AWARENESS AND USE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES : A STUDY OF ECONOMICALLY WEAKER GROUP OF

WOMEN OF KARNATAKA STATE

Prof. P. G. TadasadProfessor and Chairman

Department of PG Studies & Research in Library & Information Science,

Karnataka State Women’s University, Jnana Shakti Campus, Torvi, Vijayapura, Karnataka

and

Dr. Shobha PatilUGC Post Doctoral Fellow

Department of PG Studies & Research in Library & Information Science,

Karnataka State Women’s University, Jnana Shakti Campus, Torvi, Vijayapura, Karnataka

INTRODUCTION

Institutional sources play a vital role in disseminating information to economically weaker group of women.

Women consult various institutional resources for supporting their information requirements.

Preferred Institutional Sources are Associations and Learned Organizations, Self Help Groups, Gram Panchayat Office, Non Government Organizations, Library, Research Center, Government office, etc.

Government of Karnataka disseminate information through various departments.

Government of Karnataka has provided all their information on their website and also some useful links which will help citizens to get more information on the state.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To study the awareness and use of institutional resources of economically weaker group of women of Karnataka State.

To identify the awareness and use of Government programmes by economically weaker group of women of Karnataka State.

METHODOLOGY

Survey method of research using structured interview schedule has been adopted for the present study.

Study population was chosen adopting multistage sampling that combines cluster method with stratified technique.

1800 respondents from 60 villages of all 30 districts of the state participated in the study.

DATA ANALYSIS

CharacteristicsNo Income

N= 616 (34.2%)200 to 500

N= 505 (28.1%)501 above

N= 679 (37.7%)Total

AgeLess than 25 106 (17.2) 45 (8.9) 71 (10.5) 222 (12.3)26 to 35 309 (50.2) 184 (36.4) 258 (38.0) 751 (41.7)36 to 45 148 (24.0) 185 (36.6) 244 (35.9) 577 (32.1)46 above 53 (8.6) 91 (18.1) 106 (15.6) 250 (13.9)

Educational qualification

Illiterate 96 (15.6) 253 (50.1) 291 (42.9) 640 (35.6)Primary Education 128 (20.8) 162 (32.1) 214 (31.5) 504 (28.0)Secondary Education 284 (46.1) 75 (14.9) 137 (20.2) 496 (27.6)Diploma, Degree 108 (17.5) 15 (2.9) 37 (5.4) 160 (8.8)

Social Category

GM 261 (42.4) 172 (34.1) 274 (40.4) 707 (39.3)OBC 146 (23.7) 145 (28.7) 200 (29.5) 491 (27.3)SC/ST 209 (33.9) 188 (37.2) 205 (30.1) 602 (33.4)OccupationFarmer 0 (0) 93 (18.3) 207 (30.5) 300 (16.7)Business 0 (0) 17 (3.4) 54 (7.9) 71 (3.9)House wife 614 (100.0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 614 (34.1)Labour 0 (0) 397 (78.3) 418 (61.6) 815 (45.3)

Table 1: Characteristics of study population (N=1800)

ConsultationIncome

No Income 200 to 500 501 above Total

Yes 282 (45.8) 170 (33.7) 298 (43.9) 750 (41.7)

No 334 (54.2) 335 (66.3) 381 (56.1) 1050 (58.3)

Total 616 (34.2) 505 (28.1) 679 (37.7) 1800 (100.0)

Table 2: Consultation of institutional resources: Income of women

Institutional ResourcesIncome

No Income Rank 200 to 500 Rank 501 above Rank Total Rank

Government Office 87 (4.8) 4 52 (2.9) 4 99 (5.5) 4 238 (13.2) 4

Library 19 (1.1) 5 3 (0.2) 6 12 (0.7) 6 34 (1.9) 6

Self Help Groups 179 (9.9) 2 117 (6.5) 1 185 (10.3) 2 481 (26.7) 2

Non-Govt. Organization 13 (0.7) 6 15 (0.8) 5 54 (3.0) 5 82 (4.6) 5

Gram Panchayat Office 120 (6.7) 3 65 (3.6) 3 125 (6.9) 3 310 (17.2) 3

Associations & Learned Organizations

195 (10.8) 1 117 (6.5) 1 214 (11.9) 1 526 (29.2) 1

Research Centre 0 (0) - 0 (0) - 4 (0.2) 7 4 (0.2) 7

Table 3: Institutional resources consulted: Income of women

ResponseIncome

No Income 200 to 500 501 above Total

Yes 276 (44.8) 162 (32.1) 276 (40.6) 714 (39.7)

