Development and Growth of Schedule Caste Women Empowerment in West Bengal
Bikash Chandra Mondal
Assistant Professor
Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya
ABSTRACT
In West Bengal, most of the scheduled-caste women suffers from several harassment sand physical or mental assaults. Lack of education, economic stability and domination of males in the society are major reasons for which scheduled-caste women are getting harassed in several situations. This article gives a preliminary concept of women empowerment and how proper awareness and empowerment practices can change the situation of scheduled-caste women. Districts like Malda and Coochbehar have highest percentage of SC population which is nearly 50% and 16%. However, government policies such as microfinance programs, educational attainments and awareness campaigns can be beneficial to improve socioeconomic conditions of women and it can improve current situation of scheduled caste women in West Bengal in the upcoming future.
Introduction
In recent times, most of the states in India have understood the importance of overall growth of both male and females for future betterment of the society as well as the economic structure of the country. In this article, several aspects of empowerment of scheduled-caste women in different parts of West Bengal, will be discussed to get an idea regarding their current literacy, financial problems and areas for development.
The principal aim of this study is to determine the overall importance of the development of scheduled-caste women empowerment and how the government and non-government organizations can play an effective role in women empowerment.The objective of this particular paper is to discuss the current status of scheduled-caste women in different regions of West Bengal, India. This study is beneficial to describe several factors and role of the Government in developing women empowerment for scheduled-caste or SC women in both rural as well as urban areas of West Bengal.
Improper development of SC women in West Bengal has turned to be an issue as in modern society, still there are several women in mostly rural areas like Malda and Junglemahal who are getting harassed in the name of their castes and lower economic conditions. Women have not yet broken free from the prejudices and restraints of a patriarchal or male-dominated culture (Maity 101). In rural areas of West Bengal such as Junglemahal, several scheduled-caste women are getting harassed and assaulted both physically and mentally.
It has been an issue in contemporary times, as modern culture has already gone too far and it is not commendable that several women are getting harassed only because they are from different cultural or religious backgrounds. In West Bengal, several political conflicts, attacks from opposition and threats during elections have negative impacts on rural women. Several physical assaults and false obligations during political procession or demonstration are some of the growing problems that scheduled caste women have to face on a regular basis (Haldar 207).
(Source: Influenced from the view of Haldar 210)
This paper shades light on various aspects regarding development and growth of scheduled caste women in West Bengal.
Theoretical framework and review of literature
Women empowerment has turned out to be a popular topic in recent times as growing assaults and harassment on women have opened the eyes of society. In West Bengal, most of the scheduled-caste women are still facing challenges as most of their families do not allow them to study. In Junglemahal areas, there are several cases where male dominated society treats women like slaves and they are getting physically assaulted till now (Maity 101). That is why, it is the high times, where the government and non-government organizations need to implement new legislations and focus on overall development of scheduled-caste women to give them proper power with socio-economic stability. In Coochbehar district of West Bengal, most of the regional non-profit organizations are trying to implement microfinance policies which can be an effective strategy for socio-economic development of scheduled-caste women. Microfinance can be considered as a modern banking practice where women of scheduled class communities can get small amounts of loans without any collateral and they can deposit small amounts of money in return (Chakraborty and Sabyasachi 45).
Currently in West Bengal, Bagdi, Baiti and Bauri are some of the scheduled castes. Growing harassment and assaults on scheduled-caste women mostly in rural areas are growing at a rapid pace and that is why women empowerment is strictly required to provide social and economic stabilities to women who belong from SC categories. In order to develop the current situations of scheduled-caste women, the government and the youth need to step up and communicate with underprivileged scheduled caste women in several districts of West Bengal. Without proper communication it will not be possible to figure out their issues and development programs can get hindered by that. Communication media is highly important to improve socio-economic stability of SC women (Hazra 77).
Social learning theory is based on imitating social behaviors that can be learnt by observing others (Akhigbe 88). In West Bengal, scheduled-caste women are getting harassed in the form of slave-like behaviors and domestic violence. Males or husbands try to influence women’s decisions and try to dominate them (Maityet al. 467). As per the social learning theory, government and NGOs can organize awareness and educational attainment programs to help scheduled-caste women to stabilize both socially and economically. If some males try to get influenced and start behaving properly with women, it will impact the whole society and violence against women can be reduced.
