📄 Abstract
Industrialization is an important part of economic development because it creates employment, increases income and changes the occupational structure of local communities. However, industrial activities may also create social, health and environmental concerns for people living in and around industrial areas. The present study examines the socio-economic impact of the steel industry (Aarti Steel Plant, Ghantikhal, kataka) by comparing an industrial village (Ghantikhal) with a non-industrial village (Balarampur) . The study is based on primary data collected from 100 respondents, consisting of 50 respondents from an industrial village and 50 respondents from a non-industrial village. The social impact of industrialization is examined through four factors: education, occupation, health and perceived environmental conditions. Household income is considered as the main economic indicator. Frequencies and percentages are used for the analysis of social factors, while an independent-samples t-test assuming unequal variances is used to compare mean household income between the two groups. The findings show that plant-related employment is considerably higher in the industrial village, while agricultural labour is more common in the non-industrial village. The education pattern differs between the two villages but does not show a clear overall advantage for either group. Reported health problems are generally higher in the industrial village, particularly skin problems and joint pain. A very high proportion of respondents in the industrial village also perceive deterioration in air, water, agricultural land and overall environmental quality. The mean household income is higher in the industrial village, and the t-test indicates a statistically significant difference in income between the two villages. The study therefore highlights that industrialization is associated with economic opportunities as well as important social, health and environmental concerns.
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📚 How to Cite:
Ms. Gayatree Behera, Dr. Priyambada Pradhan, Nihar Ranjan Jena , INDUSTRIALIZATION AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL VILLAGES , Volume 13 , Issue 9, September 2026, EPRA International Journal of Socio-Economic and Environmental Outlook(SEEO) , Pages: 58 - 65 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra31672