Contents

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction (includes two maps of West Bengal)

     Chapter 1 – Demography  

1.1: Demographic Trends and the Status of Women

Table 1: Select Demographic Characteristic of West Bengal and India: 1971-2001

1.2: Population Growth Rate

1.2a: Population Density

1.2b: Urbanization

1.2c: Distribution of Population by Community

1.2d: Distribution of Population by Age-groups

Table 2: Percentage of Distribution of Population by Age-groups: 1981 and 1991

1.2e: Women-headed Households

1.3: Sex Ratio

Table 3: Relative Sex Ratios of West Bengal and India

Table 4: Female-Male Ratio in Total Population of West Bengal: 1971-2001

Table 5: sex Ratio by Community – West Bengal and India: 1991

1.3a: Child Sex Ratio

Table 6: Child Sex Ratio: India and States 1971-2001

1.3b: Expectation of Life at Birth

Table 7: Life Expectation at Birth (Years): West Bengal and India

1.3c: Vital Rates

Table 8: Vital Rates WB and India, 1981 and 1991

1.3d: Infant and Child Mortality. (A map accompanies this section).

Table 9: Sample Registration System: 1991

1.4: Marital Status and Age at Marriage

Table 10: Distribution of Population by Age-group and Marital Status in West Bengal and India

1.4a: Burdens of Widowhood

1.4b: Aspects of Nuptiality

1.4c: Mean Age at Marriage

Table 11: Mean Age at Marriage: West Bengal and India 1971 to 1998-99

1.4d: Fertility Rates

Table 12: Age Specific Fertility Rates: West Bengal and India (SRS and NFHS Estimates)

1.5: Literacy

Table 13: Literacy and Associated Indicators Relating to Ever Married Women Aged 13-49 Years (1992-93)

1.6: Indices of Women’s Development

1.7: Conclusion 

      Chapter 2 – Health  

 

2.1: Health and Gender

2.2: Expectation of Life at Birth

Table 1: Projected Values of Expectation of Life at Birth by Sex

2.3: Sex Ratio

Table 2: Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males) 1901 to 2001 in India and Fifteen Major States

2.3a: Sex Ratio: 0-6 Years

Table 3: Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males) of Population Aged 0 to 6 Years in India and Fifteen Major States, 1961 to 2001

2.4: Nutrition

2.4a: Low Birth Weight Children

Table 4: Nutritional Status by Sex Among Children in West Bengal and India and the Percentage Classified as Under-Nourished in NFHS I and II (1992-93 and 1998-99)

2.4b: West Bengal ICDS Data

Table 5: Nutritional Status (Weight for Age) of Children by Sex in West Bengal in September 2000 as Reported by Angarwadi Centres

2.4c: Anaemia among Children of 6 to 35 months

2.4d: Anaemia among Women

2.4e: Height and Weight for Height

2.5: Age at Marriage

Table 6: Retrospective Study of pregnancies in a sub-divisional Hospital in West Bengal.

2.6: Use of Contraceptives

Table 7: Percentage Distribution of Women Practising ‘Modern Methods’ by type

2.7: Pre-Natal, Natal, and Post-Natal Care

2.8: Morbidities

Table 8: Awareness of RTI, STI, and HIV/AIDS among men and women. Percentage of Men age 20-54 years and Women age 15-44 years who are aware of RTI, STI, and HIV/AIDS in India and Fifteen States

2.8a: Abortion

Table 9: Medical Termination of Pregnancies in West Bengal 1972-73 to 1998-99

2.9: Gender Difference in Immunisation Coverage

2.10: Conclusion 

      Chapter 3 – Education  

School Education

3.1: Educating the girl child

3.2 Literacy:

Chart 1 : All-India Rural Urban Literacy Rates (%).

Table 1: Literacy Rate in India and in 15 Major States by Sex (%).

Chart 2: Literacy Rate of Female/100 Male (%).

Table 2: Literacy among males and females in Districts of West Bengal, 1991 Census

3.3 : The Pre-school Experience

3.4 : Primary, upper primary and secondary stages

Table 3 : Enrolment by stages, Percentage of girls and rank  in India & 4 Major States.

Chart 3: Enrolment by stages : Percentage of girls in West Bengal and India (1986-97)   

 Chart 4: G/100B enrolled in Class VIII           

 Table 4: For Every 100 Boys and 100 Girls enrolled in Class I, the Number enrolled in Class V & VIII

Chart 5: Girl/100 Boys Gross Enrolment Ratio in the Upper Primary Stage.

3.5 Supply Constraints:  

3.6 Demand Constraints:

Table 5: Proportion (per 1000) of Never Enrolled Persons (5-24 years) and their per 1000 distribution by Reason for Non-Enrolment (Rural).

Table 6: Average Expenditure (Rs.) per male and female student of age 5-24 years pursuing general education by broad level of education in India and 15 Major States (Urban).

