Role of Civil Society Organizations in Reinforcing Rural–Urban Linkages in North-Eastern India

摘要

Against a backdrop of economic restructuring and declining role of the state in infrastructural development and social protection, this paper seeks to address the growing significance of rural-urban linkages in the economy. In retrospect to the concept of rural-urban linkages avant la lettre, this paper depicts the need for promoting such linkages through enhanced integration among the civil society organizations and state actors. Hence, it seeks to assess the role of civil society organizations in maintaining and reinforcing rural-urban linkages in North-East India. Such institutional support serves as a vital strategy for regional development at macro level and rural livelihood at micro level. The thematic findings emphasize the direct and indirect contributions of these organizations towards linkages in the region. It highlights the mutual dependency among rural and urban areas, necessity of institutional support in the transforming labour market and the nature of complementary development among rural and urban market.