3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY

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ISSN No : 2230-7850
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DOI Prefix : 10.9780 | Journal DOI : 10.9780/22307850 ISRJ Today
Indian Streams Research Journal
International Recognized Multidisciplinary Research Journal
INTRODUCTION
The status of women in a society is a significant reflection of the level of social justice in that society. Women's status is often
described in terms of their level of income, employment, education, health and fertility as well as their roles within the family, the
community and society. In tribal communities, the role of women is substantial and crucial. (Awais et al, 2009)There is a tendency
to romanticise the position of tribal women. Some scholars hold that 'primitive' societies like tribes give a high status to women,
but others disagree. (Burman, 2012). While some scholars view any change in the tribal society as a traumatic event for women,
others opine that this opens newer realities and wider horizons for them. Since the 1990s a progressively declining child sex ratio
heavily skewed in favour of boys comes back to haunt India every 10 years with the publication of it's census reports. This is an
indicator of the status of women and girls reveal a peculiar paradox. The inequality in life chances, education, and income are no
accident.
Of the three main communities living in Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas - Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali - the first is accepted by all
scholars who have researched on the region to be the earliest inhabitants.(Gowloog ,2013).Women form about a half of Lepcha
population. So in this paper an attempt has been made to establish the status of gender disparity in Lepcha tribe through gender
development INDEX, introduced in 1995 in Human Development Reports written by the United Nations Development Programme.
The greater the gender disparity in basic human development, the lower a country's GDI. The parameters of this GDI are-Life
expectancy at birth, Education and income according to UNDP guidelines (old).
The study area and the people:
Lingsey is an isolated village in Kalimpong II, Darjeeling district, West Bengal (Location map)and is 24 km from Pedong and 52 km
from Kalimpong.(latitude 8840'29"E and longitude 279'46"N and altitude 4800 ft)inhabited by Lepcha tribe. It is geologically famous
as Lingsey gneiss or Lingsey granite was discovered in this village from which the rock-half granite, half gneiss has been christened
by the geologist. This village is unique also in it's ethnic identity as the Lepchas, who claimed to be the original inhabitant of
Darjeeling district. The origin of the Lepcha is unknown. Though they believe that they are the first known settlers.
The Lepchas or the Rong pa (ravine-folk) are believed to be the oldest tribe of the state of Sikkim and the adjoining Darjeeling
district of West Bengal. Erstwhile colonial scholars and administrators like Hooker, White, Risley have mentioned about the
Lepchas inhabiting the inaccessible forested ravines of eastern Himalayas constituting present Sikkim, portion of Darjeeling
district of West Bengal, western Nepal and eastern portions of Bhutan. (Purkayastha ,2013) A peace loving people, the Lepchas
were free and independent aboriginal inhabitants of the Lingsey village. These people used to live an isolated life protected by the
forests and the mountains. The Lepcha have their own language called Lepcha. It belongs to the group of Tibeto-Burman languages.
Besides, the people are referred to as "hidden paradise" or "land of eternal purity".
Location of the study area:
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3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY
http://www.isrj.net/ArticleFullText.aspx?ArticleID=5148 2/6
Women in Lepcha society:
The women in the tribal community, as in other communities, constitute half of the tribal population. The well-being of the tribal
community, as that of any other community, depends importantly on the status of their women. (Singh,1993). The Rongpas or
Lepchas have no joint families and the women have equal rights with men in general. Female progeny is favoured. The women are
respected and allowed to take part in community functions (Nirash, 1982).But due to extreme poverty the women are not getting
proper education and mostly engaged in household work. The work participation is also very less compared to men. The average
income (per capita) of the village women engaged in different economic activities is much lower than that of men.
OBJECTIVES OFSTUDY:
1. To analyze the socioeconomic condition of the tribe
2. To highlight the importance and significance of gender related development indicators for assessing the status of women
3. To find out relative levels of progress or backwardness of women across the Lingsey village.
4. To depict the various problems associated with Gender Development.
5. To provide planning strategies to improve the situation.
METHODOLOGYAND DATABASE:
The study is done on the basis of both primary and secondary data. Primary data obtained from village surveys with questionnaire
schedule which is done by household survey, personal meetings with village people, clan leader, and Panchayet members. Total 32
households are surveyed randomly out of 50 houses in the village. Some of the data and/or information collected from local guide.
Secondary data are obtained from literature survey, study of journals, books where ever available and from internet also. Different
maps (state, block, and village level), history and livelihood of Lepcha people were collected from books, journals, published papers
etc. After that started analyzing the collected data on the basis of United Nations development programme GDI calculation
method. By taking the help of some statistical and cartographic techniques various aspects of gender biasness in the study area
are explained.
Calculation and Analysis of the Gender Development Index:
Life expectancy at birth:
It is revealed that at Lingsey male life expectancy at birth (fig; 4) is about 62 years where as female life expectancy at birth is 50
years (According to survey and health report) which indicates that female life expectancy is very low. It is due to - Ignorance to the
women health issues, High death rate, Malnutrition, Lack of medical facilities.