Table 7: Average Expenditure (Rs.) per male and female student of age 5-24 years pursuing general education by broad level of education in India and 15 Major States (Rural)

3.7 Conclusion:

Higher and Technical Education

3.8 : Education completed as proportion of Relevant Population in West Bengal

Table 8: Level of Education Completed As Proportion of Relevant Population in West Bengal (Percentage)

Chart 6: Level of Education Completed as Proportion of Relevant Population in West Bengal (Percentage)

3.9 : Enrolment: A Case Study of Jadavpur University

Table 9: Jadavpur University B.A. Admissions (1970 – 71 to 1999 – 2000)

Table 10: Jadavpur University M.A. Admissions  (1970 – 71 to 1999– 2000)

Table 11: Jadavpur University B. Sc. Admissions (1970 – 71 to 1999 – 2000)

Table 12: Jadavpur University M. Sc Admissions  (1970 – 71 to 1999 – 2000)

Table 13: Jadavpur University B.E. Admissions (1970 – 71 to 1999 – 2000)

Table 14: Jadavpur University M.E Admissions (1970 – 71 to 1999 – 2000)

Chart 7 : Jadavpur University Admissions in Arts, Science and Engineering (1970-71 to 1999-2000)

3.10 : Trends in examination results in higher studies

Table 15 : Examination Results in Higher Studies, West Bengal (1999 – 2000)

3.11 : Technical Education and Vocational Training

3.11a : Polytechnics

Table 16: Admission to Polytechnics, West Bengal (1999 – 2000)

Chart 8 : Polytechnic Admission in 1999-2000

 3.11b : Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)

Table17 : Admissions in Industrial Training Institutes in West Bengal (1999- 2000) One-Year Engineering Trades.

Chart 9 : ITI (One-Year Course) Admissions in 1999-2000.

Table 18: Admissions to ITIs in West Bengal (1999-2000) Two-Year Engineering Trades.

Chart 10 : Admissions in it is (Two-Year Courses) in 1999-2000.

3.11c : Community Polytechnic Courses

3.11d : Short Term Vocational Training Courses (STVT)

3.12 : Conclusion 

   Chapter 4 - Economic Empowerment  

4.1 : Women’s Work – Concept and Definition

4.2 : Economic Participation as Contribution Towards Empowerment.

Table 1 : Economic Participation and Decision Making Index in West Bengal.

4.3 : Marginalisation of Female Labour.

Table 2 : Marginalisation of Female Labour (1981-2001)

Chart 1 : Marginalisation of Labour.

Chart 2 : Female Workers as Main Workers.

Chart 3 : Female Workers as Marginal Workers.

4.3a : Female Work Participation Rate.

Table 3 : Female Work Participation Rate : 1991-2001.

Table 4 : Per 1000 Distribution of Usually Working Persons in the Usual Category taken together by Broad Industry Division.

Chart 4 : Proportion of Self-Employment, Casual and Regular Female Employment in the 43^rd Round (1987-88).

Chart 5 : Proportion of Self-Employment, Casual and Regular Female Employment in the 55^th Round (1999-2000).

4.3b : Gender Stereotyping.

Table 5 : Occupational Sex-Ratios in the districts.

4.3c : Participation in Domestic Duties.

Table 6 : Rural-Urban Female Participation in Household Activities.

4.3d : Home-based Production.

4.4 : Women in the Informal Sector.

Table 7 : Proportion of Informal Sector Female Workers.

Table 8 : Increase in number of Female Non-agricultural Sector Worker 1991-2001.

4.5 Earnings of Female Workers.

Table 9 : Daily Wages for Casual Workers in Public Work.

Table 10 : Daily Wages for Casual Workers not in Public Work.

4.6 : Impact of Globalisation.

Chart 6 : Rate of Displacement from Agriculture between 1993-94 and 1999- 2000.

4.7 : Conclusion. 

    Chapter 5 – Political Participation  

 

5.1 : Historical Background.

5.2 : International Women’s Year and After.

5.3 ; Constitutional Amendments (73^rd and 74^th) and Women’s Political Participation.

5.3a : Panchayati Raj and Women.

Table 1 : Zila Parishad Election 1993.

Table 2 : Panchayat Samity Election 1993.

Table 3 : Gram Panchayat Election 1993.

Table 4 : Reservation Pattern of office-bearers in 3-tier Panchayats.

Fig 1 : Panchayat Elections in West Bengal : 1998.

Table 5 : Schedule Caste Women in Panchayat Bodies Members.

5.3b : Women in Urban Civic Bodies.

5.4 : Women at the State and National Level Politics.

Table 6 : Representation of Women Members from First to Thirteenth Lok Sabha.

Table 7 : Women MLAs from West Bengal, 1971-96.

Table 8 : Women Ministers in West Bengal Government.

5.4a : Findings of Survey Among State Leaders.

Fig 2 : MPs in the Thirteenth Lok Sabha / MLAs from West Bengal 1996 Election.

Table 9 : Participation of Women in Seven Leading Political Parties. (All figures are of 2000)

Table 10 : Membership of Women’s Organizations of Seven Leading Parties. (All figures are of 2000)

5.5 : The Autonomous Women’s Movement.

5.6 : Women in the Trade Union Movement.

5.7 : Conclusion.

 

 

   Chapter 6 – Culture  

 

6.1 : Methodology

6.2 : Literature.

