S.R.S.D. Memorial Shiksha Shodh Sansthan, Agra, India UGC Sl. No. 64416 UTOPIA OF GLOBAL EDUCATION A Peer Reviewed Refereed International Research Journal ONLINE ISSN-2454-7387 Volume IV, Issue I, June 2018 www.srsshodhsansthan.org Where do Women Stand in Assam of North East India? Examining Socio- Economic Status of Tribal and Non-Tribal Women in Assamese Societies 1 2 3 Dr. Ira Das , Dr. Gargee Sharmah , Dr. Runima Baishya 1Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati, Assam, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of History, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati, Assam, India 3Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati, Assam, India Abstract A detailed examination of women’s status in a specific location is necessary to have adequate and correct information for effective planning and implementation of government policies. The paper intends to examine and compare the socio-economic status of tribal and non-tribal women of different communities in Assam of North East India. It is found from the study that the status of women in Assam is somewhat better in terms of fulfilling strategic gender needs like participation in decision making process, control over own body etc.. In tribal societies, women are even in better position in terms of participation in decision making process in the society. However, the socio-economic status of women of Assam in respect of fulfilling practical gender needs like women workforce participation, health status etc. is not at all better than the all India average. The paper concludes with the view that women should be aware of their rights and responsibilities to make a change in the society as well as for upliftment of the status of women in the society. Keywords: Status of women, strategic gender needs, practical gender needs, tribal and non- tribal women. Introduction Women constitute nearly half of the world population. But, one of the greatest challenges of 21st Century is that women are still not treated equally around the world. The socio-economic status of women is not equal vis-à-vis that of men in the society. The „Status of Women‟ can be defined as the position of women in society in relation to men in the same society, or among women in another society or sub-culture. „Women‟s status‟ is a multidimensional entity. The various components of status may move in different directions in a given time period. Status may be viewed in its relative context also. According to Ruth B. Dixon (in Strategies for Development in South Asia, 1978), the concept „women‟s status‟ should focus on “the degree of women's access to (and control over) material resources (including food, income, land, and other forms of wealth) and to social resources (including knowledge, power, and prestige) within the family, in the community, and in the society at large” [1]. Vol. IV, Issue I, June 2018 ONLINE ISSN-2454-7387 According to American Psychological Association, socioeconomic status is often measured as a combination of education, income and occupation. In reality, there exists inequality in women‟s access to education, health care, physical and financial resources and opportunities in the political, economic, social and cultural field. Women need to fulfill both „Practical Gender Needs‟ (e.g provision of water, healthcare, employment etc.) and „Strategic Gender Needs‟ (e.g power and control, protection from domestic violence, equal wage, and control over own body etc.) to have equal status with men [2]. The decision on what to cook, about their own healthcare, and staying with their parents, the extent of mobility and women‟s ability to make these choices to go to the market or visit friends/relatives without seeking permission are also important. The Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of Indian Constitution bear faithful application of the principle of non-discrimination so that women are entitled to the same rights as men as citizens of India. Yet, women are not treated equal to men. There are various studies conducted about status of women all over the world. One of the studies was carried out by Sunita Kishor and Kamla Gupta for all the states of India which found that average women in India were absolutely disempowered relative to men, and there had been little change in her empowerment over time [3]. Assam is one of the major states of North East India. It is perceived that status of women in North East India is better than all India average. However, according to Assam Human Development Report, 2003, there exists vast inequality in the achievements between men and women of Assam in different spheres of life. The type and intensity of the inequality varied over geographical locations. Therefore, location specific individual policy is required to achieve gender development and gender equality within particular borders. Thus, a detailed examination of women‟s status for specific location is necessary to have the right information for effective planning and implementation of government policies. Assam is land of many cultures, tribes and religions. Therefore, the culture of Assam is a composite and complex phenomenon that includes the cultures of the various tribes that make Assam their home. The different tribes residing in Assam are Bodo Kachari, Mising (Miri), Deori, Rabha, Tiwa or Lanlung, Khamti, Sonowal Kachari, Tai Phake or Phakial, Dimasa Kachari, Karbi, Barmans, Hmar, Kuki, Rengma Naga, Zeme Nagas, Hajong, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and Mech [4]. It is impossible to understand the status of women in Assam as a whole without understanding the status of women among the varied communities. Therefore, the study intends to examine the socio-economic status of women of different communities in Assam. 1. Objectives of the Study (i) To compare the socio-economic status of women in Assam with that of all India average. Where do Women Stand in …. 2 | P a g e Vol. IV, Issue I, June 2018 ONLINE ISSN-2454-7387 (ii) To examine and compare the socio-economic status of selected tribal and non-tribal women of Assam. Here, tribal women comprise of mainly Tiwa and Hmar Community women and non-tribal women comprise of mainly General Community women. 2. Study Area and Community A field study was conducted in Guwahati City (for the General Community women), Sonapur, on the outskirt of Guwahati (for the Tiwa Community women) and Haflong, North Cachar Hill District (for the Hmar Community women) on the basis of a questionnaire. The survey was conducted among the General community non-tribal women that are living in Guwahati City. Information and data on tribal women were collected mainly from Tiwa1 and Hmar2 community women. 3. Data Source and Methodology Both primary and secondary data are used in the study. Primary data are collected from the field study conducted at Guwahati, Sonapur, and North Cachar Hills. Total of 206 samples are collected out of which 110 are for general non-tribal women and 96 are for tribal women. Secondary data are collected from the Census Reports, National Sample Survey Organisation Reports, National Family Health Survey Reports, Sample Registration System bulletins, etc. A questionnaire was prepared and the sample survey was conducted during December, 2014 to June, 2015. The study tries to achieve the objectives by using different socio-economic parameters. The socio-economic status of women of Assam is compared with that of all India average by using ten parameters viz like literacy rate, female workforce participation rate, gross enrollment ratio, sex ratio, mean age at marriage, percentage of pregnant who are anemic, infant mortality rate, participation of women in household decisions, women who are allowed to go to market, access to health facility and establish contact outside the community and women who can use bank account themselves. The second objective is tried to achieve by examining and comparing the literacy rate, occupation level, ownership of the house, participation in different household decision making, experience of violence, etc. To collect data Random Sampling method was used. Simple mathematical and statistical calculations are used for analysis of data with the help of SPSS. Although quantitative method is used to achieve the objectives, qualitative method like oral history method was also attempted for use in the study. 4. Comparison of the Socio-Economic Status of Women in Assam with that of all India Average The socio-economic condition of women in Assam is compared with that of all India average in Table 1. It is revealed from the table that from among the ten selected indicators, Assam performed better than all India average only in four indicators viz. literacy rate, sex ratio, mean age at marriage and participation in household decision. However, performance of Assam Where do Women Stand in …. 3 | P a g e Vol. IV, Issue I, June 2018 ONLINE ISSN-2454-7387 is behind in respect of other six important indicators viz. female workforce participation rate; gross enrollment ratio; percentage of pregnant anemic women; infant mortality rate; women who are allowed to go alone to the market, access health facility and establish contact outside the community; and women who can use own bank account themselves. Therefore it can be inferred that the socio-economic condition of women in Assam is not better than that of all India average. Table 1. Comparison of the Status of Women in Assam and India Sl. No. Parameters (%) Assam India 1 Literacy Rate 67.27 65.46 2 Female Workforce Participation Rate 20.8 35.6 3 Gross