Social Inclusion of Women in Cooperatives (A Study of Gaidakot Municipality, Nawalparasi District )

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to find out the Social Inclusion of Women in Cooperatives: A Study of Gaidakot Municipality, Nawalparasi District.The general objective of the study is to analyze the pattern of the women inclusion in cooperative management. The specific objectives are: to identify the situation of the participation of women in Cooperative Management.to assess the participation of women in decision making process on the Cooperatives. to assess the economic and social empowerment of women through the Cooperative. The study has been carried out both on the basis of descriptive and exploratory research design.The study has been focused on to investigate the impact of cooperative in rural women's. For this study both primary and secondary data have been used. Both qualitative and quantitative data have been collected in this study.The Gaidakot Municipality has 28 co-operatives. Out of 28 co-operatives 20 saving and credit co-operatives has been selected. Out of 20 saving and credit cooperatives 3 cooperatives has been selected for the study. The study shows that 50 female respondents nevertheless felt that cooperative in Gaindakot were inclusive. A major cause behind the low participation of women in decision making process is the existing patriarchal culture in Gaindakot, however, the situation is changing. Many women in Gaindakot have their perception that there is no restriction for women participate in the executive committee, although they maintain that many women simply lack the time. Some of the women told that women are missing in the executive committee because the general assembly always finishes late at night, and women have to go home early to cook and undertake house work. On the other hand women are missing from opportunities of capacity building, because the study shows that women are mostly selected for local level training; with males receive priority fornational and international level trainings. The representation of women in decision making process is very low. Out of total 28 cooperatives in Gaindakot 22 cooperatives are led by males, where only 6 cooperative are led by females. Out of the 6 women led cooperatives 4 cooperatives are women only cooperative. This v shows that either most of the men do not let the women lead, or that women themselves cannot make competition for the men in the cooperative. Beyond this, most women perceive that cooperatives are generally playing a vital role in female empowerment. The contribution of cooperative for the economic and social empowerment of women has been perceived positively and appreciatively. Cooperative offers loans without deposit of physical property, and people only require the witness of another member in order to obtain a loan for income generation activity. Mostly women are doing General store,cosmetic shop, beauty parlor, as well as other. In this sense cooperatives are diversifying the occupational pattern of women from farming to other,although many of the women took loans for farming as well. Women are becoming more empowered by regular visits to the market for their business. Out of the three selected cooperatives, all have a women empowerment committee within them, which may act positively towards ensuring the inclusion of women in the decision making process.