The Clarion- International Multidisciplinary Journal

This present study examines the economic condition of the Muslim women living in the unstructured “Char” areas of the Sipajhar Revenue Circle, Assam, with an emphasis on their economic awareness and empowerment efforts. In six different villages, household surveys were conducted to assess women’s economic participation and livelihood practices where they were working in agriculture, small business sectors and their knowledge of government schemes and financial literacy regarding prevailing government policies and their legal rights. Overall, women lacked understanding of the social infrastructure related to education and healthcare; schools were limited and healthcare facilities were lacking. The data points to marks of gender inequality with household decision-making and limited social mobility. In all respects, the Char women are bound by gender norms and inequality. The women in the Chars need formalized training to advance their employability enough to self-sustain. Overall, the research presents urgent needs for funding to promote education, awareness, healthcare and financial skills for women, as well as providing pathways for women to be formally represented in household decision-making processes that can help create a denial of the environmentally vulnerable and socially, legally bound women of the Char areas in the economically neglected area of Assam.