241

Chapter 6

Disparities in Socio

Economic Development

of Women in Mysore

District

242

MAP – 6 (i)

POLITICAL MAP OF MYSORE DISTRICT

243

CHAPTER – 6

DISPARITIES IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN

IN MYSORE DISTRICT

Profile

Karnataka State is in the southwestern part of India. It is mainly a

tableland and an extension of Deccan plateau. It is rhomboid in shape. The

state extends to 805 km from north to south and about 283 km from east to

west. The total area of the state is 192,493 sq. km.1

Mysore district lies in the Southern Maidan (Southern Plateau) and it is

in the southern most part of Karnataka State. Physiographically, the region in

which the district is found may be classified as partly maidan and partly semi

malnad (malnad hilly lands). The district forms the southern part of the Deccan

peninsula with Tamil Nadu to its southeast, the Kodagu district to its west,

Mandya district to its north, Hassan district to its northwest and Bangalore

district to its northeast. 2

Mysore district forms a distinct land unit, besides being a cultural entity

lying between 11o30' N to 12

o50' N latitudes and 75

o45' E to 77

o45' E

longitudes. It covers an area of 6854 sq. km that is, 3.57 percent of the state’s

3.57 percent of the state’s total geographical area. It holds the sixth place in the

state in terms of the area with a population of 2.641 million in 2001.3

History of Mysore District

Mysore State was the name by which Karnataka State was known prior

to November, 1975. Mysore city is known as the Garden City of India, not only

on account of its proximity to Krishnaraja Sagara, a reservoir across the

Cauvery and the Brindavan Gardens at the Dam but also due to many parks in

the city. The city is also known, throughout the world, for the pomp and gaiety

with which the traditional Dasara Festival is held here annually during the

Navaratri (September – October season). The tourists would throng the city

244

from all over the country and abroad in great numbers to witness Jambo Savari

(alias elephant procession), the chief attraction on the occasion, in which

decorated elephants walk in the procession route, majestically. The Maharaja

used to sit in the howdah earlier. 4

This tradition was maintained in full vigour for more than a decade even

after the country acquired independence. But now, under the changed political

and administrative conditions, the Dasara is being organized in the city in a

modified form as Naada Habba, festival of the land. On the tenth day of

festival, the grand procession of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari accompanied by

umpteen tableaux is the chief attraction. According to a legend, the name

Mysore is derived from Mahishasura. In Sanskrit, ‘Mahisha’ means buffalo.5

Administrative Units

Mysore district consists of seven revenue taluks such as H.D. Kote,

Hunsur, K.R. Nagar, Nanjangud, Periyapatna, T. Narasipura, Mysore Urban

and Mysore Rural. For administration purpose, Mysore district comprises two

sub-divisions, which are Hunsur and Mysore; it consists of 1,216 villages, 11

statutory towns, 235 Grama Panchayats and 226 Wards. The District

Commissioner is responsible for managing the District administration and the

Assistant Commissioners are responsible for managing the sub-divisions of the

district.6

There are 7 revenue administrative blocks and 9 educational blocks.

Mysore block is divided into two educational blocks, namely, Mysore Urban

and Mysore Rural. Mysore urban is further bifurcated into two sub-educational

blocks, namely, Mysore North and Mysore South for administrative purposes.

H.D. Kote and Nanjangud blocks have vast geographical areas because of the

forests. Nanjangud block has a large number of Grama Panchayats in the

district and this is due to larger population of the block compared to the

remaining blocks of the district. Apart from the above, the district has 9

municipalities, 1 City Corporation (Mysore), 7 Taluk Panchayats, 42 Zilla

245

Panchayat constituencies, 1 Parliament constituency and 11 Assembly

constituencies.7

Literacy rate

In Mysore district, the literacy rate in 2011 is 72.56 Percent, out of

which Male and Female literacy rate were at 80.16 and 64.74 respectively.

