Ensuring equitable access to welfare benefits among indigenous populations remains a critical challenge in achieving inclusive and sustainable development, particularly in geographically isolated and socioeconomically disadvantaged regions. Despite sustained governmental investments in tribal welfare programmes, empirical evidence concerning beneficiary perceptions and determinants of satisfaction remains limited. Addressing this research gap, the present study investigates the satisfaction levels of Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries towards government welfare initiatives in Valparai Taluk, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, and examines the extent to which selected socio-economic characteristics influence satisfaction outcomes. The study adopts a cross-sectional quantitative research design based on primary data collected from 100 tribal beneficiaries through a pre-tested structured interview schedule, supplemented by secondary information obtained from scholarly literature, government reports, and official databases. Descriptive statistical techniques were employed to delineate respondents' socio-economic profiles and satisfaction patterns, while the Chi-square test of independence was utilized to ascertain statistically significant associations between socio-economic variables and satisfaction levels.The findings reveal that beneficiary satisfaction is predominantly moderate, suggesting a partial realization of welfare objectives among tribal households. Statistical analysis demonstrates significant associations between satisfaction and age (χ² = 97.293, p < 0.001), educational attainment (χ² = 29.074, p < 0.001), and occupational status (χ² = 21.213, p < 0.001), indicating that younger, relatively educated, and government-employed respondents exhibit comparatively higher levels of satisfaction. In contrast, elderly, illiterate, and agriculturally dependent beneficiaries report lower satisfaction, reflecting persistent inequalities in access, awareness, and utilization of welfare services. Gender, however, does not exert a statistically significant influence on satisfaction (p = 0.367).The study contributes to the limited empirical discourse on tribal welfare assessment by demonstrating that socio-economic vulnerabilities substantially shape perceptions of programme effectiveness. The findings underscore the necessity for context-sensitive policy interventions, strengthened lastmile service delivery mechanisms, targeted awareness campaigns, and livelihood diversification strategies to enhance the inclusiveness, responsiveness, and developmental impact of welfare initiatives among tribal communities residing in ecologically fragile and geographically remote regions.
Mrs.M.Kesavy et al. (Thu,) studied this question.