Topic: Role of women, Agriculture
4) Recent studies have established that women undertook 80 per cent of farm work in India though only 13 per cent of the land was owned by them, in the backdrop of the statement discuss the causes for policy paralysis in granting entitlements to women in agriculture and farm widows and how can it be addressed? (250 words)
Why this question:
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJD’s Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab cited an Oxfam report — published a decade ago — which stated that women undertook 80 per cent of farm work in India though only 13 per cent of the land was owned by them.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must analyse the policy paralysis that has led to failure in addressing the entitlement rights to women in agriculture. One has to analyse in detail the issues on ground and suggest how to tackle the issue.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Quote facts showing the scenario of agriculture in India and the gender aspect.
Body:
One has to explain what are the problems with respect to women in Indian farm sector, why is there a policy paralysis in granting entitlements to women in agriculture and farm widows needs to be addressed.
Discuss issues related to tenure security, and most importantly, the chasm between land ‘ownership, accessibility to entitlements, and control,’ are important challenges affecting the economic empowerment of women in agriculture. One example here is that of proxy sarpanches or ‘sarpanchpatis,’ where the control is often vested with the husband of the elected woman representative under the aegis of Panchayati Raj Act (1993).
Suggest what needs to be done.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