Table 6.1 shows the taluk wise literacy rates for Mysore district for the period

of 2011. Within the district, the pattern of temporal change in the literacy rates

is identical; Mysore taluk tops the taluk of the district with the highest literacy

rates in all the three censuses, which is collected by the district statistical

office, Mysore. K.R. Nagar taluk is closest with the next highest rates for the

three census years, while H.D. Kote taluk has the lowest total literacy rate,

overall, the performance of Periyapatna taluk is commendable. Hunsur taluk is

also not far behind either.

Table 6.1

Literacy rate of women in Mysore District

Taluks Illiterate

women

Literate

1- PUC level

Women higher

education

H.D Kote 6 42 2 50

Hunsur 3 37 10 50

K.R. Nagar 2 36 12 50

Mysore 1 36 13 50

Nanjangud 4 38 8 50

Piriyapatna 3 37 10 50

T.N Pura 5 39 6 50

Total 24 265 61 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

15.6794 0.206

246

Pearson chi square test is made use to measure the association between the

literacy rate and taluks of Mysore District. The estimated value of chi square is

15.6794 and it is statistically significant at 5 percent level. Table 6.1 shows that

the female literacy rate is very less in H.D. Kote because of lack of educational

infrastructure in the nearby areas and though this taluk is geographically vast, it

is covered with forest and also due to poor socio economic status of the people

who are infavourable to send the girls for higher education. People think that it

is taboo to send their girl children to higher education in this taluk. So the

women with higher education is also very less. But due to exposure to new

ideas, thinking, and urbanization of Mysore taluk, have changed the attitude of

the people to send their daughters to higher education thinking that their

daughters earn their bread for their livelihood in future.

No. of Hospitals

“All primary health units have been upgraded to PHCs (Primary Health

Centers) from the year 2008-09. Expert consultations are obtained through

networked taluk general hospitals and diseases are treated under telemedicine

programmes”, this information obtained by the medical offer of one of the

PHCs of case study area.

There is now the availability of 24 x 7 days hours service on delivery

and curative aspects in rural areas. For safe anti-natal care, “Madilu” kit is

provided to those eligible women who deliver babies at the Government

hospitals. Incentives are also given for institutional deliveries for poor women.

In the last few decades, the Health Department has made efforts to improve

the health status of the population of the district. There was considerable

increase in the expenditure towards infrastructure. Moreover, some super

speciality hospitals have also come up in the district. Apart from this, the

Health Department has implemented some projects which are highlighted

below.

247

i) Karnataka Health Systems Development project assisted by the World

Bank. The main aim of this project is to improve the performance and

quality of health care services at the district level.

ii) India population project XI has been implemented in 13 districts

including Mysore, its main objectives are the promotion, strengthening

and delivery of services through involvement of the community

improvement in the quality of services by providing training.

Table 6.2

People enjoying hospital facility in Mysore District

Taluks People with Hospital

faculties

People without

hospital facilities

Total

H.D Kote 47 3 50

Hunsur 46 4 50

K.R. Nagar 43 7 50

Mysore 50 0 50

Nanjangud 49 1 50

Piriyapatna 47 3 50

T.N Pura 44 6 50

Total 326 24 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

11.8098 0.066

To measure the association between taluks and people enjoying hospital

facilities in the study area of Mysore District, chi-square test is used. The

estimated value of chi-square is 11.8098 it is statistically significant at 1

percent.

Table 6.2 indicates that all 50 women respondents of Mysore taluk

enjoys hospital facility, because almost all villages has Primary Health Centres.

At the same time the people of Mysore taluk come to the urban areas to take

248

the medical benefits. But out of 50 respondents only 43 in K.R. Nagar enjoys

hospital facality, it is the least taluk as per the case study regarding the number

of women enjoying hospital facality. It is because there is no such pressure on

the people’s representatives to provide health facilities. People who are

affordable get medical benefits by going to nearby Hunsur taluk or sometimes

they take such facilities in Mysore city. Thus out of 350 sample respondents,

326 enjoy the hospital facilities.

