A Geographical Study of Women Status in an Emerging Urban Industrial Economy: Experiences from the Asansol Durgapur Development Area of West Bengal, India

 

Dr Mohana Basu

Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Polba Mahavidyalaya, Polba, Hooghly District.

 

ABSTRACT:

Urbanization has an immense impact on the holistic development of a region. In that same context, the level of women empowerment plays a significant role in the development of any region, particularly a region belonging to a developing country. The present study investigates the status of women empowerment in the Asansol Durgapur Planning Area of the state of West Bengal, India by investigating the status of women. Through this study an attempt has been to made to understand the perception of the respondents on the context of women’s empowerment. The study integrates multiple sources of qualitative and quantitative data collected from various reports, field-based measurements, questionnaire survey and community based participatory appraisals. Results reveal that women of the rural parts of the region are relatively disempowered due to the various restrictions imposed on them and enjoy lower socioeconomic clout than their male counterparts in spite of the several remedial efforts taken by the government and NGOs to elevate their position in the society. A considerable gender gap still exists regarding access to education, employment and decision-making power in the family and significant differences in attitude towards women are observable in the rural and urban areas. Freedom of women primarily vary according to their age group, educational level, employment and income status and also on the degree of urbanization. Asansol Durgapur Planning Area is primarily an industrial region where huge employment generation scope exists. But these disparities are quite alarming and indicate that economic development does not always usher in socially justifiable rights and access to resources for both men and women alike in its awake. In this backdrop, this study will attempt to forward relevant suggestions which can be followed for betterment of the status of women.

 

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION:

Women empowerment has a significant role to a considerable extent in the holistic development of a region (Mansi, et al. 2015). Empowering women is extremely important for development of a country like India (Rupa, 2017).

 

In this context, urbanization often plays a crucial role in empowering women as the various positive effects associated with urbanization leads to elevation of the status of women in the society which in turn results in further development of the region (Samman and Hunt, 2016). Urbanization often has several impacts like changes in the land-use, economy, types of employment etc. (Santra, et al 2018). In most of the developed countries of the world, urbanization has played a very important role in women empowerment through various ways like making women aware of the rights and laws available for them, providing them with equity and equality with their male counterparts and so on (Ghosal, 2018). In the developing countries, huge gendered disparities exist (Parpart, et al. 2000). The concern for gender equality in the Indian context, always focuses to a certain extent on the need to address the greater disadvantages faced by women and girls in comparison to men and boys (Sen, 2019). The disadvantage for female exists in all social and economic spheres starting right with a preference for a male child leading to the pre-natal sex detection and abortion of female foetuses (Hesketh et al. 2011). Differences in attitude of people can be seen to exist between girls and boys with regards to investments in nutrition, health and education. Women also face obstructions in their daily mobility, career choice, higher education, access to economic inputs and participation (Mosse, 2018). In India, in most matters although women have equal civil and legal rights, laws and practices but in most of the cases it has been seen many are not even aware about the existence of their rights (Kansra and Kansra 2014). In India, gender inequality is existent almost throughout the country but the magnitude of inequality differs (Sen, 2007). In the rural areas, the magnitude of gender-based inequality is far more than the urban areas. The status of women in the urban areas is comparatively better than those residing in the rural areas of India (Yadav, 2017). Often women face difficulties and obstructions in emerging as successful entrepreneurs (Dey, 2019). There seems to be an underlying relationship between economic development and awareness of women about their rights (Ting and Rosaline, 2020). India has been witnessing changes in the demographic pattern over the years (Kaujalgi and Bagalkoti, 2019). In the state of West Bengal, the Asansol Durgapur Planning Area has been emerging has an urban industrial economy. Major researches in this region has been mainly concerned with the economic development and industrial progress, status of mining of this region and not much stress has been laid on the status of women residing here. Moreover, in this part of the region the economic development occurred due to industrialisation. Though in India in general major economic development still occurs from the agricultural contribution (Egbefo, 2017). Hence, in this backdrop, a geographical analysis of the status of women residing in ADPA, will be dealt with. Keeping this in mind, the objectives of this study are as follows:

I.      Assessing the progress and status of urbanization in ADPA

II.    Understanding the perception of the respondents in the context of women empowerment.

III. Assessing the various women empowerment schemes.

IV. Determination of the status of women in the study area.

 

Fig 1: Methodological Framework

 

2.1 Understanding the Research Problem:

In-depth review of literature has been done at first in order to have a clear understanding of the research problem. After the review of literature, the study area was selected. The Asansol Durgapur Planning Area (ADPA) has been selected as the study area as it has been observed that not much in-depth research work has been done in the context of status of women in the ADPA. Moreover, ADPA, is an emerging urban industrial economy where an analysis of the status of women from a geographical perspective will further help in overall development of the region.

