Assessment And Understanding Of Gujjar And Bakerwal Womens Health In Jammu And Kashmir

Abstract

The focus of this paper was on the assessment and understanding of the Gujjar and Bakerwal womens health in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gujjars and Bakerwals, the third largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir after Kashmari and Ladakhi, constitute more than 20 per cent population of the State. They are the states most populous Scheduled Tribe having a population of more than 20 lakh as per the 2011 census and one fourth of them are living nomadic life. Out of the total nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwals, 66 percent population of nomad Gujjar-Bakerwals who fall under Scheduled Tribe groups in the state of Jammu & Kashmir are living Below Poverty Line, revealed a survey conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), a frontal organization working for the cause of Indian tribes. The Gujjar and Bakerwal womens health in Jammu and Kashmir is the worst, because of lack of education, lack of awareness about health programs and their way of living nomadic life. Like many other places Gujjar and Bakerwal womens position in Jammu and Kashmir has been central in the upbringing of children, grazing their goats and sheeps and managing domestic affairs. The central government, state government, NGO's and local bodies are jointly working for the improvement of Gujjar and Bakerwal womens health conditions. The objectives of the study were, to understand and explore the Gujjar and Bakerwal womens health conditions; to explore the determinants and factors of their poor health; and to know the status of awareness among them about government schemes. The data was taken from interviews conducted by researcher, the census of India, report from the health sector of Jammu and Kashmir, papers published in journals and National Human Development Report of India