SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF YADAV WOMEN

(A CASE STUDY OF FAKIRA VDC SAPTARY ,NEPAL)

A Thesis
Submitted to the Department of Economics, S.M.B.M. Campus, Rajbiraj
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tribhuvan University,
In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
in
ECONOMICS

Submitted by
Bhagwati Yadav
Department of Economics
S.M.B.M. Campus, Rajbiraj

May, 2017

i
 TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

Shree Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus

Department of Economics

Rajbiraj, Saptari

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

This Thesis entitled "SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF YADAV

WOMEN ( A Case Study of Fakira VDC, Saptari District)" is prepared

by Mr. Bhagwati Yadav to Department of Economics, Shree Mahendra Bindeshwari
Multiple Campus , Rajbiraj , Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan
University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF
ARTS IN ECONOMICS under my supervision. I hereby recommend this thesis for
approval by the thesis committee.

Mr. Pradeep Kumar Jha

(Reader)

Thesis supervisor

Date : May, 2017

ii
 TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

Shree Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus

Department of Economics

Rajbiraj, Saptari

APPROVAL SHEET

We certified that the thesis entitled "Socio- Economic Status of Yadav

Women "(A Case Study of Fakira VDC Saptari ,Nepal) Submitted by Mr.
Bhagwati Yadav to Department of Economics, Shree Mahendra Bindeshwari
Multiple Campus, Rajbiraj, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan
University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF
ARTS IN ECONOMICS has been found satisfactory in scope and quality. Therefore,
we accept this thesis as apart of the said Degree .

Thesis Committee

..

Dr. Jay prakash Deo

Reader and Chairman

..

External Examiner

..

Mr. Pradeep kumar Jha

(Reader)

Thesis Supervisor

Date : May ,2017

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I offer my sincerest gratitude to my respected thesis supervisor

Mr. Pardeep Kumar Jha, Department of Economics, Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple
Campus Rajbiraj, Saptari, Nepal for his invaluable and untiring guidance,
encouragement and suggestions from the beginning to the end of the writing of this
thesis.

Respectful thanks are offered to Dr. Sarbesh Chandra Mishra, Campus Chief of
Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus Rajbiraj for providing me opportunities to
carry out the study and regular encouragement.

I am equally thankful to respected teacher Mr. Tripurari Sharan, Dr. Ram khelawan
Yadav, Dr. Jay Prakash Deo, Mr. Nawanath Jha, Dr. Kamanand Deo, Dr. Hem
Kumar Mishra, Mr. Devendra Prasad Biraji, Mr. Santosh Kumar Sah, Mr. Randhir
Kumar Karn, Mr. Lalan Kumar Das, Mr. Shreekant Jha, Mr. Nilambar Lal karn, and
all the faculty members and the staffs of Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus
Rajbiraj, Whose regular encouragement me in completion research work.

I am thankful to the Central Library of Tribhuvan university Kirtipur. I would like to

thank the library of Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus, Rajbiraj for granting
me required material for my dissertation work.

Finally indebted to my respected parents Late Jamun Yadav and Jashodhi Devi Yadav
and My brothers Laxman Yadav , Shambhu Yadav and Nephew Rabin Yadav and
Shalendra Yadav for their regular inspiration and support and also thankful to my
nearest and dearest Daughter Yasmita Yadav and Wife Babita Yadav. I would Like
to Remember Mr. Naresh Yadav For Printing My thesis Paper and put my thanks to
all these people who have provided me valuable information during the interview and
field survey .

Bhagwati Yadav

Fakira 8, Saptari

iv
 ABSTRACT

Nepal is a small mountainous land locked country with an area of 147,181 square
kilometers with three clear ecological zones, the mountain 34.2% hill 41.7% and the
Terai 23.1% . It has a population of 23.2 million . Some 48.5% of the population lives
in the Terai, 44.2% in the hills and 7.3% in the mountains according to 2011 census.

Nepal is the country of multi-culture multi-ethnicity . The rural population of Nepal

consists of several ethnic groups such as Yadav ,Chhetri, Dalit etc. In general,
country's development means up liftmen of people's socio-economic and education
status. Among all, women development should be given due importance to uplift their
socio-economic condition.

Nepal is a caste divided society heavily influenced and dominated by a patriarchal

world view, women are seen as a lower to me and treated as their dependants
regardless of their education or economic attainments, and discrimination against
women starts from their birth and continues throughout their life. At home they are
second to their sons and inferior to husbands, in offices they are clerks and secretaries
to male officers. In the socio-political public life they are used as eye witnesses to
policies and decisions made by men. In all spheres, Nepalese women are well behind
their male counterparts, as evidenced by the human development indicators.

This study focuses only the socio-economic condition of Yadav women who are
living in Fakira VDC of saptari, Nepal. Yadav people live in different place like
Tilathi, Khurhurya , Gorgama, Mahuwa, Chhinamasta, Rajbiraj, Raiypur etc. of
Saptari district. The socio-economic status of Yadav people has not been explored in
either articles or any books. According to the study, new generation of Yadav women
are more educated than previous generation.

