Socio-economic status of Ponywallas associated with Shri-Amarnath Yatra and ecotourism in Kashmir valley

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the socio-economic status of ponywallas associated with Shri-Amarnath Yatra and ecotourism in the regions of Pahalgam and Sonamargh of Kashmir valley. Majority of ponywallas in the Pahalgam (79.17%) and Sonamargh region (78.75%) were illiterate and the majority of the families from Pahalgam (63.33%) and Sonamargh (63.75%) were medium sized with 5-8 members. Followed by large families with > 8 members 34.17% in Pahalgam and 36.25% in Sonamargh, respectively. Most of them were associated with recreational usage of ponies belonging to age group of 40-55 years with 64.17% in Pahalgam and 63.75% in Sonamargh, respectively followed by 18-40 years age group with 24.17% in Pahalgam and 21.25% in Sonamargh, respectively. All ponywallas were having marginal land holdings. Majority of the respondents were using ponies for recreation services with 71.67% in Pahalgam and 57.75% in Sonamargh area as their primary occupation followed by other services (20%) and livestock rearing (8.33%) in Pahalgam and in Sonamargh livestock rearing was 27.5% and other services 8.33% as primary occupation. Majority of ponywallas in Pahalgam (74.16%) and in Sonamargh (65%) were in the income group of 11,000-20,000/month. About 26.25% from Sonamargh significantly more than Pahalgam region (11.67%) were falling in the income group with monthly income below 10,000. Thus it was concluded that the ponywallas in both the regions were illiterate with a very low land-holding and reared equines to sustain their livelihood but the rearing methods were mostly unscientific so they require attention from concerned authorities.