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print versionMAINSTREAMING RIGHTS OF DESERTED WOMEN
A livelihood study of deserted women from Sangli district
by SOPPECOM
Seema Kulkarni, Ravi Pomane, Hasina Mulla, Dhanashree, Ashwini
with data analysis support from Suhas Paranjape
In collaboration with
Stree Mukti Sangharsh Calval
Indutai Patankar, Bharat Patankar,Gail Omvedt, Jyoti and Jayant Nikam
and
Women’s Studies Unit, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Dr. Chhaya Datar
World over poverty among women is rising faster than poverty among men and, despite having the highest per capita income, Maharashtra is no exception to this. The Sex Ratio in Maharashtra has now declined from 927 in 1991 to 922 in 2001. Districts that have the worst child sex ratios are the ones, which are considered to be the most prosperous. Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts are the worst districts in Maharashtra as far as Child sex ratios are concerned. Sangli is the worst district in Maharashtra with a sex ratio as low as 850. Apart from this on all other counts of Gender Development Index (GDI), Maharashtra performs poorly. The literacy gaps between men and women are high and so are the gaps in incomes of men and women.
The most vulnerable section: Single and deserted women No accurate statistics are available on the extent of the single and deserted women for the state of Maharashtra. Some assessments done by various movements, especially the Stree Mukti Sangharsh chalwal in Sangli district and the Samata Andolan in Nasik have estimated over 7 lakh single and deserted women in Maharashtra. As per the 1991 census figures the total number of never married, divorced and separated and widowed women in the age group of 20-65 yrs in Sangli district is 13%. The figure for Sangli rural is about 12%. The overall statistics for Maharashtra for this age group is 14%. This does not include women who are deserted by their husbands but legally not separated. So the numbers would escalate if those missing women are also taken into account.
