Paper short abstract:

In a world of unsustainable ways of life, sustainable livelihood and human security and development becomes a serious concern of modern society. The present paper attempts to develop appropriate parameters and identify concrete indicators to understand and assess the levels of livelihood, based on the ground-level realities, using the BCOPS levels of livelihood within a sustainable development framework.

Paper long abstract:

With an unending thirst for consumerism, unsustainable ways of life are becoming the hallmark of the modern society world over, seriously challenging the very existence of humanity. Though sustainability concern had been raised long before, the humanity is yet to rise to the occasion and make an emphatic response to save itself from the holocaust. There have been several efforts to develop appropriate indicators to understand the extent of human development across nations and states. However, it is also important that we develop appropriate indicators to understand the levels of human livelihoods which are inherently tied to the levels of human development, particularly in the context of increasing concerns about building up sustainable livelihoods for continued human security and development. The present paper which is based on a micro-level study carried out in a Kerala village, India, is an attempt to develop appropriate parameters and identify concrete indicators to understand and assess the levels of livelihood, as reflected in the ground-level realities, using the BCOPS levels of livelihood within a sustainable development framework.