Status of Rural Women, Left Behind for Male Labour Circulation: an Empirical Study of Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Circulation, being a typical component of migration creates dynamic and complex social process through the constant interaction with economic, demographic, social and political elements of a particular society in a space time lattice. The term ‘circulation’ refers to temporary cyclical movement of a person or a group of person with no declared intention of permanent change of residence. It always ends in the place of origin. The study area, Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India ranked 11 out of 19 districts (HDR, 2004) of West Bengal proves its incredible backwardness in every aspect. Inadequate employment opportunity due to industrial backwardness, inherited fragmented landholdings, minimum returns from agricultural activities, growing price of necessary commodities and increasing consumerist ideology have compelled simple rural male of the district to migrate in search of work elsewhere. In rural society of Cooch Behar district; women generally participate in food processing, child care, nursing, gossiping, and intensive agricultural task as helper. Temporary absence of man affects social status and life style of the women who are left behind both positively and negatively. In present paper, an attempt has been made to highlight the status of women who are left behind, in terms of gender division of labour, woman empowerment, social insecurity, and economic perspectives to provide few strategies for the policy makers.

Keywords: Circulation, Gender division, Empowerment, Backwardness, Agriculture