There are some other demographic indicators which show the dark side of gender empowerment. The distribution of male female
population (fig: 3) (59.5% male, 40.5% female) Diseases and lack of medical facilities are one of the reason of low life span. It is
revealed that more female died of asthma and cough, typhoid, liver damage and cerebral stroke than male. Almost equal no of male
and female died of gout pain, T.B, high pressure. It indicates that people are not health conscious and unavailability of medical care.
Another criterion of gender inequality is no of missing person (fig 1). Out of three female cases two are elopements and one due to
insanity and the male simply abandoned the house according to the villagers. The reason is due to sheer poverty the females are
forced to leave their home and nobody cares for this matter.
3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY
http://www.isrj.net/ArticleFullText.aspx?ArticleID=5148 3/6
The age-sex pyramid (fig: 5) of the village people has been divided into five broad age groups. This pyramid shows that the
proportion of age group 46 - 60 years is very high,the proportion of elderely people(>60 age)is medium in the village when it is
compared it the working age group of 30-45 years. Here, the number of both male and female persons are very low between the age
group of 15-30. The percentage of female child (<15) population is low which indicates that females are not properly taken care of.
Lorenz Curve ( fig: 2) shows the dispersion of a set of data in terms of their deviation from a perfect distribution curve. This is a
measure of inequality. It proves that at Lingsey female population is unequally distributed than men. The cause of low female ratio
can be explained in this way- high no of maternity death due to delivery at home, health diseases and malnutrition among women.
EDUCATION:
It is the second important parameter of gender disparity. Gender gap is observed in overall literacy and adult literacy. In the study
area male literates are higher (75%) than female (58%). (Fig: 6)Girls are not given proper opportunity to attain education which
reflects in the no. of drop outs. Though the enrolment ratio is almost same in both boy and girls (Fig: 7) afterwards most of the time
girls are withdrawn from school.
Adult literacy is one of the factors in measuring education index . Through survey it is found that female adult literacy rate is much
lower than the male adult literacy rate in every household. (Fig: 8). It is due to extreme poverty, compulsion for work, early marriage
etc.
Lastly the level of education (Fig:9) reveals that in primary level boys are found double of girls(22 boys and 11 girls).It actually shows
the gloomy picture of negligence of girl child. In secondary level also the boys and girls enrolment is 64.4% and 35.5% respectively.
In higher education Lepchas enrolment is very low in both gender. Due to lack of schools in village, absence of their mother tongue
as mode of instruction hinder the development of education.
3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY
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ECONOMY:
Economic condition in respect of income is one of the most important indicators of GDI. An economy consists of the economic
system in a certain region, comprising the goods and services in that region. At Lingsey village three types of economic sectors are
identified such as -Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sector
The Lepchas raise a variety of crops like maize, rice, garden vegetables and keep goats, cattle and pigs. It is found that -
Women are generally responsible for keeping poultry.
Men and women are involved in agricultural production on equal basis.
Women are primarily responsible for fetching water.
Women cook; do child care and other household tasks.
The employment status (fig: 10) shows that maximum number of male and female are engaged in primary sector i.e. agricultural
activities. Females are not involved in secondary activities but involved in making local handicrafts.In tertiary both gender show
less participation where they are engaged as teacher, driver, guide etc. The workers and non workers(fig;11) category among male
and female, depicts working members number is more or less satisfactory though female workers lag much behind the male
workers. The income distributions among male and female members (fig; 12 &13), which indicates maximum number of female and
male per family income Rs. < 1000 and Rs. 3000-6000 respectively. This shows the low income level among female rather than
male.
TABLE 1: Total monthly income and per capita income among various income classes of male and female
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME PER CAPITA INCOME
<3000 3000-6000 >6000 <1000 1000-2000 >2000
MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
9 25 16 7 6 0 9 19 13 13 10 0
Source: Primary survey,2013
TABLE 2:CALCULATION OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT INDEX (GDI)
POPULATION
SHARE
LIFE
EXPECTANCY
AT BIRTH
(YEARS)
EDUCATION GDP PER
CAPITA INCOME
(PPP US$)
ADULT
LITERACY
RATIO (%)
GROSS
ENROLMENT
RATIO (%)
3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY
http://www.isrj.net/ArticleFullText.aspx?ArticleID=5148 5/6
M F M F M F M F M F
0.59 0.41 61.73 50.14 66.10 38.095 65.71 88 571.92 223.02
1.Calculating the equally distributed life expectancy index:
Female: life expectancy index = 0.382Male: life expectancy index = 0.654
Equally distributed life expectancy index = [{0.41 (0.382
-1
)} + {0.59 (0.654
-1
)}]
-1
= 0.51
2. Calculating the equally distributed education index:
Female: adult literacy rate = 0.38095 Male: adult literacy rate = 0.66
Equally distributed adult literacy index= [{0.41 (0.38952
-1
)} + {0.59 (0.66
1
)}]
-1
= 0.5093
Female: gross enrolment ratio= 0.88 Male: gross enrolment ratio = 0.6571
Equally distributed gross enrolment ratio= [{0.41 (0.88
-1
)} + {0.59 (0.6571
-1
)}]
-1
=0.73
Education Index = 2/3 (adult literacy index) + 1/3 (gross enrolment ratio) = 2/3 (0.5093) + 1/3 (0.73) = 0.58
3. Calculating the equally distributed income index:
Female: income index = 0.13Male: income index = 0.29
Equally distributed income index= [{0.41 (0.13
-1
)} + {0.59 (0.29
-1
)}] = 0.19
Therefore, Gender Development Index = 1/3 (0.51) + 1/3 (0.58) + 1/3 (0.19) = 0.42 .