 

2.2 Delineation of the Study Area:

Asansol-Durgapur Planning Area (ADPA) in the Paschim Bardhhaman district of West Bengal is a significant emerging urban centre of Eastern India having huge potentials (Fig 2). In the recent years this region has made progress to a significant extent in terms of urbanization and industrialization (City Development Plan,2006). The ADPA consists of two broad urban areas namely Asansol Municipal Corporation and Durgapur Municipal Corporation along with eight community development blocks (City Development Plan, 2006). The areas under ADPA lies within the new district of Paschim Bardhhaman which was formed in 7^th April 2017 after being bifurcated from the erstwhile Bardhhaman district. ADPA is highly urbanized as more than 60% of its population lives in urban areas.

 

Fig 2: Location Map of the Study Area

 

The predominance of large-scale mining activities and industrial activities within its local economy has contributed to the prevalence of very high levels of population density, urbanization as well as growth rate which are observed in ADPA in general and within the Asansol Sub-division in particular. Asansol sub-division contains one of the best types of non-coking coal reserves in the country and has a huge coal reserve.

 

2.3 Collection of Data:

Qualitative and quantitative data has been procured from both primary and secondary sources. For understanding the perception of the respondents, questionnaire-based household survey and community based participatory appraisal has been conducted. The secondary data has been collected from various governmental reports, Census of India etc.

 

2.4 Analysis of the collected data:

The collected data from both primary and secondary sources has been analysed and mapped using map making software ArcGIS and cartographic representation has been done with the help of MS Excel 2013.

 

2.5 Formulation of guidelines for enhancement of the status of women residing in ADPA:

From all the findings we will have an understanding of the status of women in the study area based on which we will formulate guidelines by keeping in mind the existing rules and regulation in the country. Management guidelines will be formulated on the basis of expert opinion and for this purpose interviews of the local knowledgeable persons, government officials and staff and NGO members have been done. The formulation of guidelines will aid in accentuating the status of women in the imminent years.

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

3.1 Status of Urbanization In ADPA:

The urban industrialisation process was initiated in the first quarter of the 19^th century in ADPA with the exploration of the mining activities in this region (Basu, 2018). The Asansol Raniganj Region came up as a prominent mining oriented industrial nucleus (City Development Plan, 2006). The Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) was set up in 1980 by merging the erstwhile Asansol Planning Organisation with the Durgapur Development Authority under the provisions of the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development) Act 1979 (WBT&CP Act). Certain planning activities as well as developmental activities has been done since the inception of the ADDA which were largely confined within the urban areas of Asansol and Durgapur.

 

 

Fig 3: Urbanization in ADPA in Last Two Decades

 

The Census of 1991 delineated the Asansol Urban Agglomeration which has finally been transformed in to the Asansol Municipal Corporation and its erstwhile municipal limit has been increased more than 5 times. In Durgapur, the urbanization has been an outcome of a National Level Planning Policy which was made for industrial growth. So, the urban industrial growth of Durgapur should be considered in its regional backdrop rather than considering the phenomenon of urbanization in isolation. On the eastern bank of the river Barakar and northern bank of the rive Damodar along the Grand Trunk Road (NH2) the urban growth of Asansol-Kulti-Jamuria continues. Urban growth is also witnessed along the Durgapur-Dhanbad railway linkage (Eastern Railway). The immense growth in urban population and scaling up of activities has put substantial stress on the available infrastructure.

 

There has been quite a significant increase in the urbanization and population in ADPA over the last few decades (Fig 3). The proportion of increase of rural population has been relatively lower than that of the urban population (Fig 4). The significant increase of urban population indicates the gradual development and emergence of the region as a significant industrial centre which has led to the progradation of urban population and subsequent urbanization (Basu, 2018).

 

Figure 4: Trend of Growth of Rural and Urban Population, Data Source: Census of India, 1991, 2001, 2011

 

Fig 5: Gender wise Growth of Population In ADPA, Data Source: Census of India, 2001 and 2011.

 

 

Fig 6: Gender Wise Literates in the Rural Areas of ADPA, Data Source: Census of India, 2011

 

The employment opportunities generated by the industries of this mining region have acted as a pull factor of migration and in most of the places an observable fact is that migration has taken place due to the employment opportunities provided by the region.

