SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND EXTENT OF PARTICIPATION OF RURAL WOMEN IN MANIPUR

Abstract

The present study investigates the social and economic determinants influencing rural women workers, focusing on variables such as age, marital status, educational attainment, family structure and size, employment and land ownership total 160 numbers of household were interviewed for the present study following simple stratified random sampling technique. Additionally, it assesses the extent of their participation in various activities. The roles of women in agriculture differ by region; however, they are engaged in nearly all agricultural tasks, excluding the most physically demanding ones. Research conducted in India and other developing nations indicates that women’s contributions to agriculture are often underestimated. Rural women are not only involved in farming but also in vegetable cultivation and livestock management, all while fulfilling their roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers. This study was conducted in two regions of the Churachandpur district and included a sample of 160 farm women, predominantly aged between 34 and 53 years, with the majority being married. Forty percent of the participants completed secondary education, and 67.50 per cent resided in nuclear family settings. The findings reveal that rural women engage in farming, vegetable cultivation, livestock management, and other income-generating activities, all while managing their household responsibilities.