6.2a : Trends in the Representation of Women in Fiction.

6.2b : Autobiographies and Academic Books.

6.2c : Changing Social Status of Women Writers.

6.2d : Trends in Readership.

6.3 : Theatre.

Table 1 : Productions Staged between 1975 an 1999.

6.4 : Film.

Table 2 : Representation of Women’s Issues in Bengali Films : 1975-2000.

6.5 : Print Media.

6.5a : News Papers.

6.5b : Periodicals and Women’s Magazines.

6.6 : Electronic Media.

6.7 : Advertisements.

6.8 : Music.

6.9 : Dance.

6.10 : Radio Programme.

6.11 : Educational Material.

6.12 : Visual Arts.

Table 3 : Enrolment in the Government Art College, Calcutta (1981-2000)

Table 4 : Record of Exhibitions held at the Academy of Fine Arts (1975-99)

Table 5 : Record of Exhibitions held at the Birla Academy (1975-99).

6.13 : Conclusion. 

       Chapter 7 – Law and Violence Against Women  

7.1: Historical Perspective

7.2a: International Covenants and Women’s Rights

7.2b: Social Justice, Human Rights and Legal Provisions in India

Table 1: Laws Relating to Women Enacted since 1947

7.2c: Legal Reforms in West Bengal

7.3: Violence Against Women-Concept and Definition

Table 2: Types of Violence Against Women

7.4: Violence Against Women in West Bengal

Table 3: Ranking of Districts According to Incidents of Crimes Against Women in 1999

Table 4: Crimes Against Women in West Bengal (Excluding Kolkata)

Table 5: Crimes Against Women in Kolkata

7.4a: Dowry Harassment and Death

Table 6: Dowry Murder (West Bengal Excluding Kolkata)

Table 7: Dowry Death (West Bengal Excluding Kolkata)

Table 8: Dowry Death (Kolkata)

7.4b: Domestic Violence

Table 9: Cruelty by Husband and Other Relatives Against Women in West Bengal (Excluding Kolkata)

Table 10: Torture on Housewives

Table 11: Reasons Given for Justifying a Husband Beating his Wife in West Bengal

Table 12: Women’s Experience with Beating or Physical Mistreatment in West Bengal

7.4c: Sexual Assault and Rape

Table 13: Districtwise Incidence and Rate of Sexual Assaults Against Women in West Bengal in 2000

7.4d: Trafficking of Girls and Women

Table 14: Decline in Percentage of Minor Girls in the Sex Trade at Sonagachhi

7.5: Survey on Impact of Legal Reforms on Women

Table 15: Introduction of the Respondents

Table 16: Occupation/Role in Decision-makings/Assistance received in Household Work

Table 17: Exposure to Violence

Table 18: Working Outside Home-Wages and Other Facilities

Table 19: Marital Status and Family Planning

Table 20: Litigation Arising out of Marriage

Table 21: On Maintenance and on Maintaining Others

Table 22: Property Laws

Table 23a: Awareness of Laws-on Child Marriage and Dowry Prohibition

Table 23b: Awareness of Laws-on Land Laws

Table 23c: Awareness of Laws-on Panchayat and other Activities

7.6: Conclusion 

       Chapter 8 – Tribal Women  

8.1: Introduction

8.2: Tribes of West Bengal

8.3: Demographic Trends

Chart 1: Percentage of Female ST in Total Female Population in 15 Major States (1993)

Table 1: Distribution of Families and Population in 1978 and 1993

Table 2: Distribution of Tribal Families and Population

8.4: Literacy and Education

Table 3: Percentage of ST Girl Students Enrolled in Different Stages of School (1973-93)

Table 4: Sexwise Enrolment to Total Enrolment in West Bengal

Table 5: 6^th AIESR WB Statewise Percentage of Scheduled Tribes Girls Enrolled at School Stages

8.5: Health

8.6: Employment and Work

Table 6: Districtwise Percentage of ST Females in Total ST Population According to Different Work-Groups (1981-91)

Table 7: Sexwise Percentage Distribution of Scheduled Tribe Workers

8.6a: Projects fro Tribal Women

8.6b: Forest Management and Women

8.7: Socio-Cultural Aspects

8.7a: Property Rights

8.7b: Witch-hunt

8.8: Conclusion 

      Policy Recommendations  

      Select Bibliography  

      Appendices  

Appendix A : Tables of Demography (A1 – A5).

Appendix B : Tables of Health (B1 – B23).

Appendix C : Education.

        C1 : Participation of SC/ST Girls in Teachers’ Training Cources.

        C2 : Education of Muslim Women in West Bengal.

 

Appendix D : Survey of Women’s Work in Bankura and Hooghly Districts of West Bengal.

 

Appendix E : Political Participation.

        E1 : List of Women Lok Sabha MPs from West Bengal (1952-2000).

        E2 : List of Women Rajyasabha MPs from West Bengal (1952-2000).

        E3 : List of Women MLAs in West Bengal (1952-2000).

 

Appendix F : Survey of Women Rural Artist of West Bengal.

 

Appendix G : A Survey of Women’s Status in Birbhum District of West Bengal.