Socio economic status of Gujjar women in Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana

Abstract

The research study is an attempt to explore socio-economic and demographic aspects of the Gujjar Women in the area of the Study, Cultural aspects of the women and how it impacts their status in totality, decision making power possessed by the women and general, political and health awareness of the women. The major finding of the study is that Gujjar women being informally employed in dairy sector do not have any social and economic gains from the same. The reason can be traced from cultural implications and patriarchy. This study recommends mainstreaming the women through dairy sector with the available government policies and programs for women and OBCs with active involvement of social workers and community based organizations like Gujjar Bhawans. The study has also tried to find out the role played by Gujjar Bhawnas in the upliftment of their Community, specifically women. Thus this study in a holistic view, attempted to explore the life of women and what are the aspects of the lives of the women which are holding them back in the process of their upliftment in spite of the available legal and social machinery in the form of laws, Acts and welfare programs and policies. This study is important as negligible studies are done on the settled Gujjar Communities. This study also speaks about why it is important to take micro level approach and understand women of different communities from their level and frame programs as per their need as women are not a homogenous group and their problems may vary with changing location, region and cultural practices. The study has recommended various suggestions at three levels apart from further Researches, which could be undertaken by the Policy Makers, Government and for the community so they can participate in progress of their women which will benefit the society at large and help in the overall development of the Gujjar community. newline