Assessing Livability Through Livelihood Indicators in Peri Urban Area

Peri-urban areas are often characterized by a mix of rural and urban livelihoods, where residents earn a living to make ends meet by engaging in multiple occupations. Urbanization and land-use patterns transformation offer diverse livelihood options to the residents, bringing in new opportunities for a sustainable livelihood. This research aims to investigate the impact of peri-urbanization on livelihood status of households and overall livability and quality of life in Pratapsasan, a peri-urban area near Bhubaneswar, India which is traditionally known for its Bell Metal Industry, but now facing the challenges of preserving its heritage. Besides Bell Metal, the other livelihood options the residents are engaged in farming, small industries, and informal activities. Drawing insights from the DFID's Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), the study evaluates 32 livelihood indicators across five livelihood capitals: human, physical, financial, asset ownership, and social. The findings show that the households adopt a mix of livelihood strategies rather than depending on a single occupation. The resulting Livability Index ranges from 0.064 to 0.069, indicating a moderate to high level of livability. Informal workers attain the highest index scores compared to farmers and bell metal artisans, largely due to greater diversification in occupational activities and enhanced income security. This highlights that livelihood diversification plays a crucial role in enhancing household resilience and is also a key determinant of overall livability. Thus, peri-urbanization has brought a positive impact to the overall livability of Pratapsasan by providing adaptive livelihood strategies, access to basic services, and opportunities for economic growth.