Infant Mortality

Infant mortality rate is universally regarded not only as a most important

indicator of the health status of a community but also of the levels of living of

people in general and the effectiveness of medical services in particular.

Table 6.3

Infant mortality in Mysore District

Taluks Respondents

with infant

mortality case

Respondents

without Infant

mortality cases

Total

H.D. Kote 2 48 50

Hunsur 2 48 50

K.R. Nagar 6 44 50

Mysore 1 49 50

Nanjangud 5 45 50

Piriyapatna 3 47 50

T. N. Pura 4 46 50

Total 23 327 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

6.3289 0.387

To measure the relationship between taluk infant mortality chi-square

test is used. The chi square value 6.3289. It is significant at 5 percent level.

249

Table 6.3 depicts that out of 350 respondents, 23 infant mortality cases

have found in the study region. But among 23 cases, 6 cases (large) are in K.R.

Nagar itself, this is because of lack of hospital facality, and poor people are not

affordable to go for private nursing homes. But vice versa situation is found in

Mysore taluk, i.e., only one case of infant mortality is seen, it is due to the

existence of large number of hospital, which has already discussed in table 6.2.

Table 6.3 shows infant mortality rates per 50 respondents. As for infant

mortality rate per 1,000 live births, Mysore taluk have none per 50 respondents

and K.R. Nagar taluk 5 per 50, the lowest and the highest respectively, among

the taluks.

The IMR in Mysore district has declined slowly from 56 per thousand

live births in 2001 to 50 per thousand in 2011. There is plenty of evidence to

show that better control of infant mortality is related to widespread literacy

and primary health care.

The principal cause of infant mortality in Mysore district are low birth

weight, respiratory infection, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital malformation and

cord infection. Whereas in some taluks the high infant mortality is mainly due

to low birth weight and the combined effects of infection and malnutrition and

in other taluks it is due to congenital anomalies, anorexia and hypoxia.

The poor are caught in the vicious circle of low income and ill health,

which are mutually reinforcing. Thus, an economic factor is a very important

determination of mortality rates. The availability and quality of heath care and

the nature of child’s environment are closely related to socio economic status.

250

Maternal Mortality

Table 6.4

Maternal mortality in Mysore District

Taluks Respondents

mortality cases

Respondents without

maternal mortality cases

Total

H.D. Kote 2 48 50

Hunsur 3 47 50

K.R. Nagar 5 45 50

Mysore 0 50 50

Nanjangud 1 49 50

Piriyapatna 3 47 50

T.N. Pura 4 46 50

Total 18 332 350

Pearson chi square Value Level of significance

7.2624 0.297

Chi square test measures the link between taluk and maternal mortality.

The chi square value is 7.2624 and it is statistically significant at 5 percent

level.

Table 6.4 explains that none of the families out of 50 have come across

the maternal mortality case in Mysore taluk, it is because of good educational

facilities in the taluk which have created awareness towards health and hygiene

aspect of women, have led to very less cases of maternal mortality in Mysore

taluk. Due to lack of hospital facilities as discussed earlier in the case of infant

mortality is the some cause for large number of maternal mortality in K.R.

Nagar taluk.

251

The maternal mortality also depends on institutional deliveries and

deliveries conducted by the health personnel. Maternal mortality is quite high

for the mother who is either below 20 years of age.

Maternal mortality is lower when the birth interval is more than 24

months, and the mother is in the age group of 20 to 29, one way of reducing

maternal mortality is to encourage young couples to space births, currently very

few are reported to use spacing method. Hence, creating awareness about

spacing among young couples is important.

