Men have been putting his sturdy endeavor of an egalitarian society, a society in which men and women will no longer be differentiated in terms of status, power and prestige, no women will be experienced with any inhumanity by the society, here equity is worshiped where as distinction or any differentiation will be vanished, that society is fit to be called equilibrium of society, remains a dream for the society. Despite of gender equity is enshrined in the Indian society, the past is the rich evidence of differentiation in terms of gender inequality, In the complexity of “Social Exclusion of Women” these differences were debated for centuries in many forum, often in the form of complaints and accusations about what and how “Women” and “Men” are equal, should be, and could be. Many initiatives have taken to bring social inclusion in the society, still women are facing social exclusion in different walks of life, and be it social, political, economy, social exclusion of women in mines & mineral industries is no exception in terms of social exclusion of women in economy. This Paper throws some light on different prospectives of social exclusion of women in mines & mineral industry in particular, an attempt towards brining social inclusion of women workers in mining industry. This report is an effort to illustrate plight of women working in mines, the means of social exclusion in mines and mineral industry, analyze the issues and suggest the way forward. It is our sincere hope that this small effort will give way to significant changes in these women’s lives. Need of the study: Social inclusion of women depends on the status of women in the society; few points are as follows to define the status of women in Indian society. A snapshot on the status of women in India, 2001 to 2006: 1. Demographics: Female population - 48.26 %; Female population million 496; Sex ratio Per 1000 men 933; Life expectancy years 66.1. 2. Women’s education: Female literacy rates in the total population (7 age group) 53.7%; Gender gap in literacy rate (7 age group) 21.6%. 3. Women at work: Work participation rate for females 25.7%; Total adult female workers in the total persons employed 19.3%; Share of women in wage employment in non agricultural Sector 20.23%; Average wage earning received per day by female casual labourer (rural) (gender gap: Rs. 20.38) INR 36.15; Average wage earning received per day by female casual labourer (Urban) (gender gap: Rs. 31.23) INR 44.28; Female employment of the total employment in Central Government 7.53%. 4. Women’s health: Rural women with anaemia 58.20%; Ever-married women age 15-49 who are anaemic 56.20%; Pregnant women age 15-49 who are anaemic 57.9%; Women with Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) (15 to 49 years) 38.80%; Mothers who had at least 3 antenatal care visits for their last birth: 50.7%; Institutional births 40.8%; Mothers who received postnatal care from a doctor/nurse/LHV/ANM/other health personnel within 2 days of delivery for their last birth 36.8%; Women suffer from gynaecological problem 92%; Maternal mortality ratio in the year 1995 per 100,000 live births 440; Women age 15-19 who were already mothers or pregnant 16%. 5. Women in politics: Female electors in 2004, 47.95%; Women members of national parliament: 9.07%; Women participation in village Panchayati raj 40%. 6. Women at home: Female headed households 10.35%; Women age 20-24 marriage by 18, 47.4%; Married women face physical abuse by their husband: 40%; Women faces domestic violence in any of its forms physical, sexual, psychological and/or economic 50%; Currently married women who usually participate in household decisions 52.5%. Sources of information: • Report on the state of Food insecurity in Rural India, December 2008, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and World Food Programme. • Key Indicators for India, National Family Health Survey 3, 2005-2006. • A handbook of Statistical Indicators on Indian Women 2007; Ministry of Women and Child Development; Government of India. • The Status of Women: A reality check; Facts on inequality and crimes against women; Swayam; 9/2B Deodar Street, Kolkata 700019. Above, status of woman indicates a clear picture of women’s inclusion in the society; it further helps to understand the social inclusion of women in mines and mineral industry in India
