Journal of Global Resources
Volume 4 (01)January 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 120-125

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HUMAN CAPITAL AS A SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEENKARBI-KUKI TRIBES OF KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT, ASSAM
Niangpi Guite
Research Scholar, Department of Geography, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India
Email: niangpiguite@gmail.com
Abstract: Human capital in any society forms a significant part of livelihood framework analysis of
the rural communities like that of the Karbi and the Kuki tribes of Karbi Anglong district in Assam.
Alternatively, human capital is a collection of resources—all the knowledge, talents, skills,
abilities, experience, intelligence, training, judgment, and wisdom possessed individually andcollectively by individuals in a population. These resources are the total capacity of the people
that represents a form of wealth which can be directed to accomplish the goals of the society,nation or state or a portion thereof. The main objective of this paper is to compare the quality ofhuman capital in a traditional livelihood system like that of the Karbis and the Kukis in Karbi
Anglong district. It focuses on the links between human capital and rural livelihood, looking inparticular at the indicators that connect the two. This paper is mainly based on field study
conducted by the author among the Kuki-Karbi tribe in Karbi Anglong District, Assam as a part ofher research field work. The data generated in this paper is mainly based on primary sources
collected by the author in the study area. The paper concludes that how human capital enhance
the capacity of livelihood condition by comparing between the two tribes in terms of quantity andquality.
Keywords: Human Capital, Livelihoods, Community, Rural Development
Introduction
Human capital is an aggregate economic view of the human being acting within economies, which
is an attempt to capture the social, biological, cultural and psychological complexity as theyinteract in explicit and economic transactions. It is also defined as the skills, knowledge, andexperience possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to anorganization or country. It highlights the importance of labor, health, education and skills asassets to achieving livelihood (Ellis,2000). It refers to knowledge, ability to labour, good healthetc., that enable an individual, household or community to carry on their livelihood strategies(DFID,1999). Labor is a vital asset for households, but labor alone cannot sustain livelihoods butwhen enhanced through education, training and other skills, it becomes extremely an effective
tool for poor households to gain livelihoods. Households maximize the use of their labor tocompensate wages below subsistence. In fact, labor, as an asset, depends on good health: Since
labor depends on health, illness can remove individuals from the labor pool and can push theminto poverty (Narayan 2000, Grinspun 2001, Ellis 2000). Ellis (2000) identifies public educationand health service as a means through which labor can be maximized for the benefit of thehouseholds. The hill zone of Assam is composed of two hill districts namely – Karbi Anglong andNorth Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao). The zone is characterized by undulating topography where
Karbi Anglong is dominantly having low hills with gentle slopes.
Objective
The main objective of this paper is to compare the quality of human capital in a traditional
livelihood system like that of the Karbis and the Kukis in Karbi Anglong district, Assam.
Study Area
The study is confined in Lumbajong Block which is situated in the east division of the district,which includes Diphu, headquarter of the district and Singhason Hill Range, the highest point of
Karbi Anglong Plateau. It also comes under Singhason Constituency of the Autonomous District
Council, Karbi Anglong. Under this block, the Singhason Hill area that comprises villages
belonging to diverse ethnic groups like the Karbi, Kuki, Dimasa, Garo and Nepali. These groups120