Employment

Income is the remuneration earned in cash or kind by an individual or

household for turning out certain production. Income represents production in

the economy and hence it confers on the individual the command or purchasing

power over goods and services. It was Prof. Arthur Cecil Pigou, a famous

British Economist who first used the concept of income to measure the

economic welfare of people. Accordingly the concepts of GNP, per capital

income came into use.8

Income continues to be an important conventional indicator of

development although development specialists of late find flaws in it as a

reflection of human prosperity. Differences in the concepts and techniques used

in the measurement of income add to the problems in using income as the sole

indicator of development. Several refinements were attempted to purge the

flaws. Accordingly, from time to time, economists have come up with new

concepts such as MEW (Measure of Economic Welfare) coined by Prof. P.A

Samuelson and NEW (Net Economic Welfare) coined by Prof. James Tobin

and Philip Nordhous. Basically MEW and NEW are similar in that they take

income net of demerit goods (like narcotics, etc) harmful to human health but

to add the income generated in the form of (or rather the expenditure saved

from) housewives unpaid household jobs, etc, to the total income.9

252

A further attempt is made by the UN Organizations such as the UNEP

(UN Environment programme) to purge the outflaws in the conventional

measurement of income which does not deduct the depreciation of natural

resources that takes place every year while producing the GNP. In this context,

the concept green GNP has come into vogue. It is nothing but the

conventionally computed GNP minus the depletion of the natural capital stock

occurring in that year. Since the depletion of the natural capital stock every

year jeopardizes the prospects for future growth, the green GNP concept marks

the emergence of what is called green accounting in the national income

analysis. The Scandinavian countries have already started green GNP

accounting as part of their regular national income accounting exercise.9

Workers are classified into two types, main workers and marginal

workers. In Mysore district, 22.73 percent of main workers in 2011 were

female workers. On the other hand, 61.92 percent of them were female

marginal workers.

Table 6.5

Number of Women Employee in Mysore District

Taluks Employees Unemployees Total

H.D. Kote 47 3 50

Hunsur 46 4 50

K.R. Nagar 44 6 50

Mysore 48 2 50

Nanjangud 45 5 50

Periyapatna 40 10 50

T. Narasipura 30 20 50

Total 300 50 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

38.0333 0.000

253

Chi square test is made use to explain the association between taluks and

employment opportunities. The chi square value is 38.0333. It is statistically 1

percent level.

As per table 6.5 large number of women employees are seen in Mysore

taluk, because of availability of job opportunities in the Mysore city, due to

wide educational facilities, the women are able to fit into job to earn their

bread. Second highest number of females working as employees can be seen in

H.D. Kote, because they work in their own lands, as agriculture cultivators,

though less education among the women is seen in H.D Kote, large number of

women employees are seen in that taluk, because many of them are agriculture

labourers and cultivators. But very less employees are seen in T. Narasipura,

because of lack of education facilities in that taluk as discussed in table 6.1.

They are not able to migrate to urban areas in search of jobs, because of low

educational status. The respondents of T. Narasipura taluk said that

employment opportunity is less for women in their taluk is due to lack of

governmental interest towards creating self employment opportunities for

women.

But this study takes into consideration only the female main workers,

the highest percentage of women main workers being recorded for Mysore

taluk (48 out of 50 respondents), followed by H.D. Kote taluk (47). A large

respondent of female main workers were found in H.K. Kote as women

cultivators, due to their lack of education as discussed in table 6.5. Hunsur and

Nanjangud taluks recorded the highest number of female main workers with 46

and 45 respectively. This shows that in these areas women are lending a

helping hand to their men in the field taking all the burden of family work. Out

of 350 respondents, 300 were employed in all the taluks.

Table 6.5 reveals the number of female main workers as women

cultivators, women agricultural labourers, women in household industries and

women in other works in the study region. Highest number of women main

254

workers who are agricultural cultivators is in H.D. Kote (40) followed by

Hunsur (37) and Periyapatna (30) Mysore and K.R.Nagar (29) recorded

moderate number of agriculture cultivators. Very less number as female

agriculture cultivators are in T. Narasipura (16). Out of 350 respondents, 300

were employed out of 300, 209 women are employed as female main

agriculture cultivators.