 

3.2 Women and Urbanization in ADPA:

Asansol Durgapur Planning Area is evidently emerging as a potential urban industrial economy of eastern India. Promotion of gender equality through elevation of the status of women is often one of the most significant outcomes of urbanization. Overall development of a region is brought about by factors other than economic development. For this women empowerment turns out to be a potential factor to a considerable extent.

An almost equal share of both the genders in the total population of ADPA, can be seen (Fig 5). However, in some of the Community Development Blocks (C.D. Blocks), there has been a greater proportion of increase of female population compared to male population. For example, in the C.D. Blocks of Barabani and Jamuria (Fig 5), the increase in the number of females is greater than the increase in the number of males. This may be because of the awareness is gradually being created in the minds of the people about gender equality.

 

One of the most important contributors of development of any region is literacy. In ADPA, it is seen that the number of both male and female literates is quite high. In most the urban centres, specially in Durgapur MC and Asansol MC (Fig 7) the number of literates is quite high. However, in the rural centres like Barabani C.D. Block and Jamuria C.D. Block (Fig 6) the number of literates is not satisfactory. The average literacy in all the centres of ADPA is quite appreciable.

 

 

Fig 7: Gender Wise Literates in the Urban Areas of ADPA, Data Source: Census of India, 2011

 

 

Fig 8: Gender-wise work Participation in the Urban Areas of ADPA, Data Source: Census of India, 2011

 

The gender-wise work participation maps of the urban and rural areas under ADPA has been prepared with the help of data collected from the Census of India, 2011 (Fig8 and Fig 9). The gender wise work participation shows that the number of male workers is much higher than the number of female workers. Being an industrial economy, the demand for male workers is more compared to the demand for female workers. However, in some of the rural areas, the proportion of female non workers is lesser than the urban counter parts as from the primary survey it came to light that in the rural areas, women are given employment opportunities through the various governmental schemes like 100 days works etc.

 

 

Fig 8: Gender-wise work Participation in the Rural Areas of ADPA, Data Source: Census of India, 2011

 

 

Fig 9: Some government schemes for women empowerment

 

3.3 Status of Women in ADPA:

3.3.1 Various schemes meant for empowering women:

The Government has introduced various schemes for empowering women some of the significant ones are mentioned in figure 9.

Kanyashree Prakalpa:

In order to prevent child marriage, the Kanyashree Prakalpa has been launched by the Government of West Bengal for improving the life and status of girls by helping the economically backward families with cash so that the families do not get their girls married off before attaining the age of 18 due to economic problem (Sen and Datta, 2018). This scheme was launched in the year 2012 by the Government of West Bengal. This scheme has been given international recognition by the United Nations Department of International Development and the UNICEF in 2017. Incentivizing girls to continue their education for a longer period of time by completing secondary or higher secondary education or equivalent in technical or vocational streams which will enable them to get a better position in socio-economic spheres (Sen and Datta, 2018). Moreover, delaying marriage till legal age will ensure in reduction of the risks associated with early pregnancies, child mortality, malnutrition etc. The major benefit of the scheme is that the scholarship amount is paid directly to the bank accounts in the girl’s names which ensures that the decision of utilization of the money lies within the girl’s discretion. This scheme has met with immense success in all corners of Bengal (Economic Times, 2015). Not only urbanization but also education of women is extremely important for women empowerment (Mutuwa, 2019)

 

Sikshashree:

This scheme emerged by merging the previous Book Grant and Maintenance Grant to the SC and ST day scholars of Class V to VIII in the year 2014. In order to minimise drop outs and encourage students specially the girls, to continue their education this scheme was introduced (The Times of India, 2014).

 

Sabooj Sathi:

In the year 2015, the Sabooj Sathi was started with the main objective of enhancing the access of students to Secondary Education because there have been many instances of dropouts due to problems in commuting to schools (UNI, 2020). This scheme encourages students to take up higher studies, inculcates sense of confidence among the girl students by helping them in their mobility. This scheme also aimed to promote environment friendly and healthy means of transportation. The objectives of the schemes are also aligned with four Sustainable Goals agenda of 2030 which are Good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality and climate actions.

 

Sabla:

This scheme begun in 2011 for adolescent girls with aim of improving the nutritional and health status of girls aged between 11 to 18 years (The Times of India, 2011). It further aimed to provide them with life skills training and knowledge on family welfare, health and hygiene, information and guidance on existing public services. These women empowerment schemes has played an important role to a certain extent in helping women to emerge is women entrepreneurs (Hans and Shetty, 2019).

