Chapter 8: Rural livelihoods
These NCERT Class 6 Polity Chapter 8 notes explain how people in villages earn their living through agriculture, animal rearing, and non-farm activities. NCERT Class 6 Polity Chapter 8 – Rural Livelihoods helps students understand the dependence of rural life on monsoon, land, and seasonal work, and highlights the role of farmers and agricultural labourers.
This chapter links civics with the rural economy, showing how livelihood issues are connected with poverty, migration, and government support.
1. Meaning of livelihood
- Livelihood means how people earn money to live
- It includes all activities done to meet daily needs
- In rural areas, livelihood mainly depends on agriculture
- Animal rearing supports many village families
- Small occupations also provide supplementary income
- If farming stops, most villages face income loss
2. Agriculture: Main rural livelihood
- Agriculture is the primary occupation in villages
- Farming depends heavily on rainfall
- Soil quality affects crop production
- Irrigation facilities improve agricultural output
- Big farmers own large land and use machines
- Small and marginal farmers own small land and use family labour
3. Cropping seasons
- Kharif crops are sown in June–July
- Kharif crops are harvested in October
- Examples of Kharif crops are rice and maize
- Rabi crops are sown in October–November
- Rabi crops are harvested in March–April
- Examples of Rabi crops are wheat and gram
4. Agricultural labourers
- Agricultural labourers do not own land
- They work on other people’s fields
- They are paid in cash
- Sometimes they are paid in food grains
- They depend fully on farm employment
- They are the most vulnerable section in villages
5. Animal rearing
- Animal rearing is an important source of income
- Common animals include cows, buffaloes, and goats
- It supports families with regular earnings
- Products include milk
- Other products are ghee and wool
- It acts as a support to agriculture
6. Non-farm activities in villages
- Some villagers depend on non-farm activities
- Pottery provides income to artisan families
- Carpentry supports agricultural needs
- Weaving provides cloth and employment
- Fishing supports livelihood in riverine areas
- These activities support agriculture indirectly
7. Seasonal unemployment
- Farming is seasonal in nature
- During the off-season, work is not available
- People remain unemployed for months
- Income becomes uncertain
- Many villagers migrate to cities
- Migration is mainly for daily wage work
8. Problems faced by rural people
- Heavy dependence on the monsoon
- Widespread poverty
- Burden of debt on farmers
- Lack of irrigation facilities
- Overall low income levels
- These problems affect quality of life
9. Government support
- Government provides irrigation projects
- Crop insurance protects farmers from loss
- Loan facilities support farming activities
- Employment schemes provide rural jobs
- Support helps reduce rural distress
- These measures improve rural livelihoods
10. Important keywords
- Livelihood: Means by which people earn income to live
- Agriculture: Practice of farming crops and rearing animals
- Kharif crop: Crop grown in the monsoon season
- Rabi crop: Crop grown in the winter season
- Agricultural labourer: Person who works on others’ fields without owning land
- Non-farm activities: Rural occupations other than agriculture
11. Why this chapter is important
- Explains the rural economy
- Helps understand village life in India
- Directly linked with Indian economy
- Important for understanding rural development
- Useful for BPSC and State PCS foundation
- Builds base for economic awareness
Understanding NCERT Class 6 Polity Chapter 8 is essential for learning how rural people survive and how agriculture supports the Indian economy. The ideas discussed in Rural Livelihoods Class 6 prepare students to understand rural development, employment issues, and economic challenges in Indian polity.
Continue reading NCERT Class 6 Polity Chapter 9 – Urban Livelihoods to learn how people earn their living in cities and towns.
FAQs
Q1. What is rural livelihood?
It refers to the ways people earn income in villages.
Q2. Why is agriculture the main rural livelihood?
Because most villagers depend on farming for income and food.
Q3. Who are agricultural labourers?
People who work on others’ fields without owning land.
Q4. What are non-farm activities?
Rural occupations other than agriculture, like pottery and weaving.
Q5. Why do rural people migrate to cities?
Due to poverty, lack of jobs, and seasonal unemployment.