Structural Reform and Macroeconomic Policy

Abstract

Kerala, a small state in the south of India has in the last decade caught world attention in achieving development in the areas of health and education on par with developed countries. 'Kerala's achievements have largely transcended caste, class, rural/urban and gender limitations' (Franke & Chasin 1994). Observations and studies made on State development programmes show that the key players in this achievement have been women. On the other hand, in areas of employment and per capita income, the State does not come on par with even some of the other Indian States. The question that emerges from this is how did the women achieve this and why has the 'take off' been explicitly narrow. Scholars also indicate that many small groups have been left out in the achievements of the social sector, such as fishermen, female stonecutters, female domestic servants, some female agricultural labourers and tribal people. In a state like Kerala where the female sex ratio is high, such a situation calls for attention. In this context it is interesting to find out the State's intervention towards the development of women and the contribution they make themselves. The present study intends to make the analysis from among the economically poor women who live in the rural area dependent on agriculture or service sectors. The study will bring together primary and secondary sources of data to answer the questions raised and also focus on social, economic, political and cultural contributions of these women.