· Semi-feudal
· Gender Insensitive.
· Low literacy
· Poor health and low health access
· Low information access to developmental programs
· Poor quality of life
· Poor infrastructure development
· Low grass roots accountability.
· Drought-prone.

Dryland Agriculture is still the single largest livelihoods resource base in the region. On a good year, it accounts for 180 working days at an average of Rs 40/day. The figure is less for women.
These are designated drought-prone taluks

The majority of people are landless labourers, marginal and small farmers drawing their livelihood from subsistence farming

Seasonal migration of 30% normally increases to 70% in times of rain failure/delay. This has increased to 90% in some of our villages because of the previous 3 consecutive droughts.

Rural household food security in the selected taluks is under stress from

· Decreasing biomass and bio-diversity
· Increasing rain delay/failure
· Decreasing soil fertility
· Decreasing crop productivity
· Usurious local interest rates of 36%-72%, compounded by
· Low access to cheap institutional credit.