Research design
This particular article is based on the current socio-economic situation of scheduled-caste women in West Bengal and how development of women empowerment can be improved to provide stable lifestyles to SC women. In order to collect information regarding scheduled-caste women, various secondary data are collected from different sources. Secondary data are considered as information that has already been used and analyzed previously by another researcher (Johnston 620). Various data and information are collected from peer-reviewed journals, articles and books. Several information regarding scheduled-caste women, percentage of scheduled-caste population in different districts of West Bengal and development of women empowerment are collected from these resources. Various tables, graphs and charts are used from these secondary resources in order to incorporate quantitative data based on previous research. Both qualitative and quantitative data are used to provide better information on the development of scheduled-caste women in West Bengal. Google Scholar is one of the major tools that is used to collect this information from online resources.
Data analysis and interpretation
After collecting several pieces of information from different secondary resources, data and information are analyzed with the help of those collected information. Analyzing different secondary information, it is found that effective communication with scheduled-caste women in rural areas of West Bengal is beneficial to know various challenges that those women are facing. It is observed that because of cultural differences and discrimination in castes, most of the SC women are getting harassed in rural areas. Slave like behaviors, mental torture, physical assaults are some of the major problems that the women are facing in this modern era. Areas like Junglemahal, Cooch Behar and Malda are some of the underprivileged areas where the discrimination among castes and harassment of scheduled caste women are increasing day by day (Maity 101).
However, government and non-government organizations are currently organizing microfinance programs to provide small loans to scheduled-caste women and literacy programs are also organized to educate scheduled-caste women and girls from an early age so that they can get socially and economically stable in future and take forward women empower movement in West Bengal (Roy 403). On the other hand, various quantitative data that are used in the secondary resources are analyzed and from that overall idea about SC population in various districts of West Bengal and working of most SC communities are described in this article.
Summary and conclusion
Analyzing several information regarding the current state of scheduled-caste women and empowerment practices are being useful to gather knowledge on socio-economic status of women. Districts like Malda, CoochBehar and Junglemahal are some of the major areas where scheduled-caste women are getting harassed on large scale. As per statistics, Cooch Behar has the highest percentage of SC population which is nearly 50%. Malda has 16.8% and Kolkata being one of the major districts of West Bengal has 6.01% of SC population. It can be described that less literacy percentage among females are one of the main reasons behind the growing issues faced by SC women. However, from data analysis, it is being observed that in order to improve women empowerment among SC women, microfinance, literacy programs and media communication can play major roles. Government policies, educational attainments and development policies can be beneficial to improve the status of scheduled-caste women in West Bengal (Barman et al. 79).
Figure 2: Literacy rate among SC male and females in West Bengal
(Source: Influenced from the view of Haldar 210)
It can be concluded from this article that women empowerment is currently one of the most popular topics in the present situation of scheduled-caste women in West Bengal. In male dominated society, most of the SC women are treated like slaves and they are getting physically and mentally assaulted. In order to improve their situation, women empowerment programs are highly necessary all-overWest Bengal. Microfinance programs of the West Bengal government are effective to improve economic stability of women in rural areas. However, the government, media and the youth need to step up for educating the women and then women empowerment can be beneficial to reduce gender discrimination in the upcoming future.
Figure 3: Factors to improve socio-economic status of scheduled-caste women in West Bengal
(Source: Influenced from the view of Barman et al. 79)
Recommendation
Government needs to introduce compulsory education programs for schedule-caste women to complete a certain level of higher education.Several campaigns can be organized to create awareness among scheduled-caste and rural women regarding basic human rights and protest against domestic violence.New employment facilities can be organized by the government of West Bengal and training can be provided to scheduled caste women for working to be self-sufficient.Proper investigation against domestic violence of scheduled-caste women and a thorough analysis of the elements of empowerment, as well as their evaluation, are required.
Suggestion for future research
This article will be beneficial for future researchers to get an idea regarding women empowerment for scheduled-caste women in West Bengal. In this paper, secondary quantitative and qualitative data are used. Due to lack of time and resources, primary research cannot be performed. The future researchers can perform primary research on his article to improve overall quality of the paper in the upcoming future.
Reference List
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