The Position Of Women In the Migrant Basti of Delhi
Author: Versha Shishodia
Article Posted: 27/08/2007
The migrant people in unorganised sector is 86%. The major factors that motivate people to move from one place to another,most often from rural to urban places in the developing countries are as follows:
1) Problem of poverty,landlessness,pressure of population on land and
consequent lack of economic opportunities.
2) Natural and manmade catastrophies like faminine and war.
3) Socio-cultural factors like caste/ class based frictions.
4) The urge for higher learning.
5) The lure of cities and greater social,religious and political freedoms.
Even after migration to the city women continues to be denied access to education,health and other services more than urban poor men are deprived of them.
Women can get only low paid jobs and remain excusively in the informal sector( Singh & Desouja 1980:30-32 ).
The situations of the family as a whole is marginally better than what it used to be in rural areas. However women status deteriorates.
First of all,proportion of women is lower in most urban areas,perticularly as a whole. But whithin the city,it is lower in the slums than in the rest of the urban conglomeration.
Despite their poverty,low income and poor housing, we have also noticed substantial change in the attitudes of women concerning their role in society and identity as human being.
In the context of low wages,poverty and lack of social security,old age and widowhood often result in destitution.
Moreover 95% of the total work for 8 or more hrs a day. The rest are involved in an income generating activity for an average of 4 hrs.