Socio- Economic Exclusion: A Study of Women Workers in Unorganized Sector

Abstract

The study examines the socio-economic conditions, employment dynamics, and challenges faced by female workers in the unorganized sector based on a sample of 400 respondents from Jalana and Beed district from Marathwada region in Maharashtra State. The findings reveal pervasive economic vulnerability, with rural women earning significantly less than their urban counterparts, 40.8% having no surplus income for savings and only 14% maintaining savings on their own names. Agriculture and digging constitute the primary source of employment (34.5%), followed by informal occupation (21.3%) and domestic work (14.0%), with several women engaging in multiple occupations to supplement their income. Employment in this sector functions predominantly as survival mechanism driven by poverty and family financial support (31.0%). Although 69% of respondents expressed general job satisfaction, low wages (12.8%), heavy workloads, job insecurity and health risks remain major sources of dissatisfaction and workplace stress. Furthermore systematic gaps are evident in social welfare and education: 79.3% of respondents have never received government scheme benefits.  There are some suggestions given by the respondents for improving the status for women in the unorganized sector and it was found that education, economic empowerment and active participation in decision making as the most effective strategies for improving the status of women, white issues such as health equal pay and self-defense plays important role for improving the status of woman in the sector.