5. Geostatistical Insights of Quality of Life Amongst Marginalised Communities in the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) Region, Odisha, India

Quality of Life (QoL) pertains to an individual’s state of well-being concerning the fundamental opportunities available to them. On the contrary, basic amenities are key to understanding QoL. The present study attempts to investigate the status of basic amenities as well as to compare the disparity in access to basic amenities between rural households of the KBK Region of Odisha and the state as a whole on the one hand and their spatial distribution (across districts) on the other. The study also contrasts the evaluation of parameters and determinants in the formulation of the Quality-of-Life Index and displays the degrees of availability and variability of necessary amenities and service infrastructure, amongst other things. Different statistical analyses are conducted using data from the 2001 and 2011 censuses, and all statistical and cartographic operations are carried out using SPSS-17 and Arc GIS-10.5 software, respectively. Variability of basic amenities as well as differentiation of QoL induce diverse regional disparities in the study area. Therefore, efforts should be made by the policymakers to address the target-specific needs of the marginalised (tribal dominated) deprived districts to uplift their QoL and promote socio-economic development in these areas. On the other extreme, massive awareness generation campaigns should be organised with the help of PRIs, NGOs, and CBOs.