Livelihood Risk, Security, and Resilience: Understanding Wellbeing among Indigenous Households in India

Wellbeing is widely recognised as a multidimensional concept. Yet the mechanisms through which economic resources translate into wellbeing among indigenous households remain underexplored. It is also unclear why households with similar resource endowments experience markedly different wellbeing outcomes. Drawing on Sen's Capability Approach and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, this study examines whether livelihood risk explains this resource-to-wellbeing process and whether household security shapes its effectiveness. The study used a mixed-methods design, drawing on survey data from 623 indigenous households in Jamtara, Jharkhand, complemented by focus group discussions and transect walks. The survey was conducted over approximately five months, from July to December 2022. The study used confirmatory factor analysis and moderated mediation analysis to test the proposed relationships. The study’s novelty lies in moving beyond viewing income as a direct determinant of wellbeing by conceptualising wellbeing as a resource-to-wellbeing conversion process. By integrating livelihood risk and household security within a moderated mediation framework, the study extends the Capability Approach and Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. It provides actionable insights for government agencies, local authorities, and community institutions. The findings indicate an urgent need for coordinated policy action to reduce livelihood risks, strengthen household security, and improve indigenous households’ ability to convert economic resources into sustainable wellbeing.