Nepalese women are facing so many problems such as : education, health,

employment, dowry etc, despite so many efforts directed towards their upliftment,
women's status is still poor due to the traditional perception and lack of awareness of
the society and lack of adequate improvements in the existing laws. As a matter of
fact, the problems faced by rural women are more severe than the women in urban
areas.

v
In Nepal , there are different castes, languages and religious groups. Although most of
the people are known about Yadav people but they don't know about Yadav. This
research aims at conducting a wide study about Yadav community . The research also
aims to protecting its culture from danger social rules.

In the study area women's involvement in decision-making process is very low.

Educated and earning women are to be found involvement in decision-making is than
illiterate women. However, the trend of involvement in decision-making is increasing.
They can decide about children's education and on the other family matters.

About 75% of women are working for social activities they are conceder as important
for singing, painting and other art like, Aarpan, Rangoli etc. social activities such as
marriage, mundane, bratbandh, chhat etc. Male and female have equal opportunity to
health services obtained from government health service centre.

This study has following recommendation for the improvement of livelihood of rural
people. This study concludes that the socio-economic status of Yadav women of
Fakira VDC is not good.

Therefore women of the study area should be empowered by the following ways.

Involvement should be increased through increasing for female student.

Involvement in income generating activities such as; involvement in business,
key position in political party, local government, social group etc.
Opportunities for employment in different sector should be given to women as
equally as men. Employment quotas for educated women should be reserved.

vi
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

HHs Household
Y Yadav
F Fakira
Pop Population
VDC Village Development Committee
S.N. Serial Number
T.V. Television
Eco Economics
Yr Year
B.S. Bikram Sambat
A.d. Anno Domini ( Year of English Calendar)
Sec Secondary
N.S. Not Stated
T.U. Tribhuvan University
i.e. Example
Resp. Respondent

vii
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION ii

APPROVAL SHEET iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

LIST OF ABBREVIATION vii

LIST OF CONTENTS viii

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF FIGURES xii

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Sudy 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 3
1.3 Objective of the study 4
1.4 Significance of the study 4
1.5 Research Methodology 4
1.6 Limitations of the study 5

CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Literacy concepts 6

2.2 Literacy and Empowerment of women 6
2.3 Status of women in Nepal 7
2.4 Women and Health 11
2.5 Women and Economy 11
2.6 Women and Decision 12
2.7 Women and Education 13
2.8 Women and politics 14
2.9 Women and property Rights 15
2.10 Women and Employment 16

viii
 2.11 Women and Religion 16
2.12 Based Traditions 17
2.13 Discrimination on economic value 17

CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research design 18
3.3 Method of Data Collection 18

3.3.1 Primary data collection 18

3.3.2 Secondary Data collection 20

3.4 Literature Review 20

3.5 Method of Data Analysis 20

CHAPTER 4. DATA ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY AREA

4.1 Introduction 21
4.2 Population and Administrative setup 21
4.3 Climates 22
4.4 Soil / land 23
4.5 Socio-economy of Fakira VDC 23
4.6 Language 24
4.7 Religion 26
4.8 Caste and Culture 26
4.9 Facilities 28
4.10 The population 33
4.11 Economy 33
4.12 Annual Sources of Income 34
4.13 Employment 34
4.14 Occupation 36
4.15 Dowry system 37
4.16 Age at marriage 38
4.17 Fertility 39
4.18 Family Structure 41
4.19 Education 42

ix
4.20 Marital status 44
4.21 Sources of energy 46
4.22 Leadership 47

CHAPTER 5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .

5.1 Summary and Conclusion 48

5.2 Recommendation 49

APPENDIX

BIBLIOGRAPHY

x
 LIST OF TABLES

CONTENT page No.

4.1 Total HHs in Fakira VDC 21

4.2 Language use in Fakira VDC 25

4.3 Population by Cast 27

4.4 Household by Housing unit 29

4.5 Sources of Drinking Water 30

4.6 Household by Communication 31

4.7 HHs by Toilet Facilities 32

4.8 The Women's Employments Yadav of Study Area 35

4.9 Occupations of Women 36

4.10 Age of Respondents at Marriage 38

4.11 Respondents Classified According to Fertility 40

4.12 Structure of Family in Yadav People 41

4.13 Education Status of Members in Fakira VDC 43

4.14 Marital Status of Fakira VDC 45

4.15 HHs by Lighting 46

xi
 LIST OF FIGURES

CONTENT page No.

4.1 Total Population in Fakira VDC 22

4.2 Languages in Fakira VDC 25

4.3 Population by Cast 28

4.4 HHs by Housing Unit 29

4.5 HHs by Drinking Water 30

4.6 Total HHs by Toilet 32

4.7 Total Population HHs Fakira VDC 33

4.8 Women's Employment of Yadav 36

4.9 Occupations of Women 37

4.10 Age of Respondents at Marriage 39

4.11 Respondents Classified According to Fertility 40

4.12 Structure of Family in Yadav People 42

4.13 Education Status of Members in Fakira VDC 42

4.14 Marital Status of Fakira VDC 45

4.15 HHs by Lighting 47

xii