have settled in this area since many decades. Karbi Anglong is situated in the central part ofAssam situated between 25032ꞌN to 26036ꞌN latitudes and 92010ꞌE to 93050ꞌE longitude. It isbounded on the north by Nagaon and Golaghat districts, on the south by the North Cachar Hills
district, on the east by Golaghat district and Nagaland and on the west by Meghalaya. The total
geographical area of Karbi Anglong is 10,434 sq. km, accounting 13.3 percent of the total
geographical area of the Assam. The district happens to be the largest district in the state. The
total population of the Karbi Anglong district is 9,65, 280 (2011) and is dominated by Karbi tribe.
Population density of the district is 64 nos. per sq.km and the literacy rate is 73.52 where theliteracy rate of the male population (82.12) is much higher than that of the female population(64.62). The district is mainly underdeveloped and backward as 88.18 percent of the total
populations are still living in the rural areas against 11.82 percent of the population in urban
areas.
Methodology
The study for the present paper is based on primary sources of data which is collected throughstructured household interview schedule in selected sample villages of both the tribes representing
the different concentration zones practicing Jhum Cultivation for their livelihood. A stratified random
sampling technique is followed where two sets of household- one from the Karbis and another from
Kukis is surveyed. Qualitative data on Human Capital and livelihood System is collected with thehelp of focused group discussion with the village elders and concerned officials. The data collected
is entered and analyzed by using simple statistical techniques. The data provided by the schedules
is classified and tabulation is done after. The results so found is interpreted to get a clear picture
about the Role of Human Capital in the Livelihood System of Karbi-Kuki Tribes.
Results and Discussion
As human capital is considered as one of the essential asset in improving the livelihood
conditions of the households, skills, health and education to earn a living a comparison of thehuman capital between the Karbis and the Kukis are discussed in this paper. Keeping in mind thesignificance of human assets and to compare the quality of human capital in a traditional
livelihood system for both the tribes we now here attempt to sort an assessment of quality ofhuman assets between the two tribes in terms of age group and household size, health,education, skill and occupation.
Age Group and Household Size
In tribal societies population within the age group of 15 to 59 is considered as the most productive
human resources. The study reveals that the highest percent is found in the age groups between
35-44 and 45-54 years among both the tribes. There is no much variation in terms of age groups
and a uniform kind of population can be observed among both the tribes. The percent of working
population is high in both the cases than the percent of dependent population. Highest number ofhouseholds falls in middle and working age groups. It is clearly reveals that, the Karbis and the
Kukis generally have large families and interestingly an equal percent of 60.63 of households
having 5-8 number of members. 27.50 percent households of the Karbis and 30.63 percent
households of the Kukis have <=4 number of members. It is seen that both the Karbis and the
Kukis have almost an equal percent of households found to have large family size of above 9-12
members. Both the Karbis and the Kukis have only 1.88 percent and only a negligible 0.63
percent of households have a very large family size of above >=13. This indicates that due togrowth of population there is a decline in the size of families among both the tribes. The Karbis
and the Kukis of present generation do not consider having large families as an advantage
anymore. As agriculture is no longer a profitable occupation for them anymore and with thegrowth of modernization and improvement in health and medical facilities and awareness aboutfamily planning are gradually changing the mindsets of the rural communities. These factors havepropelled in bringing down the size of family structure among the Karbis and the Kukis in the
district.
Education and Health
Literacy rate and education is a reflection of good human capital. Higher levels literacy not only
results in greater level of awareness but also contributes in improving the economic and social
wellbeing of the rural communities like the Karbis and the Kukis in the district.
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Table 01: Percent of Educational Status of the Head of Households
Tribe
Karbi
Kuki
No. of HH
Percent
No. of HH
Percent
Educational Status
Illiterate
53
33.13
7
4.38
Primary
25
15.63
112
70.00
Middle
45
28.13
29
18.13
Secondary
24
15.00
10
6.25
Higher secondary
9
5.63
1
0.63
Graduation
4
2.50
1
0.63
Post-graduation
0
0.00
0
0.00
Total
160
100
160
100
Source: Field Survey, 2016

