Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
Role of women on socio-economic conditions of
Namasudra community, Bagdah block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
Arindam Shakhari1 & Dr. Omveer Singh2 1M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Geography, Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
Abstract: Women are an important and integral abilities and qualities as a man does have and it is part of every society. The modern society has also agreed that she should have the opportunities started recognizing the individual identity of to develop her facilities and express them women. Women who were the most dormant according to her own choice. Women can help the segment of Indian population have now become society in various ways. They can engage in social active participants in all fields of life. Now women activities and work for the betterment of the are becoming not only a significant unit of the society. The women are now an important society but also influencing the course of social instrument of social changes. The term changes in society. The Namasudra community of ‘Development’ denotes both the process of Bagdah block is traditionally occupational improvement and progress of a community region Scheduled caste community. This paper focuses on or a whole state. The development of any society is the role of women on socio-economic conditions of highly depending on the development of women of Namasudra community of Bagdah block and tries the society. Women development is associated with to reveal some fundamental aspects of women of women literacy rate, sex ratio, women income and Namasudra community. The Bagdah block is social security of women. The Bagdah block is located in North 24 Parganas district of West situated in the southern part of West Bengal and Bengal, near about 80 kilometers from Kolkata. eastern part of India. In Bagdah block 54.13 per The block is a part of Gangetic delta, lying east of cent people are scheduled caste. Among them Hoogly River. A large number of people belong to 48.13 per cent people are Namasudra. In this block Namasudra community in Bagdah block. female percentage is 48.17%, which is Traditionally, an Indian woman has four- fold comparatively poor. The Namasudra are known as status like daughter, wife, housewife (Homemaker) Chandala or Chandal, who mostly inhabited in the and mother. Women play a very important role to district of East Bengal (Bangladesh), were forced develop any society. Status of women is an to migrate to West Bengal during the partition of important indicator to measure the development India in 1947. The Namasudra people are mainly level of any community. The socio-economic engaged in different primary activities like development of Namasudra community is agriculture, fishery, and poultry. Traditionally characterized by women literacy, women Namasudra women are engaged in cooking and participation rate in job, women dependency ratio, fostering children at home. The maximum sex ratio, medical facilities and social security of Namasudra women are normally homemaker. The women. The socio-economic conditions of socio-economic condition is a framework for Namasudra community are greatly influenced by studying the structure of a community. It focused the role of Namasudra women. and identifies the different characteristics of a society. Women of Namasudra society is an Keywords: Women, Namasudra community, Socio- important element and role maker for the economic conditions, Bagdah block. development of community. The women status of Namasudra community is very poor due to low literacy rate of women, low sex ratio, poor medical 1. Introduction: facilities of women, women social security, poor Women are an important element of our society. In participation of women in job and their India, women have traditionally been suppressed participation in social work. It generally happens and particularly women who belong to the that the poor status of women indicate, the poor economically and socially weaker section of the socio-economic condition of any community. The society, has been repressed. But modern society has socio- economic condition of Namasudra started recognizing the individual identity of community is very pathetic due to such poor women. She is believed to have her aspiration,
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in conditions of Namasudra women. According to latitude and 88053/E longitude. Total area of the Jawaharlal Neheru - “To awake people, it is the Bagdah block is 233.05 sq. kilometers. Bagdah woman who must be awakened, once she is on the block is part of Gangetic delta, lying east of nation moves.” The socio- economic development Hoogly River. This block is flat. It is a little raised of a country can't be fully realized so long as its above flood level. Land in the north east of the women are confined to subordinate position and block is higher than the rest of the place of Bagdah their talents remain unexplored. Socio-economic block. Bagdah block is consist of nine inhabited backwardness is an important feature of Gram Panchayat (Asharu, Helencha, Malipota, Namasudra community of Bagdah block due to the Bagdah, Kaniara-I, Ranghat, Bayra, Kaniara-II and poor condition of Namasudra women. Sindrani). This block is under the tropical monsoon climatic region. The Bagdah block is situated in the 2. Description of Study Area: northern part of North 24 Parganas district of West The study area, Bagdah block is situated in North Bengal. The main sources of livelihood of people 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, near about 80 of Bagdah block are based on primary activities i.e. kilometers from Kolkata. The eastern and northern agriculture, fishery and poultry. Main crops in this side of this block is bounded by the international block are rice (Aus, Aman and Boro varieties), India-Bangladesh boundary. Bagdah block is wheat, potatoes, sugarcane, jute, chilies, oil seeds, located in North 24 Parganas district in 23013/ N cucumbers, brinjals and bananas etc.
