Socio-Economic Analysis of Women Time-Use Pattern With Regard To Carrying Out ESNA Activities In Hilly Rural Regions Of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Hilly rural regions of the state of Uttarakhand have always faced the issue of ‘Area Deprivation’ and ‘poverty traps’ mainly because of their harsh geographical settings and poor infrastructural facilities along with the problems in resource delivery and their accessibility. These issues have led to continuous out-migration from these regions of the state. Women of these deprived regions, amidst these issues play a prominent role in not only within their households but also in the economy of these regions. The major reason for the dominant role of women is the customary division of gender role and huge rural-out migration mainly of male youths from these regions of the state. Although the women participation in employment has been increasing in these regions but the major section of this population even after being over-burdened by work is engaged in activities which are categorised as ‘unpaid’. Her work participation in SNA activities goes unpaid as she takes part in such activities largely as helper or subsidiary worker while her higher rate of participation in E-SNA activities by nature is considered as non-economical or categorised as unpaid activities. The participation of Women in E-SNA activities leads to ‘time poverty’ among women, as it reduces the time which they could contribute in economic activities. Further the higher time spending by women in such activities also reduces their time in self-care leading to poor health status and even in pulling them off from education mainly in case of teenage girls. The present paper using the time use survey not only examines the gender-based participation in E-SNA activities but also examines the socio-economic and demographic factors which lead to higher time spending in E-SNA activities by rural women of these hill rural regions of the state. The study further introspects the impact of few prominent government policy interventions to reduce the work burden of women mainly in E-SNA activities.