An Evaluation of Womens' Empowerment Programmes
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AN EVALUATION OF WOMENS’ EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES IN RAJASTHAN A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FACULTY OF COMMERCE AND MANAGEMENT) SUPPORTED BY INDIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH (ICSSR) NEW DELHI, INDIA UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SUBMITTED BY DR. R. A. GUPTA CHANDAN MEDATWAL UNIVERSITY OF KOTA, KOTA (RAJASTHAN) DECEMBER 2014 To my loving parents ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to all those who gave me their valuable blessings, guidance and unflinching co-operation and motivated me to complete my research work. First and foremost, I thank MAA SARASWATI for showering blessings on me. I pay my obeisance to them with bowed head. I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt sentiments of gratitude, with a sense of immense pride and pleasure, to my respected guide and true mentor, Dr. R. A. Gupta, Vice Principal, Government Post Graduate College, Dausa, Rajasthan. He has steered the work through all stages. It is indeed a proud privilege of having the opportunity of working under such a scholarly, delightful and pleasant personality whose active guidance, deep critical insight, innovative ideas, constant inspiration, untiring efforts, help, encouragement and continuous supervision have made this research endeavour a grand success. I would like to express my appreciation for the time, co-operation and effort put in by respected scholarly mentor Professor N.K. Jaiman, Director (Research), University of Kota, Kota and Professor S.C. Rajora, former Director (Research) for co-operation, inspiration and providing guidance to me. I would also like to thank to all the staff members from University of Kota, Government Commerce PG College, Kota, Janki Devi Bajaj Government Girls PG College Kota, officers from Department of women and child development (WCD) Rajasthan and my alma mater- Banasthali University’s faculties for their co- operation and guidance during my research. I am very grateful to my family, in particular my parents, for their help, support and utter belief on me throughout this work, i.e., my father, Mr. Tribhuvan Medatwal, my mother, Mrs. Madhu Bala, and my sisters, Dr. Vasudha and Himani. Their sacrifices and blessings always motivated me and led me forward through my difficult moments. Their unshakeable faith rejuvenated a wrecked ship and showed the right path to a lost wanderer. iii I have no appropriate words to express my warm thanks to my friends and family members who helped me in collection of data and always cherished me in completion of research. Their constant encouragement gave me the strength to complete my research successfully. And, last but not least, my head bows down in front of my grandparents (in heaven) and the almighty, who made this possible. I thank the Indian council for Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, India, for doctoral research fellowship grant (no. RFD/2013-14 (F) / GEN/ MGT/ 58) under which the research is carried out. Chandan Medatwal iv PREFACE The present study deals with ‘An Evaluation of Womens’ Empowerment Programmes in Rajasthan’ contain the results of research undertaken at the Government Commerce Post Graduate College, Kota (Affiliated to University of Kota). This research is aimed at exploring the evaluation and the extent of implementation of womens’ empowerment programmes (WEP) in Hadoti region of Rajasthan. Research helps analyse scenario of womens empowerment with respect to womens’ economic, psychological and social empowerment. Various initiatives in terms of WEP of Government of India (GOI) and Government of Rajasthan (GOR) meeting up issues related to overall upliftment of womens especially living in rural areas. Schemes implementation and the gap between implementation and effect have prompted this study to evaluate the selected programmes running in all four districts of Hadoti region in south eastern Rajasthan. The efficiency and effectiveness of selected programmes for research viz., Integrated Child development Scheme (ICDS), women self help groups (WSHG), Swavalamban (NORAD) scheme, Kaleva and protection schemes were evaluated with the help of identified variables and then conclusions have been drawn through findings. These reflect the true picture of the actual workings of the WEP with respect to beneficiaries’ perceptions. The WEPs selected for the evaluation, were only Government run schemes. Out of selected five schemes, two schemes viz., WSHG and Swavalamban came up in action with the help of non government organisations (NGOs) in training and facilitation aspects. Qualitative and quantitative analysis has been conducted to arrive at conclusions to understand the actual implementation of selected WEPs on various parameters. Moreover, the WEPs are governed by the department of women and child development (WCD). In essence, there is no profit motive but the welfare and development aspects only. This could be said as the ‘whole concept’ which has welfare motive for nation and its citizens, especially women. From the historical era to 21st