Table 6.6

Employment Status of Women in Mysore District

Taluk Agricultural

cultivators

Agricultural

labourers

Household

employees

Others Unemployed Total

H.D. Kote 40 7 0 0 3 50

Hunsur 37 8 0 1 4 50

K.R. Nagar 29 6 9 0 6 50

Mysore 29 5 5 9 2 50

Nanjangud 28 4 5 8 5 50

Periyapatna 30 5 0 5 10 50

T. Narsipura 16 0 5 9 20 50

Total 209 35 24 32 50 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

96.9762 0.000

Chi square test is used to measure the association or employment status

geographical women with region. The chi square value is 96.9762. It is

significant at 1 percent level.

Table 6.6 reveals that compared to female agriculture cultivators, female

agricultural labourers are less. Out of 300 working women respondents 209 are

serving as agriculture cultivators, only 36 are working as agricultural labourers.

Largest number of female main agricultural labourers are in Hunsur (8) and

H.D. Kote (7) Moderate number are engaged as agricultural labourers in

Mysore taluk (5) Periyapatna (5) and Nanjangud (5). But as per the case study

255

of 50 respondents of T. Narasipura, one was working as agricultural labourer.

Both female agriculture cultivators and female agriculture labourers are more

in H.D Kote, Hunsur and Periyaptna, because of less number of school

facilities and lack of education and those women found it easy to earn their

bread.

Table 6.6 shows only 23 in all the taluks of Mysore district are engaged

in household industries, as per the information obtained in the study area. Large

number (9) of women engaged in household industries are in K.R. Nagar,

followed by Mysore and T. Narasipura, and none of the respondents from

Hunsur and H.D. Kote are engaged in industries, this has once again provide

that the lack of education, have made women to settle in agricultural forms and

they are not capable of working in industries due to lack of academic skill and

techniques.

Other works in this study refers to women working as teachers, doctors,

lawyers, lecturers, engineers, tailors, small business persons, commission

agents, bank employees, nurses, police etc. Out of 350 respondents 300 are

employed. Among 300, 209 are agriculture cultivators, 36 are agricultural

labourers, 23 are in household industries, remaining 32 are engaged in other

works. Highest number are employed in other works in Mysore taluk (9),

T. Narasipur (9), and Nanjangud (8). This is because good education and better

socio economic condition have made women to get good education and they

have been exposed to advanced society because these taluks are very close to

Mysore city. Moderate number is in Periyapatna (5), though it is far from

Mysore city, people of Periyapatna utilize the benefits of Kushalnagar, which is

just 20 kms, (Kushal nagar taluk of Madikeri district). But very less is in

Hunsur (1), because large number work in their own fields as agriculturists. It

is zero in H.D. Kote which is surrounded by forest and due to lack of education

and very backward social exposure have made them to work in agriculture

fields. Thus large number of female agriculture cultivators (40) and agriculture

laborers (7) are found in H.D. Kote.

256

Women working in other services as mentioned earlier is zero as per the

case study result in K.R. Nagar, because a moderate number depends on

agriculture as cultivators and labourers. But majority (9) in K.R. Nagar taluk

involve in household industrial works, because soon after completing the

minimum education, they try to earn their livelihood by joining some nearby

industries. Once again this taluk is geographically very close to Mysore city

and good education facility of this taluk have made women to utilize some of

the Governmental programmes and have helped them in starting the household

industries which can be seen in Picture 13.

Sex ratio

The district sex ratio is 982 in 2011 which showed an improvement from

964 in 2001. In no taluk the sex ratio was anything nearer to parity. As per the

case study results, Periyapatna taluk (55) recorded the lowest sex ratio K.R.

Nagar taluk (90) topped the list of taluks with the highest of sex ratio followed

by Nanjangud and H.D. Kote with 82 and 76 respectively.

Sthree Shakthi

Table 6.7

Number of Women involved in Sthree Shakthi in Mysore District

Taluk No. of women involved

in Sthree shakthi

No. of women involved

in Sthree shakthi Total

H.D. Kote 41 9 50

Hunsur 45 5 50

K.R. Nagar 47 3 50

Mysore 44 6 50

Nanjangud 48 2 50

Periyapatna 50 0 50

T. Narsipura 46 4 50

Total 321 29 350

Pearson chi square Value Level of significance

13.3849 0.037

257

Chi square test is used to measure the relationship between taluks and

sthree shakthi the women involved in chi square value is 13.3849. It is

statistically significant at 1 percent level.

