Sharma, ShaliniKaler, Simrathjit Kaur2016-11-082016-11-082016http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/84459Women and girls are reported to be the largest group in the global disability population, and they have been historically subjected to discrimination both on ground of their disability and gender. The present research was undertaken with the specific objectives: to assess the socio-economic status of the disabled women, to highlight the problems faced by disabled women at various stages of life cycle, to explore the support systems available to the disabled women, and to assess the awareness regarding disability rights and legal provisions and benefits availed thereof by the respondents. The blind, dumb and deaf, loco motor, limb deformities and respondents with spinal cord defects were interviewed. The study was conducted in two districts of Punjab i.e. Ludhiana and SAS Nagar. Multistage random sampling technique was used for sample selection. Three blocks from each district were selected. Fifteen disabled women were selected from each block, thus sample of 90 respondents from six selected blocks were personally interviewed for the purpose of study. The disabled women between age group of 15 years to 45 years and above were interviewed. The study found nearly half of the disabled were between 21 to 35 years of age, one third disabled by birth and more than half (56.7%) were illiterate. Eighty seven per cent were housewives and were not gainfully employed, married (54.4%) and belonged to General caste (44.6%). Inaccessibility to education (54.4%), gender biasness (61.1%) and isolation (76.6%) were the major socio-economic and psychological problems during childhood. Oppressive culture (93.3%), insincere sympathy (87.8%) and demand for dowry (63.3%) to accommodate disability was major problem before marriage. Last to receive resources (91.83%), stigmatized identity (93.87%), incapacity (73.46%) were the major problems after marriage. Village panchayat merely helped in securing information and access to limited concessions by the state. Sixty percent of the disabled had Disability Identity Cards except disability pension, less than 10 per cent were aware about different government sponsored welfare schemes. Lack of mobility and cumbersome procedure was major reason behind not availing the benefits. Study recommended that, government schools in rural areas should have the provision to cater the special needs of blind and dumb and deaf respondents. Avenues of vocational trainings should be promoted with government and non government interventions to make the disabled economically independent.enSociologySupport SystemExtension EducationRural PunjabDisabled WomenThesis