. It is found that villages, Bahirewadi, Pargaon, Mohare, Talasande located near the complex, have shown high standard of living whereas the villages like Minche, Dongarwadi, Dewale, Pharnewadi are less developed. It is inferred that mostly the villages which are located near the complex are highly benefited in terms of economic development and those which are located away at a distance of 15 to 20 km are generally less influenced. The study suggests that the villages which are lagging behind in terms of the standard of living of people should be properly addressed to raise their standard of living by making provision of irrigation facilities and modern techniques in agricultural sector.

Keywords : standard of living, per capita income, pucca houses, gobar gas, irrigation facility