Women who have been making waves in the field of participatory

development has been amply demonstrated by their growing economic

independence and empowerment through Sthreeshakthi or Mahila Sanghas.

Everywhere in Mysore district, women have been ever so silently

revolutionizing participatory development by coming together and functioning

in a co-operative way of the total SHG’s in Mysore district. Nanjangud

accounts highest number of respondents as members, the next highest number

in K.R. Nagar taluk, followed by T. Narasipura very less in Periyapatna and

H.D. Kote.

The programme like Trysem, SJRY and IRDP have benefited the

members of these groups by providing employment opportunities to take up

small scale self employment activities through establishing small scale and

cottage industries. That is why large number of women main workers in

household industries are more in K.R. Nagar, T. Narasipur and Nanjangud

because they get financial assistance from these SHGs and start independent

economic life.

The evidence in the case study area reveals that the taluks where there

are large number of SHGs, the women are engaged in household industrial

activities and other workers are also more, because taluks like Nanjangud, K.R.

Nagar and T. Narasipur dominated by SHG’s women participation in

household activities and other works are more. Most of the SHGs have also

taken up dairy activities by which they made recognizable progresses in milk

production, and a few of them are producing food products and some others

produce garments, notebooks, fancy dolls and fancy articles.

258

Political Participation

Table 6.8

Political participation of women in Mysore District

Taluks Women involved in

political activities

Women not involved

in political activities Total

H.D. Kote 2 48 50

Hunsur 5 45 50

K.R. Nagar 1 49 50

Mysore 6 44 50

Nanjangud 4 46 50

Periyapatna 0 50 50

T. Narsipura 7 43 50

Total 25 325 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

12.5785 0.050

Chi square value between women involved in political activities and taluks is

12.5785. It is statistically significant at 1 percent level.

Out of 350 respondents, 28 respondents have participated as Gram

Panchayat members. Highest representatives are from T. Narasipur (7)

followed by Mysore (6), Hunsur (5), the next place occupied by Nanjangud (4)

& Periyapatna (3). The least representation is from H.D. Kote (2) and K.R.

Nagar (1). In no taluk the gender balance is in favour of women in regard to

representation at the Gram Panchayat.

There are 9 Urban local bodies in the district the novel feature of the

state is always to hold regular elections to these local self governments. All the

functions as per the 73rd

and 74th

Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) are

being performed by the local self governments.

259

Table 6.9

Political participation and Education Status of Women in Mysore District

Educational status Political participation

No Yes Total

Illiterates women 22 2 24

Primary educated women 242 23 265

Higher educated women 61 0 61

Total 325 25 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

5.6867 0.058

Pearson chi square is sued to measure the association between educational

status and their political participation as Grama Panchayat members in Mysore

district. The estimated value of chi square is 5.6867 and it is statistically

significant at 1 percent level.

Table 6.10 shows that women with education can lead society by acting as

people’s representative. Even illetrate women have elected as people’s

respective but their number is very limited. Even though they have elected all

administrative works will be done by their husbands. Women with higher

education have not showed their interest towards politics, because the women

with higher education are fit into various employment status. Thus the primary

education have opened up a way for women to come out with some restrictions

and have helped them to actively participate in Gram panchayat elections, than

illiterate women political representatives.

260

Table 6.10

Employment and Educational Status of Women in Mysore District

Employment

Educational status

Illiterate Primary

educated

Higher

educated Total

No 2 45 3 50

Yes 22 220 58 300

Total 24 265 61 350

Pearson chi square Value Level of

significance

6.638 0.036

Pearson chi square is used to measure the association between educational

status and their employment status in Mysore district. The estimated value of

chi square is 6.638 and it is statistically significant at 1 percent.