century, the women segment is inferior in many aspects, be it education, employment or empowerment. The increase of women v participation in economic and socio-political environment not only soothes the nation’s status but also gratifies status of women. Therefore, the focus of GOI is on how to uplift their conditions enforcing WEPs, are in action. This research is not just pertains to focus on increased number of beneficiaries through WEPs but accomplished an effort to economic, social, psychological gratification for women trough analysing perceptions on selected indicators. The research is based on primary data (1200 beneficiaries’), covers a period from the year 2010-11 to 2013-14. The research starts with preliminary stage in which theory is formulated and followed by random selection cases and designing of questionnaire. The next step was field work and analysis stage, wherein data were analysed and case writing was done. The present study consists of eight chapters which are not just a compilation of literature but justifiably put in the analysis in each chapter throughout the research with rhetoric presentation. The First chapter namely, ‘Introduction’ covers introduction to womens’ empowerment, nature, significance, scope, review of literature and conceptual and empirical framework for the study. The second chapter covers ‘women empowerment programmes’ (WEP) in India and Rajasthan and put lights upon selected WEP namely, ICDS, WSHGs, Swavalamban scheme, Kaleva and protection schemes for this research. The third chapter covers ‘Research Methodology’ for this study. Chapter four pertains to the ‘Profile and status of women in India and Rajasthan’. Chapter five namely, ‘Women empowerment Programmes- issues, development and approaches’ covers observations, legal scenario and cases. Sixth chapter deals with ‘Analysis and Interpretation of data-I’ which analyses the demographic profile of respondents and perception towards women empowerment. The seventh chapter contain the ‘Analysis and Interpretation of data-II’ evaluates each selected WEP in Hadoti region on the basis of identified variables. The Seventh and the last Chapter covers summary, major findings, conclusion, contribution to the field of research and originality, practical implications of the study and recommendations, suggestions, limitations and future research endeavours. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Certificate from supervisor Certificate from institution Declarations i Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii Preface v Foreword vii Table of Contents viii List of Abbreviations xvi List of Tables xix List of Figures xxiii List of Exhibits xxv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT 1 1.2 NATURE OF STUDY 4 1.2.1 Significance of the study 5 1.2.2 Scope of the Study 7 1.3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 7 1.3.1 Conceptual framework for Research 8 1.3.1.1 Power, Empowerment and Womens’ Empowerment 9 1.3.1.2 Participation of Women embodied in the Process of 11 Empowerment 1.3.1.3 Womens’ empowerment programmes and Economic 12 Empowerment 1.3.1.4 Gender equity, equality and inequality 14 1.3.2 Empirical Framework for Research 15 1.3.2.1 Impact of Participation of women in Womens’ Empowerment 15 Programmes 1.3.2.2 SHGs and Microfinance 17 1.3.2.3 Evaluation and analysis of WEPs 18 1.3.2.4 Constraints experienced by rural women in Empowerment 21 process 1.4 CONCEPTUAL AND EMPIRICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY 22 CHAPTER TWO: WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES (WEPs) 24 2.1 A BIRDS EYE VIEW - WEP IN INDIA AND RAJASTHAN - Exhibits 25 2.1.1 Departments for Women Empowerment 40 2.2 WEPs SELECTED FOR RESEARCH- A brief discussion 40 2.2.1 Reasons of selecting five specific WEP for research 40 2.2.2 Integrated child development scheme (ICDS) 40 2.2.2.1 Honorarium to AWW and AWH 41 2.2.2.2 Anganwadi Kalyan Kosh (AKK) 42 viii 2.2.2.3 Sathin 42 2.2.3 Women self help groups (WSHGs) 42 2.2.3.1 Women SHGs Institute and regional Rural Centres (RRCs) 44 2.2.3.2 SHG in News 44 2.2.3.3 Priyadarshini Adarsh SHG Scheme 44 2.2.3.4 50% Interest Subvention Scheme on Bank loans to SHGs (ISS- 45 BLS) 2.2.3.5 Models of Bank Linkage 45 2.2.3.6 SHGs to be the change agents 46 2.2.3.7 Special focus on tribe 46 2.2.4 SWAVALAMBAN Scheme 46 2.2.5 KALEVA scheme 48 2.2.6 Protection Schemes 48 2.2.6.1 Zila Mahila Sahayta Samiti (ZMSS) 49 2.2.6.2 Mahila Surksha Evam Salah Kendra (MSSK) 49 2.2.6.3 Implementation of Protection of Women from Domestic 49 Violence Act, 2005 2.2.6.4 Creating Safe and Secure Environment for Women 49 2.2.6.5 Fast Track Courts (FTCs) 50 2.3 TOOLS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT 51 2.3.1 Prioritising Gender & Gender Responsive Budgeting 51 2.3.2 Contribution of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) 52 2.3.2.1 Akshaya Patra empowering rural women 52 2.3.2.2 PRADAN 53 2.3.2.3 ARISE 53 2.3.3 Microfinance and Microcredit 53 CHAPTER THREE : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 54 3.1 RESEARCH GAP 54 3.2 NEED OF THE STUDY 55 3.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 55 3.4 FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESES 56 3.4.1.