Social and economic conditions at Tari

A social and economic survey was conducted in 1984 to assess the impact of development at Tari and to supplement the demographic data being collected by the Tari Research Unit. Of 1604 adults aged 17 years and over selected from the demographic database, 1389 were interviewed and information was collected on the remainder from informants. The survey reveals an uneven pattern of change, with men living close to the town most advantaged in terms of education, employment, diet and possessions, and women in remote areas the least advantaged. There was, however, some evidence that peripheral parts of Tari were catching up with those in the centre. Observations since 1984, and some data collected in 1998, suggest that law and order problems and the decline in government services have led to a stagnation in social progress at Tari. This is despite considerable expansion of the district economy due to payments and remittances from resource projects operating in and around Tari. Women's educational status has nonetheless improved to some extent. Better governance and the restoration of services are required if the socioeconomic status of Tari people is to improve.