Table 01 highlight the educational aspects of the head of the households of the Karbis andthe Kukis. One interesting fact to be noticed from the table is that among both the tribes head of
the household are found to possess some formal education ranging from primary to school
education to higher education like graduation while none can reach till the level of postgraduation. 33.13 percent of the Karbis and 4.38 percent of the Kukis are found to be illiterate.
Among both the tribes the educated percent of the head of households is found maximum in the
middle and secondary category. 15 percent of the Karbis and 6.25 percent of the head householdof the Kukis has studied till secondary level. Compared to the Kukis we find that in the higher
education category of above secondary level there are more number of persons among the
Karbis than the Kukis. It is found that 5.63 percent and 2.50 percent of head of household of the
Karbis are in the higher secondary and are graduates while only 0.63 percent and 0.63 percent ofhead of household of the Kukis are in the higher secondary and are graduates respectively. So,
comparing from table 01 it is assumed that formal education is not a new thing for both the Karbis
and the Kukis. It is only in terms of opportunities and constrains they vary. Many of the
respondents from both the groups attributed the low level of educational status to unavailability ofeducational institutions of higher learning as well as the distance factor for this dismal figure.
Table 02: General Health Condition of Households
Tribe
Karbi
Kuki
Status of HealthNo. of HH
Percent
No. of HH
Percent
Good
51
31.88
12
7.50
Moderate
94
58.75
93
58.13
Poor
15
9.38
55
34.38
Total
160
10
160
100
Source: Field Survey, 2016

Like education, health plays a significant role in determining the state of human capitaland overall quality of the life of both the hill tribes to a great extent. It is subsequently interlinked
with various multidimensional and diverse livelihood options that people adopt in sustaining theirlife. Health condition of the members of a household greatly affects the economic condition andincome of the people. Poor health condition lead to an increased expenditure on medical
expenses which reduces the financial condition of the household. Table 02 shows the healthcondition of the Karbis and the Kukis and it can be stated that 58.75 percent of the Karbis and58.13 percent of the Kukis stated that their health condition is moderate. 31.88 percent
households of the Karbis and 7.50 percent households of the Kukis stated that their healthcondition is good while 9.38 percent of the Karbis and 34.38 percent households of the Kukis
stated that their health condition is poor. High percent of poor health condition of the Kukis may
be because of its remote location and also due to non-availability of sub- health centres anddispensary in the villages where diseases cannot be treated in times of emergency except the
local physician who treated the sick people without much knowledge of the cause of the disease.

122But over all it can be assumed that the overall general health condition of a good majority of thehouseholds of both the tribes is moderate in character.
Skills
Possessing the required skills help the tribal community in building a better base for theirlivelihood. Tribal societies mainly in the district remained marginalized in respect of acquiring
necessary skills. However, traditional practices such as, art and crafts, hunting, farming provides
inputs for meeting societal and other household needs. We categorize the skills of the Karbis andthe Kukis into two classes i.e., traditional skills known and practiced in the household and modern
skill learned and practiced in the household.
Traditional Skills
Apart from main and subsidiary occupations tribals of Karbi Anglong district have certain skills,
primarily having affinity with traditional works such as weaving and basketry bamboo and caneworks, wood works and use of traditional medicine.
Table 03: Traditional Skills Known and Practised by The Household
Tribe
Karbi
Kuki
Traditional Skills Practiced
No. of HH
Percent
No. of HH
Percent
Farming
131
81.88
131
81.88
Fishing/Hunting
22
13.75
4
2.50
Farming/Weaving
1
0.63
2
1.25
Basketry
0
0.00
2
1.25
House Building
0
0.00
19
11.88
Unstated
6
3.75
2
1.25
Total
160
100
160
100
Source: Field Survey, 2016

Table 03 focuses on some of the traditional skills which are known and practices by the
Karbi and the Kuki households of Karbi Anglong district. It is seen that farming is the mostcommon traditional activity found to be practised by the household. Along with farming we seethat the households practised other traditional activities in combination. The table clearly showsthat in some of the cases traditional activities like hunting, weaving, basketry, house building is
also found in a negligible condition. When compared in terms of both traditional skills known andpractised by the households of both the tribes there is not much differences that can be noticed
and analysed. Like for example when observed from table 5, it is seen that, the same percent i.e.,
81.88 households of both the tribes are seen to be practicing farming as the traditional skills. This
indicates that the main occupation is farming for both the tribes who depend solely on farming fortheir livelihood. Besides farming, fishing and hunting also occupy a significant part in the
traditional skills practised by the tribes as 13.75 percent of the Karbis and 2.50 percent of the
Kukis know and practised fishing and hunting. It may be assumed that except farming a few
traditional activities like hunting, weaving, basketry, house building holds good for both thegroups. This meagre income from these skills help in supplementary sources of income and leadsome better livelihood opportunities for both the present as well as for the future generations ofboth the tribe.
Modern Skills
The Karbis and the Kukis know/learned modern skills besides the traditional ones to enhancetheir ability in various other fields and to widen their skills by trying their hands in various modern
skills like poultry, piggery, diary etc which not only helps them to venture in some better skills but
also provide alternative income for the households which help them to live a better livelihood.
Poultry, piggery, dairy farming, Pisiculture, horticulture/Silviculture are some of the important
modern activities seems to be known or learned by the Karbis and the Kukis. Like traditional
activities even modern activities seems to be known or learned in single or in combination of two
activities as seen in table 04.