No 340 (55.2) 343 (67.9) 403 (59.4) 1086 (60.3)

Total 616 (34.2) 505 (28.1) 679 (37.7) 1800 (100.0)

Table 4: Institutional resources as information supporting agency: Income of women

ResponseIncome

No Income 200 to 500 501 above Total

Yes 470 (76.3) 348 (68.9) 478 (70.4) 1296 (72.0)

No 146 (23.7) 157 (31.1) 201 (29.6) 504 (28.0)

Total 616 (34.2) 505 (28.1) 679 (37.7) 1800 (100.0)

Awareness of Government Programmes

Table 5 : Awareness of Government programmes: Income of women

Government programmes IncomeNo Income 200 to 500 501 above Total

Self Help Groups 414 (23.0) 325 (18.1) 440 (24.4) 1179 (65.5)Women Development Schemes 198 (11.0) 100 (5.6) 196 (10.9) 494 (27.4)Women's Commission 156 (8.7) 71 (3.9) 157 (8.7) 384 (21.3)Mahila Samakhya 133 (7.4) 75 (4.2) 122 (6.8) 330 (18.3)Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 241 (13.4) 132 (7.3) 203 (11.3) 576 (32.0)Women's Co-operative Associations 136 (7.6) 87 (4.8) 116 (6.4) 339 (18.8)Women Bank 113 (6.3) 56 (3.1) 94 (5.2) 263 (14.6)Social Welfare Development 138 (7.7) 50 (2.8) 95 (5.3) 283 (15.7)Vanitha Sahaya vani 108 (6.0) 39 (2.2) 83 (4.6) 230 (12.8)Department of Women and Child Development 225 (12.5) 134 (7.4) 177 (9.8) 536 (29.8)Santhwana Schemes 106 (5.9) 68 (3.8) 114 (6.3) 288 (16.0)Karnataka Women’s Development Programme 44 (2.4) 18 (1.0) 38 (2.1) 100 (5.6)Financial Assistance for the Remarriage of Destitute Widows and Marriages of Devadasis 12 (0.7) 6 (0.3) 16 (0.9) 34 (1.9)

Daycare Centers for children’s of working women 6 (0.3) 0 (0) 11 (0.6) 17 (0.9)International women's day and Kittur Rani Channamma Prashasti 4 (0.2) 2 (0.1) 5 (0.3) 11 (0.6)Financial help for Women's Associations 6 (0.3) 4 (0.2) 13 (0.7) 23 (1.3)Girls Hostels 43 (2.4) 24 (1.3) 31 (1.7) 98 (5.4)To start women’s associations to eradicate social evils like dowry ; child marriage 5 (0.3) 0 (0) 8 (0.4) 13 (0.7)

Karnataka State Women's Development corporation 6 (0.3) 3 (0.2) 10 (0.6) 19 (1.1)Development Programmes for Women to start Industries 3 (0.2) 2 (0.1) 5 (0.3) 10 (0.6)Rehabilitate Programmes for Devadasis 17 (0.9) 10 (0.6) 23 (1.3) 50 (2.8)Knowledge of market (APMC) 11 (0.6) 15 (0.8) 38 (2.1) 64 (3.6)Udyogini 28 (1.6) 13 (0.7) 57 (3.2) 98 (5.4)Development Programmes for Rural women 44 (2.4) 19 (1.1) 63 (3.5) 126 (7.0)Norad scheme 23 (1.3) 7 (0.4) 43 (2.4) 73 (4.1)Support for Training and Employment Programme for women 83 (4.6) 44 (2.4) 113 (6.3) 240 (13.3)Arogya Kavacha 393 (21.8) 266 (14.8) 391 (21.7) 1050 (58.3)Bhagyalakshmi 416 (23.1) 323 (17.9) 440 (24.4) 1179 (65.5)

