A Study on Socio-Economic, Health and Hygiene Status of Women Engaged in Sericulture Industry in Sujapur of Malda District, West Bengal

Sericulture has been fully recognized as an important rural as well as household industry in India. It is a labour intensive, export oriented cottage industry, generating high employment and income per unit area of land. One hectare of mulberry land can generate employment to at least 13 persons per year. Women have played a significant role in this industry. Nearly 60% work of this industry is done by women only. In West Bengal, Malda is the biggest traditional district of sericulture. The present study was undertaken at Sujapur of Malda District as Sujapur is one of the main areas of Malda where sericulture is practiced in large scale. The main objective of the study was to examine status of women engaged in sericultural industry in terms of their educational level, income, nutrition, health and hygiene as nutrition and health are directly correlated with socio-economic status of a person and also affect the production of a farm. The present investigation indicates that 88% of women belonging to small farmers are illiterate. Even 8% of women belonging to big farmers are having education up to primary level. Maximum women of small farmers are found to come from the family income group of rupees 1501-3000 per month, while women belonging to big farmers are from the family income group of rupees 3001- 4500 per month. 72% of women belonging to small farmers and even 60% of women from big farmers are having body weight below normal. These findings are similar in case of blood pressure also. This study is a clear indication of alarming situation of sericultural women in major sericultural belt in West Bengal.