A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF THE FINANCIAL STATUS AND LIVELIHOOD OF SELECTED SHEPHERD FAMILIES OF THE DHANGAR COMMUNITY IN JAT TEHSIL, MAHARASHTRA

Abstract

The current research offers a Geographical and economic assessment of the Dhangar shepherd group of Jat tehsil in Sangli district, Maharashtra an area with semi-arid climatic conditions, irregular rainfall, and poor agricultural productivity. Historically pastoral and agro-pastoral in character, the Dhangars have evolved to a life of mobility, animal rearing, and small-scale cultivation under the influence of their environment. The study, founded on descriptive and analytical techniques based on primary and secondary data, has taken 50 purposively chosen Dhangar families into account to evaluate their financial condition, educational status, family composition, and saving habits. The results show that a majority of families receive less than ₹6,000 per month and save less than ₹1,000, reflecting poor financial resilience. Geography assumes a central role in determining livelihood performance families close to water sources or market towns are better off economically and socially. Literacy levels are low because of poverty, migration, and infrastructure deficits in rural areas. The research points out that saving behavior, livelihood vulnerability, and education gaps are significantly determined by geographical components such as resource accessibility, market distances, and climate pressures. This study is important to know how spatial influences intersect with social and economic frameworks in poor rural communities. Jath tehsil is well known drought prone region in the Sangli District as well as in Maharashtra state. Dhangar community has shared maximum percentage in the community structure of the Jath tehsil. Most Dhangar families are shepherd families and they are mostly uneducated so their livelihood status is very low.