The low value of GDI clearly indicates that the Lepcha women in Lingsey village are deprived in every respect though apparently
enjoy equal rights in society. They are lagging far behind than the Lepcha men in employment, income, work participation,
education, life span, health condition etc and leaving home for poverty supports their pathetic situation strongly.
Findings of the study (Problems of the tribal village people and women) :-
1. At Lingsey, there are no proper medical facilities (especially at emergency) such as public hospital, nursing home, health centres,
medical shops etc. Though government hospitals are located at Pedong and Kalimpong, they are 35 and 50 km away respectively
from the village creating obstacle for the people to avail in emergency.
2. The source of water is a spring nearby for drinking, washing, bathing purposes; they use bamboo pipe line for water supply from
the spring which is not at all hygienic. There is no other source of drinking water.
3. No proper infrastructure of education is found here. Though school and colleges are located at Kalimpong, this hindrance the
people to avail proper education. Absence of govt. help, vocational centres etc add to poorer condition of literacy.
4. The Lepcha possess small and uneconomical land holdings because of which their crop yield is less and hence they remain
chronically indebted causing great hindrance for their economic development. At Lingsey village only a small percentage of
population involved in secondary and tertiary sectors. Maximum people involved in primary sector which is purely subsistence in
nature.
5. The work participation of females is less than the men. This is also the cause of lower rate of GDP growth and effect overall
economic condition.
6. Early marriage is one of the main causes of gender disparity . 42% married are educated up to only 5
th
standard which indicates
lower education among married women. 74% of the respondents support early marriage as it is their tradition. Better economic
condition of their partner encourages early marriage.
7. Decreasing level of education and income level, young motherhood, malnutrition, maternal death, more number of children etc. are the
problem of early motherhood and hence encourage gender disparity. 11.1% women become mother below 15 years and 55.5% at the
age of 16 - 18 years.
8. Survey reveals that 59% of the women is non-worker and financially depended on their spouses which decreases the women work
participation in the society.
9. Maximum working women engaged in primary sector (81%) as the farming practice is subsistence in nature women are not
financially productive. Their income pattern is also disappointing. 46% women earn below 1000 per month, 36% earn between 1000 -
2000 and only 9% earn above 2000.(table 1 )
10. Delivery and other maternity health care are neglected in the clan. Distance from hospital, social backwardness, less
awareness result into delivery at home (88.24%) discouraging woman health security.
3/9/2014 GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF LEPCHA SOCIETY
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11. Alcohol consumption (country liquor) in both gender leading to different liver diseases and sometimes sudden death. This habit
is common in all age group.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BETTERMENTOFLEPCHAS:-
It is proposed to establish a finance group among the women of the village by which they can engage themselves in various
economic activities as a result of which a viable economic position will develop.
Setting up small scale and cottage industries and household handicrafts (bags based on local materials liken fine wool) can be
encouraged by the government and private entrepreneurs to earn in alternative way.
More primary schools, equal opportunity to education, Mid-day meal programme, Sarba Shikha Abhiyan needed to be started as the
nearest school is 14 km away.
Proper care of agriculture in the village assuring land development and proper irrigation system is the need of the hour. So that
people can earn, grow their own food and for commercial purpose also which will enhance their economic standard.
Government help is needed with local body to provide safe and secure drinking water and places for proper garbage disposal so that
water bodies are not contaminated.
Mid-day meal scheme is the need of the hour as it can surely attract tribal children to school and reduce drop out and give equal
opportunity to both girls and boys in education.
Another important step that should be taken to improve the socio-economic condition at the village is to increase the awareness
of the villagers about maternity health issues ,disadvantage of taking alcohol, caring girl child through NGO etc
CONCLUSION:
The status of Lepcha tribal women can be said in less secured condition leading to create more vulnerable situation for this group
of society. Calculating GDI can only help to assess the vulnerable condition of Lepcha women through the sphere of long and
healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living between men and women. At Lingsey village GDI represents the low value.
So to improve the socio economic status of women and reduce gender gap education from the grass root level has to be started by
panchayets and local governments. Then only this tribe can put their female in better condition in society like many other tribes in
India. Another important step is to increase the female participation rate in various work sectors to improve their economic level, as
a whole to increase the living standard and gender equality. This can also check early marriage and young motherhood.
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