Poverty and Gender Analysis of Uttarakhand: Some Insights from the Field

Abstract

This paper explores poverty and gender analysis in the hill state of Uttarakhand from the perspective of mountain specificities that are interrelated and have direct bearing on the biophysical and socio-economic aspects of the mountain life. The paper through a study carried out in 12 villages helps in understanding the causes and consequences of poverty and vulnerability based on altitude and remoteness and analyses the position of the rural women and the factors that result in their being disadvantaged and vulnerable. The paper clearly demonstrates that, both altitude and location have an impact on poverty, livelihoods and gender relations. The village study provides intensive information about the nature of the problem by various disaggregates which often large surveys do not provide. The study makes an attempt to capture the ground reality from the field and presents the findings, which may prove useful for policy interventions in the study areas and similar regions.