Socio Economic Empowerment of Scheduled Caste Women – A Study

Abstract

The state and place of the scheduled caste women was very dangerous in earliest and in primitive periods. The scheduled caste women are known to be particularly underprivileged. But when the western ruler held the power in India, the situation of the scheduled caste women was improved. The social and economic status of general women and scheduled caste women remains pathetic in the country due to non-implementation of constitutional provisions and development projects. Systematic government intervention for scheduled caste women empowerment helps the scheduled caste women to change their mindset, adopt healthy lifestyles, obtain the benefits of development projects and achieve development through active participation. Scheduled castes women’s participation in the economic activity is important for their own personal advancement as also for an improvement of their status in the society. In this context, empowerment of rural scheduled caste women is very much necessary. The contribution of scheduled castes women and their role in the family as well as economic development and social transformation are pivotal and need to be taken into consideration. Keeping in view the above universal facts there is a greater need for the empowerment of scheduled caste women and the state is taking all the steps to empower the socio-economic conditions of women. The specific objectives of the present study are

1. 1.     To study the socio-economic profile of the sample respondents.
2. 2.     To assess the consumption empowerment function for the households of sample scheduled caste women in Thoothukudi district.
3. 3.     To examine the effect of social transformation  of scheduled caste women.
4. 4.     To analyse the problems faced by scheduled caste women in the study area.

The present study delivers sufficient evidence to the fact that the social and economic status of scheduled caste women improved in the study area. The possible outcomes of women empowerment through social transformation improved health and employment, enhanced social dignity and better status for scheduled caste women. Thus, economic independence no doubt empowered the scheduled caste women and contributed significantly to the social transformation.