Fig.-1: Location map of Study Area
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
3. Significant of the study: in Bagdah block. Namasudras are regarded as the Roles of women are very important to measure the backward section of our society. They suffer from socio-economic development of any community or social disabilities and economic backwardness. any society. The socio-economic problems of This study’s main aim is to bring out the history of Namasudra community are characterized by lack of social, economic and cultural condition of awareness, poor rate of women literacy, low Namasudra community of this block. This study is women participation in work, poor medical also tries to find out main causes of pathetic facilities of women, low income of women, poor condition of Namasudra women in Bagdah block. participation in social work and politics. The status of Namasudra women is very pathetic due to such 6. Methodology: reasons. The study will focus to analysis about the The study is primarily based on primary data, pathetic condition of Namasudra women. This however secondary data also needed wherever study also tries to develop the women-education necessary. The present study is outcome of the and literacy rate, medical and health facility, fieldwork, done by Namasudra people in Bagdah Participation in work, income of Namasudra block. As far as present study is concerned data women of Bagdah block. Moreover, in view of the have been collected by intensive ethnographic study, some suggestions would be prescribed for study of nine Gram Panchayats of this block. The the solution of the problem associated with the data primarily based on field data collected from poor condition of Namasudra women of Bagdah the 500 sample Namasudra households of Bagdah block. block. Data have been collected by the researcher through questionnaire by personal interview with 4. Objectives of the study: relevant respondents. Secondary data has been In the light of the aforesaid ideas, the specific collected from Bagdah block development office; objectives of the present study are- District statistical handbook, North 24 Parganas; i. To understand the present social condition Census of India (2011) and District human (Education and literacy rate, medical facilities and development report (2011). In post field stage, after housing) of Namasudra women in Bagdah block. the collection of primary data from the study area, ii. To study economic condition (Occupational various cartographic and statistical techniques were structure, level of income and land holding pattern) applied to identify the factors associated with of Namasudra women in this block. women and socio-economic condition of iii. To assess the position of women in Namasudra Namasudra community in Bagdah block. community. iv. To find out Gram Panchayat wise women status 7. Result and discussion: of Bagdah block. v. To understand the importance of women on 7. 1. Educational status of Namasudra women: socio-economic status of Namasudra community. Education is an important social resource as well vi. To suggest suitable measures for improving the as basic need for human being and a means of economic condition of Namasudra women of reducing inequality in society. Education is one of Bagdah block. the most important indicators for socio-economic development. Education certainly holds key 5. Scope of the study: improve social status and determines aspirator, The present study throws light on the technology, productivity, vertical and horizontal backwardness of the Namasudra community, the mobility. The details of educational condition of status and position of Namasudra women in society Namasudra women are presented in table-1 and fig.-2. Table-1: Educational level of Namasudra women in Bagdah block Male Female Total Literacy level Number % Number % Number % Illiterate 235 19.63 335 30.13 570 24.69 Literate 962 80.37 777 69.87 1739 75.31 0-6 years 224 15.76 202 15.37 426 15.58 Primary 443 37 383 34.44 826 35.77 Matriculation 233 19.47 204 18.35 437 18.93 Higher Secondary 197 16.46 142 12.77 339 14.68 Graduate and above 89 7.43 48 4.31 137 5.93 Grand Total 1421 100 1314 100 2735 100 Source: Computed field data, 2016 (Note: While calculating educational level and literacy, 0-6 year age group of population is excluded)
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
90 80 70 60
50 Index 40 Literate 30 Illiterate
percentage populationof 20 10 0 Male Female
Fig.-2: Educational status of Namasudra women of Bagdah block
