A Case Study on Socio-Economic Status of Farm Women in Faizabad District of Uttar-Pradesh

Abstract

In our country, rural women - the wives of the heads of farming households - constitute about 80 per cent of the total women population. They are nearly 50 per cent of the total rural population and are thus, numerically capable of playing a pivotal role in the rural economy. However, it is disappointing to note that a demographic perspective of women in general and rural women in particular displays a picture of educational backwardness, poverty, deprivation, ill-health and lack of opportunities for economic, political and social development. The rural farm women have multifarious roles which demand more time and effort. The present study makes an attempt to analyze the demographic factors of farm women. The total sample of the study comprised of 100 farm women drawn purposively by proportionate random sampling method from four villages of Milkipur Block - a block is the unit of planning and development. It is an administrative means for taking the problems of rural people in a coordinated manner - of Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh (INDIA). The demographic variables viz., age, education, caste, family type, family size, land holding, housing pattern, occupation, income and material possession were studied through a general information schedule. The profile analysis of farm women with respect to the demographic characteristics revealed that majority of farm women were old age, literate, belonged to backward caste, joint family, large family size, marginal(land holding), pacca house (made of bricks and cement), caste as main occupation and labour as subsidiary, medium income group and maximum belong to medium socio-economic-status.