WOMEN’S ROLE AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE BODO SOCIETY IN ASSAM

Abstract

India is a vast country with a number of communities. If we talk about tribes, generally everyone believes that the group of people is considered backward and primitive in nature. There are total 14 recognized tribal groups in Assam (Excluding Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council), among them Bodo tribe is the largest tribal group carrying 40.90% out of total tribal population and the Miri tribe is the second largest, 17.80% (Census, 2011). The role of tribal women in tribal society is very unique in nature and they hold various responsibilities as compared to other tribal women. As per the reports, tribal women are more hard-working than tribal men but their economic contribution is lesser. The level of health, nutrition and standard of living of tribal women is also inferior to that of tribal men. Thus the strategy for the development of tribal women needs improvement, betterment, development and upliftment to effect their empowerment. This study focuses on the present status and development of Bodo tribe women and livelihood skill development.