It is noted from table-1 and fig.-2 that out of 2735 education determined the level of occupation and persons as much as 75.31 per cent are literate. level of income. Low level of educational facilities According to primary survey, 80.37 per cent male and lack of women awareness are main obstacles to and 69.87 per cent female are literate in Bagdah develop literacy. Socio-economic conditions of block. Regarding the educational level among the Namasudra community influenced by the pathetic Namasudra women are concerned only 34.44 per educational condition of Namasudra women in cent belong to primary levels, 18.35 per cent Bagdah block. madhyamik or matriculation levels, 12.77 per cent higher secondary levels (10+2), and only 4.31 per 7. 2. Sex ratio of Namasudra community: cent graduate and above. The female literacy rate The sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a of Namasudra women is comparatively poor than population. Sex ratio is the ratio is used to describe men. The literacy rate of Namasudra women is the number of females per 1000 males. Sex ratio lower than district level. Education and literacy are indicates the development rates of any society. The the key inputs for the development individual sex ratio is represented in the table-2 and fig.-3. family as well as the entire society. Level of
Table-2: Gram Panchayat wise sex ratio of Namasudras in Bagdah block Name of the Gram No. of Male % Female % Total Panchayat Households Asharu 56 161 52.10 148 47.90 309 Helencha 72 201 51.80 187 48.20 388 Malipota 42 123 50.83 119 49.17 242 Bagdah 52 148 53.05 131 46.95 279 Kaniara-I 68 190 51.49 179 48.51 369 Ranghat 50 153 52.76 137 47.24 290 Bayra 52 161 52.10 148 47.90 309 Kaniara-II 60 175 54.35 147 45.65 322 Sindrani 48 109 48.02 118 51.98 227 Grand Total 500 1421 51.83 1314 48.17 2735 Source: Computed field data, 2016
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
56
54
52
50
48
46 Index Male 44
Percentagepopulationof Female 42
40
Fig.-3: Sex ratio of different Gram Panchayat of Namasudra community in Bagdah block
The analysis of data (Table-2 & fig.-3) reveals that development rate of Namasudra community of out of 500 families of nine Gram Panchayats from Bagdah block. Bagdah block 1421 persons are male and 1314 persons are female. Total population of the study 7. 3. Marital status of Namasudra women: area is 2735. Among the total population 51.83 per Marriage can be considered as a foundation stone cent are male and 48.17 per cent are female. The of the family which is known as the basic social sex ratio is 1000:925 in the surveyed area. unit of the civilized society. Distribution of Improvement of sex ratio indicates a healthy Namasudra population in relation to age, education growth rate of a society. The women percentage of and marital status is shown in the table-3. surveyed area is low (48.17 per cent), which is indicating the poor status of women and poor
Table-3: Marital status by age, sex of Namasudra women in Bagdah block Age group (Years) Unmarried Married Widow Divorced Total 10-14 451 - - - 451 15-29 26 356 - 1 383 30-44 2 260 1 2 265 45-59 1 112 3 1 117 Above 60 - 88 7 3 98 Grand Total 478 818 11 7 1314 Source: Computed field data, 2016
It reveals from the table-3 that all females below Namasudra community due to early marriage. 14 years age are unmarried. But maximum Maximum family think girl as a burden. As a result numbers of women have got married when they child marriage grows day by day in this society. were in the age group 15-29 years. The number of unmarried individuals decreases as they grew older 7. 4. Income of Namasudra women: in Namasudra women of Bagdah block. Socio- Income is an important economic indicator, which economic backwardness is a main characteristic of can alone determine the economic condition of the
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in people. When a woman gets a job and earn for her society. In the table-4 and fig.-4 are presented the family, this indicates the economical prosperity of pattern of income of Namasudra women. a certain community, as well as it is good for a
Table-4: Participation in job of Namasudra women in Bagdah block Name of the Gram Unemployed Employed No. of women Panchayat No. of women % No. of women % Asharu 148 128 86.49 20 13.51 Helencha 187 157 83.96 30 16.04 Malipota 119 105 88.24 14 11.76 Bagdah 131 112 85.50 19 14.50 Kaniara-I 179 152 84.92 27 15.08 Ranghat 137 117 85.40 20 14.60 Bayra 148 131 88.51 17 11.49 Kaniara-II 147 132 89.80 15 10.20 Sindrani 118 99 83.90 19 16.10 Grand Total 1314 1133 86.23 181 13.77 Source: Computed field data, 2016
Index House wife Agricutural field Small indutries Service sector Other services
Fig.-4: Occupational structure of Namasudra women in Bagdah block