Table 6.10 shows that Agriculture has retained its importance in Mysore

district, especially to taluk level, so majority of the illiterate women in Mysore

district are found them working as agricultural labourers and agricultural

cultivators.

Primary educated women are employed in large number than higher educated

women, because Mysore district has wide employment opportunities in small

scale industries, cottage industries, household industries. They have found

themselves in self employment such as petty business persons, basket making,

toy making, swetter weaving etc.

Primary educated women are also engaged as agricultural labourers and

agricultural cultivators. Higher educated women are also employed in Mysore

district, because there are large number of software companies, BPO call

centres, various educational and medical institutions.

261

Table 6.11

Number of Hospitals and Infant mortality in Mysore District

Availability of

Hospital

Non

Availability Total

Existence of Infant Mortality 9 14 23

Absence of Infant Mortality 15 312 327

Total 24 326 350

Pearson chi square

Value Level of

significance

40.1460 0.000

Pearson chi square is used to measure the relationship between the number of

hospitals and the number of infant mortality in Mysore district. The estimated

value of chi square is 40.1460 and it is statistically significant at 1 percent.

The 6.11 explains that the number of infant mortality and the number of infant

mortality and the number of hospitals are inversely related. Infant mortality

number is less, where the number of hospitals are more. Because in the areas

where there are large number of hospitals, large number of educational

facilities will also exist, thus people will be more aware of good health and

hygiene. Thus the number of infant mortality will be less in the areas where

there will be presence of hospitals than the areas where there will absence of

hospitals. The number of infant mortality also exists in the place where there

are availability of hospitals is due to lack of surgical operations in Primary

Health Centres of village and taluk level hospitals and which has made them to

relay on district hospital.

262

Pragathi Mahila Swasahaya Sangha Gurupura, Ummatur Panchayat,

Hunsur Taluk

The Pragathi Mahila Swasahaya Sangha was started in the year 2000-01 with

20 women members in the age group 25-45 years. Of the total of 20 members,

only 6 members are literate. The women of the Sangha are engaged in

preparing sambar powder (curry powder) and different types of malt from

which they earn Rs. 5000 per month. The money earned is deposited in the

bank. The members of the Sangha are entitled for a loan up to Rs. 15,000 for

business and other purposes. The Sangha also takes part in conducting Besige

Shibira (Summer Camp), for providing school books and uniform to the needy

school-going boys and girls of the village. It is noticeable that all the women

have toilets in their houses. The Sangha is also assisted by the Gram Panchayat

as well as Taluk Panchayat.

The Department of Industries and Commerce identified this Sangha as one of

the upcoming self-help groups with three more such SHGs in Gurupura village

in the taluk which came forward to help them in establishing a small-scale coir

factor. This innovative activity is under SGSY, DRDA and Zilla Panchayat,

Mysore to develop entrepreneurship among enthusiastic rural SGSY cluster

activity. The Department has provided all necessary infrastructure like the

machinery and equipment, as well as raw materials and working capital for

running the coir unit.

Since the taluk has good number of coconut plantations, the factory does not

have any problem in getting the raw materials for the unit. The women

themselves work in the unit. As and when more workers are required, they

provide small-scale employment to outsiders at Rs. 70 per day. Now, the

Sangha produces coir mats, ropes and other products which are marketed

through the Department. The members are very happy as they get employment

to earn additional income for their families and add some more money to the

Sangha which enables them to take up developmental programmes in the

village on health and education. There is scope for further expansion of their

‘good work’ in future.

263

GOVERNMENT GIRLS HIGHER PRIMARY SCHOOL,

NANJANAYAKANAHALLI, H.D. KOTE TALUK

Government Girls Higher Primary School was started in Nanjanayakanahalli

with a small number of students without any basic infrastructural facilities. The

girl children of the village were not attending the school regularly. From the

year 1999-2000, the villagers took the initiative to send their girl children to the

school realizing that education is an important aspect in women development.

