Unveiling Gendered Economies: The Role of Women in Nellie Periodic Market of Morigaon District, Assam

Abstract

The periodic markets have been playing most important role in the rural areas of the Brahmaputra valley. These are the only cheaper markets for the peasant societies that hold on a specific day of a week and at a specific location of rural areas depending on the convenience of the locals. These periodic markets are typically flooded by males, who used to purchase and sell things. Women's participation in periodic markets as vendors and customers, although very less in the earlier times, has been gradually increasing.  They currently hold a significant position in many periodic markets. In Nellie periodic market, the women vendors who come from the hilly areas sell their home  produces. Because of the lack of employment and entrepreneurship which lead to economic vulnerability among the women, has forced them to be vendors in various periodic markets in order to establish their own identity. It has been observed that women not only visit to the markets for selling goods but also to acquire various daily home necessities. The participation of women in periodic markets has broken many elements of conservative society and also gives them exposure to the outside environment. The Nellie weekly market is a well-known weekly market in Morigaon district, Assam. This weekly market continues to be an important marketing center for the indigenous women vendors. The current study aims to look into the role of women in the Nellie weekly market, their socio-economic background, and the problems they encounter. The study is mainly based on primary data and information collected through personal field investigations, respondent surveys and FGDs with the help of well well-designed questionnaire.