1. Koshi, Bihar
4S India’s work in the Koshi region, covering Begusarai (Mathiani), Araria (Palashi), Katihar (Manshi), and Purnia focuses on some of the most flood-prone and development-deficit rural areas of Bihar. Chronic flooding and waterlogging severely affect agriculture and infrastructure, while weak local institutions, gender inequality, low literacy, and limited awareness of government schemes constrain socio-economic progress, leading to high male out-migration. Communities are largely marginal farmers, landless labourers, SCs, OBCs, and other vulnerable groups, with Araria and Katihar identified as Aspirational Districts due to poor human development indicators, low female literacy, and skewed sex ratios. In response, 4S India emphasizes institution building and climate-resilient livelihoods through strengthening FPCs and SHGs, promoting financial inclusion, improving market access, and investing in water management, nutrition-sensitive farming, and enterprise development, with a strong focus on addressing the compounded vulnerabilities faced by marginalized women.
2. Tirhut and Mithila, Bihar
The Tirhut–Mithila region of Bihar, covering Madhubani, Darbhanga, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, and Muzaffarpur, lies in the flood-prone Gangetic plains and is frequently affected by rivers such as the Kamla, Bagmati, and Gandak. Seasonal flooding, high poverty levels, and heavy dependence on mono-cropping agriculture (mainly paddy and wheat) have limited livelihood diversification and income security, while Sitamarhi’s status as a NITI Aayog Aspirational District highlights persistent gaps in health, education, agriculture, and financial inclusion. Communities are largely small and marginal farmers, landless labourers, and women from SC, OBC, and minority groups, with low literacy particularly among women and high seasonal male migration increasing women’s economic and caregiving responsibilities. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening community institutions, enhancing women’s participation in governance and markets, and improving access to finance, technology, and resilient livelihood opportunities to reduce vulnerability to economic and climate shocks.
3. South Bihar
South Bihar, covering Gaya, Jehanabad, and Nawada districts, represents one of the most socially and economically marginalized regions of the state, marked by entrenched poverty, social exclusion, and high levels of distress migration. The population in these areas is predominantly composed of Scheduled Castes especially Dalit and Mahadalit communities along with OBCs, small tribal populations, and a limited general category presence, with Mahadalit women facing the deepest forms of deprivation. Chronic poverty, low literacy, limited asset ownership, poor housing and basic services, and weak access to government schemes constrain livelihood opportunities, while cultural norms and gender barriers further restrict women’s participation in governance and decision-making. Recurrent livelihood insecurity, debt cycles, and inadequate health, nutrition, water, and energy access together reinforce vulnerability, making focused interventions for social inclusion, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods critical in this region.
4. Jharkhand
Jharkhand’s tribal belt, covering districts such as Pakur, Sahebganj, Seraikella, Ranchi, and Khunti, is among the most underdeveloped regions of eastern India, characterized by high poverty, weak infrastructure, fragile village institutions, and limited access to basic services. The population largely comprises tribal communities including Santhal, Munda, Ho, Oraon, Sauria Paharia, Mal Pahariya (a PVTG), and other vulnerable groups along with Scheduled Castes, with literacy levels significantly below the national average, especially among women. Livelihoods are primarily dependent on low-productivity subsistence agriculture and wage labour, compounded by weak irrigation, water scarcity, malnutrition, malaria, poor maternal and child health outcomes, and high seasonal migration that often leads to indebtedness and exploitation. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening grassroots institutions, empowering tribal women and youth, improving access to health, water, education, and livelihoods, and safeguarding indigenous knowledge and cultural identity to build long-term resilience.
5. Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh’s intervention areas span 15 districts across diverse agro-climatic zones, including sugarcane belts, and flood-prone river plains, yet rural communities across these areas face shared structural vulnerabilities. Livelihoods are largely agrarian and dominated by small and marginal farmers with fragmented landholdings, low irrigation coverage, limited adoption of modern technologies, and heavy dependence on erratic monsoons. Weak access to formal finance, reliance on informal credit, market exploitation, price volatility, and delayed payments particularly in cash crops like sugarcane constrain income security, while social inequalities continue to limit participation of Dalits, tribals, and women. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening collective institutions, improving access to finance and technology, and enabling better market linkages to enhance farm viability and resilience.
6. West Bengal
West Bengal’s intervention areas span North and South Bengal, covering districts such as Bankura, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Kolkata, and reflect a wide range of geographies from forest-fringe tribal regions and riverine farming belts to peri-urban poor settlements. Communities are largely small and marginal farmers, tribal households, landless labourers, and women from marginalized castes and minority groups, with agriculture as the primary livelihood but constrained by fragmented landholdings, poor irrigation, weak infrastructure, and limited access to quality inputs and finance. Climate variability, dependence on informal credit, market exploitation, and lack of storage and processing facilities further heighten vulnerability, while peri-urban households face irregular livelihoods and weak social protection. Strengthening collective institutions, improving access to finance and markets, and promoting climate-resilient practices remain central to enhancing income security and long-term resilience across the region.