 

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao:

This scheme was launched in 2015 by our Prime Minister to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio in the country (Hindustan Times, 2019). This scheme is aimed to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services that are intended for girls in India.

 

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

This is a government backed small savings schemes that is aimed at helping parents in securing the future of their girl child (Economic Times, 2020). It can easily be opened in post offices and designated private or public banks in the form a of savings account in the name of the baby girl the interest rates of which are declared quarterly.

Apart from the discussed there are several other schemes that are meant for improving the conditions of the girls.

 

3.3.2 Perception of the community members on Women Empowerment:

In the context of women empowerment, the outlook of the society plays a very crucial role to a considerable extent. Hence, conducting a perception survey of the community members on the women empowerment will help in understanding the current status of women in the society and further will help in providing various suggestions aimed at improving the status of women in the society.

 

 

Fig 10: Showing freedom of movement of women, Data Source: Primary Survey

 

The opinion of the community members regarding freedom of movement of women shows that in the urban areas more than 80% of the employed women have freedom of movement while in the rural areas it only a little above 60% (Fig 10). This might be because financial independence plays a significant role in ensuring freedom among people. In course of the survey many women who are not employed, revealed that at times due to the problem of answering lots of queries about the necessity of going out they often feel that their freedom of movement is restricted.

 

 

Fig 11: Showing the Opinion of the respondents regarding the Decision-Making Power at Household levels by Women, Data Source: Primary Survey

 

Woman usually have little role in taking decisions related to the households as we live in a patriarchal society. However, in the study area it has been noticed that both in the urban and rural areas (Fig 11), the decision-making power of the employed women are far more than the unemployed women. Financial freedom entitles the women to take an active part in the taking household related decisions.

 

The perception of the respondents with regards to the importance of the role of women’s education in social development was assessed (Fig 12). It has been observed in the rural areas, the people attach considerably less importance to the role of women’s education in social development. During the interviews some of the rural people were of the opinion that educating women will hardly have any impact on the society and it is more important for a woman to be extremely efficient in household chores. In the urban areas, the people attached a lot of importance on the role of women’s education on social development. According to many respondents, even if a woman is not working yet education for them plays a highly important role in social development as during the initial years of development a child spends most of the time with the mother.

 

Fig 12: Showing Perception on various Aspects, Data Source: Primary Survey

 

In the rural areas of ADPA, very few people felt that freedom of women has a role in social development but in the urban areas the opinion was different. In the urban areas, a significant proportion of respondents attached a lot of importance on the role of women’s freedom in economic development.

 

The perception of the respondents’ on the role of women’s freedom in social development was also assessed (Fig 12).

 

4. SUGGESTIONS:

The following suggestions keeping in mind the governmental norms can be used for improving the status of women in ADPA.

Ø Extensive awareness programmes should be conducted from time to time in order to make women aware of their rights.

Ø Provisions of proper trainings must be made available for women so that they become self-sufficient in accessing the various schemes meant for their upliftment.

Ø Since society plays a key role in elevation of status of women, hence conducting awareness programmes for creating awareness among the community members about the necessity of women’s empowerment needs to be done.

Ø Stringent policies must be taken to see that the women centric schemes are being implemented properly and timely.

 

5. CONCLUSION:

In ADPA there has been quite a significant increase in urbanization over the last two decades. The urban population has magnified itself since 1991. The rate of increase of rural population has been quite low compared to the increase in the urban population. The various welfare schemes implemented by the government seems to have certain positive results which is reflected in the number of female literates and the work participation rate. However, in spite of the efforts for elevating the status of women, the differences in the perception of the people towards women’s role and education in socio-economic development can be noticed in the adjoining rural areas with respect to the urban areas. There is considerable difference in the perception of the people towards women’s role and education in social and economic development in both the urban and the rural areas. The women of urban areas enjoy much more freedom compared to their rural counterparts. In the urban areas, women enjoy more freedom, have their opinions felt in decision making and receive a better living condition than their rural counterparts. The escalating share of engagement of workers in non-agricultural pursuits indicates the fact that the region is progressing towards urbanization. Urbanization has cast its influence in the betterment of the position of the women in recent years.

 

6. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

 

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Received on 18.10.2020         Modified on 12.11.2020

Accepted on 01.12.2020      ©AandV Publications All right reserved