Women education in rural Karnataka-A sociological study on rural dalit women

Education has been universally acknowledged as the tool par excellence of economic, political and socio-cultural development. It is also the booster of social status for both individuals and community as a whole. This study has a macro perspective and aims to capture the empowerment potential of education and so far its impact on empowering Dalit communities. This study is addressed to examine the extent to which education has helped and enabled Dalit women to improve their economic conditions. Economic empowerment of Dalit women is examined in terms of; new skills acquired, lucrative jobs secured, improvement in their income, consumption, freedom to manage their money matters and overall improvement in their economic condition. Dalit women being treated as ‘Dalit among Dalits’; her political empowerment was only a wishful thinking a few decades ago. However, it is presumed that spread of education has kindled hope of Dalit women bracing themselves for political empowerment.

It is also true some Dalit women have proved their in National and State politics. Keeping this in view, the study also focused on the extent of political empowerment of our respondents and the role of education in it. The study would capture the overall educational situation among Dalit women across the country, the state and Tumkur District. It is hoped that such an exercise help as capture regional variation in the situation. This would lead us look for region-specific reasons for prevailing scenario in Karnataka.