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| Format: | Recurso digital |
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Zenodo
2026
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20349763 |
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Table of Contents:
- <p>Abstract: Women empowerment is an important aspect of rural development, especially in<br>states like Jharkhand where social and economic conditions continue to influence gender roles.<br>The present study assesses the level of women empowerment in the rural areas of East<br>Singhbhum district based on primary data collected during January and February 2026. A<br>total of 140 women respondents were surveyed using a structured questionnaire covering<br>different dimensions such as livelihood, decision-making, mobility and awareness. A composite<br>Women Empowerment Index (WEI) was used to measure the overall level of empowerment.<br>The findings show that a large proportion of women fall under the medium level of<br>empowerment, while a significant section still remains in the low category. Economic<br>participation is limited, with many women engaged in low-paid or irregular work. Although<br>participation in Self-Help Groups has improved financial awareness and confidence, income<br>levels remain low. Decision-making power is still largely shared or influenced by male<br>members and independent decision-making is limited. Mobility restrictions and low<br>participation in social activities also affect empowerment levels. The study further highlights<br>that women engaged in income-generating activities exhibit higher levels of confidence,<br>awareness and participation in household decision-making. This indicates a strong link<br>between livelihood and empowerment. However, factors such as education, social norms and<br>access to information continue to shape the extent of empowerment. The study suggests that<br>improving livelihood opportunities, strengthening Self-Help Groups and increasing awareness<br>can play a key role in enhancing women empowerment in rural areas.<br>Keywords: Women Empowerment; Rural Development; East Singhbhum; Livelihood;<br>Decision-Making; Self-Help Groups; Women Empowerment Index; Jharkhand</p>