Table 6: Awareness of Government programmes related to women: Income of women

Sources of InformationIncome

No Income

Rank 200 to 500 Rank501

aboveRank Total Rank

Radio 92 (5.1) 10 46 (2.6) 12 111 (6.2) 8 249 (13.8) 10Newspapers 154 (8.6) 7 49 (2.7) 11 89 (4.9) 10 292 (16.2) 8

Government Office 51 (2.8) 13 24 (1.3) 13 45 (2.5) 13 120 (6.7) 13

ZP/ZP Members 2 (0.1) 16 2 (0.1) 14 8 (0.4) 15 12 (0.7) 15Neighbours 396 (22.0) 2 310 (17.2) 1 411 (22.8) 2 1117(62.1) 2Family Members 282 (15.7) 4 206 (11.4) 4 264 (14.7) 4 752 (41.8) 4Gramsabha Members 109 (6.1) 9 58 (3.2) 8 127 (7.1) 7 294 (16.3) 7Social Workers 178 (9.9) 5 172 (9.6) 5 239 (13.3) 5 589 (32.7) 5Television 377 (20.9) 3 240 (13.3) 3 329 (18.3) 3 946 (52.6) 3Friends 408 (22.7) 1 298 (16.6) 2 414 (23.0) 1 1120(62.2) 1

Gram Panchayat Office 87 (4.8) 11 53 (2.9) 10 89 (4.9) 10 229 (12.7) 11

Public Library 9 (0.5) 14 2 (0.1) 14 10 (0.6) 14 21 (1.2) 14Academic Library 5 (0.3) 15 2 (0.1) 14 3 (0.2) 16 10 (0.6) 16Associations/ Institutions

160 (8.9) 6 110 (6.1) 6 182 (10.1) 6 452 (25.1) 6

Concerned Staff 70 (3.9) 12 56 (3.1) 9 85 (4.7) 12 211 (11.7) 12Teachers 110 (6.1) 8 71 (3.9) 7 111 (6.2) 8 292 (16.2) 8

Table 7: Sources of information to know the Government programmes: Income of women

UsefulnessIncome

No Income 200 to 500 501 above Total

Mediocre 415 (23.1) 323 (17.9) 416 (23.1) 1154 (64.1)

Good 55 (3.1) 25 (1.4) 59 (3.3) 139 (7.7)

Excellent 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Table 8: Usefulness of available information on Government programmes:Income of women

Problems Number PercentageLack of Awareness 825 45.84Illiteracy 638 35.44Lack of Communication and Dissemination of Information 578 32.11Non-availability of updated information from the Government 679 37.72Lack of orientation / hands on experience at village level 458 25.44Lack of Information in local language 678 37.67Lack of knowledge to get information from proper person 486 27.00Local authorities are not giving right information and misleading the people 478 26.56Not getting the right or proper information from the concerned officer and institutions 256 14.22Lack of Social Worker to give proper information 248 13.78Not getting information from Grampanchayat 233 12.94Lack of Anganawadi Teachers to get information 186 10.33Negligence of the Government due to economic crisis 457 25.39Lack of Human Resources 653 36.28Lack of Time 436 24.22Delay in Implementations Programmes from the Government 326 18.11Lack of Transportation 244 13.56Not getting cooperation of the family 342 19.00Discourage of the Staff 243 13.5Not having close communication with people 732 40.67Lack of Encouragement 438 24.33Not getting information within the proper time 236 13.11Not getting Daily Newspapers 219 12.17Not having Internet Facilities 26 1.44Lack of Library Facilities 287 15.94Lack of Computer Facilities 137 7.61

Table 9: Problems encountered in obtaining information for economically weaker women

DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION

The government produces a good amount of information.

Such information should be quickly brought to the notice of the users through the proposed facilities.

This is only possible when the Government officials and other concerned people become more alert in this matter.

A nation can never go ahead keeping a section of its citizens lagging behind.

Hence every effort should be made to improve the condition of our rural folk and for that proper information infrastructure has to be build up at any cost.

Public Libraries may organize some seminars, informal talks, lectures, workshops, etc. on the various major issues.

The focus should be on improving information exchange through better information systems and services so as to provide right information to the right people in the right format and at the right time.