Traditional Livelihoods and Formal Employment: A Case Study of Well-Being in Ukhrul District, Manipur
Mangakhui Tuikhar, Prof. Aribam Devidas Sharma

First Author - Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Manipur University.
Second Author - Principal, Manipur College, Manipur.

Abstract

This paper is a conceptual paper to examine traditional livelihood systems, such as agro-forestry, handloom weaving, handicrafts and horticulture, alongside formal employment to determine how they affect subjective well-being (SWB) in Ukhrul District, Manipur. The standard framework for modern development prioritises formal, market-integrated employment to boost regional GDP- however formal employment remains generally limited in the district. Hence, this research examines whether traditional livelihood activities still remain essential in helping to bridge the unemployment gap in the district. The core argument of this paper is that the transition from traditional to formal employment may generate a form of ^misery cost of job search^ that standard economic metrics often fail to capture. Therefore, the study aims to examine the relative influence of traditional and formal employment on well-being. Significantly, the paper does not treat traditional livelihoods as an alternative to formal employment, but rather argues for the integration of both sectors within a single framework of development and employment planning. Furthermore, the paper seeks to complement traditional livelihood systems through formal recognition, adequate funding, and training programmes.

Keywords: Subjective Well-Being (SWB), Formal employment, Traditional Livelihoods, Tangkhul Naga, Ukhrul District, Northeast India.

Topic: Digital Power, Social Capital, and Inclusive Resilience: Interrogating Gender and Inequality in Technologically Mediated Societies (Digital Power- Social Capital- Inclusive Resilience)