Even the teachers took up the challenge to bring all the eligible children to the

school and impart quality education. In later years, the School Development

and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) took up an awareness programme on

education. In addition to this, the SDMC mobilized resources to provide all

necessary infrastructure, like the school compound, toilets for girls, a well-

equipped kitchen for mid-day meals and a beautiful garden within the school

premises. The most noticeable achievement of the SDMC and the staff of the

school was a full-fledged water facility through rain-water harvesting. The

school has won the Best District – level SDMC prize for the year 2006-07. The

school is known as the Best School in the entire district, with distinction in all

its activities.

264

PICTURE 1

WOMEN WORKING AS AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN NERALE VILLAGE OF

H.D KOTE TALUK IN MYSORE DISTRICT

265

PICTURE 2

WOMAN SELLING VEGETABLES IN HAMPAPURA VILLAGE IN H.D KOTE

TALUK

WOMEN PERFORMING WORK IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN NANJANGUD TALUK

PICTURE 3

266

1. WOMAN WORKING AS SUPERVISOR IN MILK DAIRY

2. WOMAN INVOLVED IN SELLING MILKTO THE MILK DAIRY IN SALIGRAMA

VILLAGE OF K.R. NAGAR TALUK

MILK DAIRY ORGANIZED FOR WOMEN IN HANUMANTH NAGAR OF

SALIGRAMA VILLAGE IN K.R. NAGARA TALUK

1

2

PICTURE 5

PICTURE 4

267

PICTURE 6

PICTURE 7

WOMEN INVOLVED IN SELLING FANCY ARTICLES

WOMEN AS BUSSINESS PERSONS BY TAKING ASSISTANCE FROM SURABI

SELF HELP GROUP IN HUNSUR TALUK OF MYSORE DISTRICT

268

FEMALE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND STUDENTS IN GEJJAGALLI

VILLAGE OF MYSORE TALUK

GIRLS’ HIGHER PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SALIGRAMA VILLAGE OF

K.R. NAGARA TALUK

PICTURE 8

PICTURE 9

269

GIRLS’ ENROLLMENT RATIO CAN BE SEEN IN TANDAVAPURA OF

NANJANGUD TALUK

PAPAD MAKERS IN HINKAL OF MYSORE TALUK

PICTURE 10

PICTURE 11

270

WOMEN IN FOOD INDUSTRY IN K.R. NAGAR TALUK

WOMEN GETTING COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE THROUGH KEONICS IN

BILIKERE HOBLI OF HUNSUR TALUK

PICTURE 13

PICTURE 12

271

GRAMAPANCHAYAT MEMBER CONGRAGULATED BY THE MEMBERS OF HER

CONSTITUENCY IN GARGESHWARI VILLAGE OF T.NARSIPURA TALUK

FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN STHREE SHAKTHI IN KARNALLI VILLAGE OF

PERIYAPATNA TALUK

PICTURE 15

PICTURE 14

272

This chapter highlights the objective thereby explaining the disparities

in terms of literacy rate, sex ratio, infant mortality, maternal mortality rate,

employment opportunities Sthree shakthi and political participation among

women of different taluks of Mysore District.

This chapter makes an attempt in explaining the fourth objective of

identifying the causes for disparities in women development between different

taluks of Mysore District, just below each and every sparameter taken into

consideration.

Earlier it made an attempt in giving the ranks to every taluks in terms of

women development. But it was not possible, because some taluks may stand

high in few social variables but some may not achieve in social paraments

however they have prospered in economic concepts in contrary the taluks with

high social progress suffers from deteriorating economic status. Thus it has

made an attempt in explaining the disparities between different taluks of

Mysore District.

273

End notes

1. Internet source

2. Ibid

3. Ibid

4. Mysore District Human Development Report. Government of

Karnataka, Government Printing Press, Mysore 2008, pp 19.

5. Ibid

6. Ibid, pp. 23

7. Ibid

8. Ibid pp 113

9. Ibid