1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

The role of women in rural-regional development : a case study in Manipur, India

AuthorKazmi, Naorem Achoubi
Call NumberAIT RSPR no. HS-91-05
Subject(s)Women in rural development--India--Manipur

NoteA research study report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementResearch studies project report ; no. HS-91-05
AbstractExploratory field research on women' s participat ion in regional development was conducted in Kakching Block of Thoubal, a valley district of Manipur State, India. The study was focused on women who were actively engaged in farming, and samples were drawn from two villages reflecting the grossly different conditions in lowland and upland areas. The study shows high degrees of women's participation in social and economic activities. All women share the common experience of hardship due to gender division of labour which allots to women the bulk of the tasks of reproduction in the domestic unit and restrict them in enjoying social power. Women do participate in politics but their pattern of participation is supportive: they vote, they join in protest and they help in organizing political gatherings but they rarely participate in election as candidate. Distinct awareness among women of their role in the development process is evident. Fulfillment of basic needs is a major concern of women. Lack or deficiencies in formal education and lack of training on the application of appropriate technologies are the major problems faced by women. The systematic comparison between one lowland and one upland village shows that women in the better accessible lowland village have more infrastructural facilities at their disposal than those in the less accessible upland village. This discrepancy is also reflected in women's participation in assorted aspects of the development process : social, economic, political and decision making. The study identifies two major factors inhibiting women's fuller participation in development: lack of formal education and training and inadequacy of infrastrutural facilities. Recommendations for enhancing women's participation are out lined. The necessities of investigating certain issues related to women's integration into the process regional development are underlined. Note: This Research Study was completed as part of the requirements for the SPRING (Asia) Programme. SPRING, an acronym for Spatial Planning in Growing Economies, is an M.Sc. programme jointly offered by AIT and the University of Dortmund, Germany. Under the SPRING Programme, a Research Study carrying 12 credits, must be conceptualized and completed within only one term, i. e . from 1 January to 31 March. Preferably, the topic should be related to the preceding District Development Workshop. The SPRING Programme thus differs from other M.Sc. programmes at AIT where most students write a thesis which spans at least 8 months .
Year1991
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Research studies project report ; no. HS-91-05
TypeResearch Study Project Report (RSPR)
SchoolSchool of Engineering and Technology (SET)
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSHuman Settlement (HS)
Chairperson(s)Weber, Kael E.;
Examination Committee(s)Demaine, Harvey ;Setty, E. Desings;
Scholarship Donor(s)Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdi enst (DAAD), Germany;
DegreeResearch Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991


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