It is observed from the table-4 and fig.-4 that only very low due to poor participation in job. For the 13.77 per cent women are participating in work in poor participation in job of women per capita surveyed area. Maximum Namasudra women income of Namasudra community in Bagdah block (86.23 per cent) are housewife. In the surveyed is very low. area 8.07 per cent women are involve with agriculture. According primary survey, 4.48 per 7. 5. Medical facilities of Namasudra women: cent and 0.38 per cent women are engaged with To lead a productive and good life needs a good respectively small industries and service sectors. health. Health care facilities are also one of the And remaining 0.84 per cent Namasudra women important factors which reflect the socio-economic are engaged with other different sectors. status of a society or community. The table-5 Unemployment rate (86.23 per cent) of Namasudra represented the health and treatment condition of women in Bagdah block is very high as compare to Namasudra women of Bagdah block. the state level. Incomes of Namasudra women are
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
Table-5: Gram Panchayat wise treatment facilities of Namasudra women in Bagdah block Normal condition patient Serious condition patient Non Registered Non Registered Name of Registered Doctors Registered Doctors the Gram Doctors Doctors Panchayat No. of No. of No. of No. of % % % % women women women women Asharu 34 22.97 114 77.03 103 69.59 45 30.41 Helencha 78 41.71 109 58.29 143 76.47 44 23.53 Malipota 26 21.85 93 78.15 85 71.43 34 28.57 Bagdah 53 40.46 78 59.54 106 80.92 25 19.08 Kaniara-I 63 35.20 116 64.80 129 72.07 50 27.93 Ranghat 38 27.74 99 72.26 93 67.88 44 32.12 Bayra 37 25 111 75 97 65.54 51 34.46 Kaniara-II 27 18.37 120 81.63 93 63.27 54 36.73 Sindrani 39 33.05 79 66.95 81 68.64 37 31.36 Grand 395 30.06 919 69.94 930 70.78 384 29.22 Total Source: Computed field data, 2016 rate of Namasudra women is 69.87 per cent. Sex According to the table-5, only 30.06 per cent ratio of this community in surveyed area is normal women patient checked up their health to 1000:925. And the medical facilities of Namasudra the registered doctors and remaining 69.94 per cent women are very pathetic in Bagdah block. The patient depends on non-registered doctors due to socio-economic conditions of Namasudra lack of their awareness and less availability of community are poor due to pathetic condition of registered doctors in Bagdah block. On the other women’s educational status, sex ratio, marital hands people go to the registered doctors or status, income and medical facilities etc. Some hospitals when their patient’s condition is critical. negative factors have pronounced their impact on According to primary survey 70.78 per cent women status of women and socio-economic conditions of patients depends on registered doctors in critical Namasudra community. The utmost important step condition of patient. And remaining 29.22 per cent should be taken by administration to set up some women patient depends on non-registered doctors framework which will provide necessary moral and in critical condition. Even Namasudra women do social support on women of Namasudra not check up their physical condition regularly in community. Central and State Government should the time of their pregnancy. On the basis of be taken some welfare programmes, projects and availability of medical facilities and requirements schemes to mitigate these negative factors and in study area, we say that health and treatment upliftment of women and Namasudra community condition of Namasudras are not quite satisfactory of Bagdah block. in Bagdah block. Many Namasudra women can’t participate in job or work properly due to their 10. References: illness or poor health condition. i. Das, A.K. (1966). Handbook on scheduled caste 8. Limitation of the study: and scheduled tribe of West Bengal. Tribal welfare The researcher tried his best to depict a pen picture department, Govt. of West Bengal. of the role of women on socio-economic condition of Namasudra community in Bagdah block. Yet ii. Chatterjee, S.K. (1996). The scheduled caste in some aspects of Namasudra women might have not India. Gyan publishing house, New Delhi. found in the present study. Data for the study were collected from only 500 households. Literature iii. Bandyopadhay, S. (1994). Development, availability on the topic is limited. Out of shyness differentiation and caste: The Namasudra or out of fear, women workers were reluctant to movement in Bengal. Bengal communities provide information about their living and working development and States (Ed.). conditions. iv. Hussain, N. (2004). Indian society and culture: 9. Conclusion: continuity and change. Jawhar publishers and The study clearly shows that women play an distributors, India. important role on Namasudra community. Literacy
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-3, Issue-3, 2017 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in
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