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Table 04: Modern Skills Known/ Learned in the Household
Tribe
Karbi
Kuki
No. of HH
Percent
No. of HH
Percent
Modern Skills Practiced
Poultry
0
0.00
122
76.25
Piggery
148
92.50
36
22.50
Dairy farming
0
0.00
1
0.63
Pisciculture
0
0.00
1
0.63
Horticulture/Silviculture
0
0.00
0
0.00
Unstated
12
7.50
0
0.00
Total
160
100
160
100
Source: Field Survey, 2016

Table 04 shows the different types of modern skills known/learned by the Karbi and the
Kuki households in Karbi Anglong district. Poultry is the most important known and learned
modern skills for the Kukis as 76.25 percent households know and learn poultry while the Karbis
do not practised poultry while piggery is widely known and learned modern skills for the Karbis as92.50 percent households practised it while 22.50 percent household of the Kukis practised
piggery. Whereas, the Karbis do not practise dairy farming, pisiculture, horticulture/Silviculture
while a negligible percent of about 0.63 percent households of the Kukis practised dairy farming,
pisciculture.
Occupation
Occupation has been considered as a social phenomenon than economic criterion, it not only
decides the status, position of the respondents but also the nature of day-to-day life. Majority of
the respondent’s primary occupation is cultivation for both the tribes. As both the tribes arepracticing jhum cultivation as their main source of livelihood and occupation is from agriculturalactivities.
Table 05: Main Occupation of the Households
Tribe
Karbi
Kuki
Occupational Status
No. of HH
Percent
No. of HH
Percent
Cultivators
132
82.50
158
98.75
Daily Wage labour
8
5.00
1
0.63
Self employed
2
1.25
1
0.63
Agricultural labour
4
2.50
0
0.00
Government Service
9
5.63
0
0.00
Non-Workers
1
0.63
0
0.00
Others
2
1.25
0
0.00
Cultivators and Government service
2
1.25
0
0.00
Total
160
100
160
100
Source: Field Survey, 2016

Table 05 shows the different types of occupational structure practiced by the Karbis andthe Kukis. It is evident from the table that sizeable proportion of the population are cultivators who
are directly or indirectly engaged in cultivation from their own land. It is found that 98.75 percent
households engaged as cultivators is higher among the Kukis compared to the Karbis 82.50
percent households engaged as cultivators in the selected villages. Instances of non-land based
occupations like daily wage labour, shop owner, daily wage labour are found among both thegroups. This clearly shows that land dependency among the groups is very high and sizeable
proportion of their income comes from their agricultural field. Land becomes integral part of theirlife among the groups which appears to be the main driving force in the contestation of space.
Any loss of land would mean loss of livelihood and on the other hand, extension of agricultural
field would mean gaining more wealth.
Conclusion
The concept of human capital has close relationship in a tribal rural community like that of the
Karbis and the Kukis. The economy of people in the hills of Karbi Anglong revolves around124agriculture which means that the Karbis and the Kukis are highly dependent on agricultural for
their sustenance. Sizeable proportion of the population of both the tribes are still tied to theiragricultural field which is their mainstay of the livelihood. Overall when we compared we foundthat the basic quality of human resource remains more or less agrarian in nature. Among both thegroups it is observed that the households are more inclined towards natural resource based
activities.
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