A Sociological Study on Scheduled Tribes Livelihood Outcomes of the Ganga Kalyana Irrigation Scheme in Chitradurga District, Karnataka (Author: Shivakumara S B & Dr. Sunitha V Ganiger)

Abstract
The Ganga Kalyana Scheme initiated in 1996–97 provides fully subsidized borewells, pump-sets and electrification to small and marginal Scheduled Tribe farmers under Karnataka’s Tribal Sub-Plan (Government of Karnataka) In Chitradurga District empirical studies report 25 percent increase in crop yields and 15–20 percent rise in household incomes among anga Kalyana Scheme beneficiaries (Santhosh Kumar H & Aswini 2020) These agrarian gains have fostered crop diversification toward higher-value horticulture and reduced seasonal out-migration by roughly 30 percent (Nizamuddin 2014) MPRA operational analysis (MPRA 2023) this paper examines how irrigation access under Ganga Kalyana Scheme has reshaped tribal livelihoods, social capital and gender dynamics. Key challenges uneven pump-set distribution, high electrification costs and inadequate maintenance support underscore the need for community based management funds, local technical training hubs and real-time feedback mechanisms. Policy recommendations focus on institutionalizing participatory governance and sustainable funding to consolidate and extend Ganga Kalyana Scheme socio-economic gains.