International Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities (IJRSS) ISSN:2582-6220, DOI: 10.47505/IJRSS

Women’s Empowerment: A Comparison of Major Indian States

Dr. Mohammad Rehan, Dr. Sohrab Ansari, Aparna Biswas — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gender inequality persists globally, but in India it presents unique complexities due deeply rooted entrenched patriarchal structure intersects with rapid economic development. This study compares women’s empowerment across major Indian states using NFHS-5 (2019-21) data. It focuses on employment, decision making, and financial autonomy to highlight gender disparities. The Study highlights the uneven realization of women’s economic and social agency. States like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat exhibit higher level female workforce participation, largely in non-agricultural sectors, correlating with greater cash earnings and increased decision-making power. In contrast, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh lag, with women primarily in low paid informal agricultural works and facing limited financial and social autonomy. Although financial inclusion initiative have increased women access to banking services and microcredit schemes, it does not inherently guarantee empowerment, as patriarchal norms and educational barriers often hinder true agency. Women’s decision making autonomy remains uneven across states, Punjab and Haryana show higher rates of women’s participation in critical household decisions, states such as Madhya Pradesh reflect significant exclusion. These findings advocate the need for state specific strategies to bridge gender, thereby advancing toward SDG 5’s commitment to gender equality.

Beyond the Veil of Numbers: Understanding the Social Reality of SC and ST Women in Bakalir Chhara Enclave

Dr. Prosenjit Ray, Dr. Minal Ali Mia, Dr. Samaresh Barman, Dr. Sumita Sinha — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Paschim Bakalir Chhara (enclave) was one of the 51 Bangladeshi chhits /chits (enclaves) in India geographically located in Dinhata Sub-division, Cooch Behar district prior to the ratification of the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) in 2015. This article examines the social status of SC and ST women in Paschim Bakalir Chhara, tracing its demographic characteristics, and the challenges faced by its concerned Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) women residents under a stateless existence and after enclave exchange in 2015. It also highlights the impact of the 2015 enclave exchange on the social condition after this enclave became an integral part of the Indian state.

The Performance of Wilayatul Hisbah in the Context of Islamic Shariah Implementation in Simeulue Regency

Reza Kartika, Bonaventura Ngarawula, Catur Wahyudi — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The enforcement of law in Aceh Province reflects the special autonomy the central government grants to implement Islamic Sharia. Qanun is a form of legislation equivalent to regional regulations, established by several specialized agencies to oversee the implementation of Islamic Sharia, one of which is Wilayatul Hisbah or Sharia police. Wilayatul Hisbah is a key factor in the success of the implementation of Qanun on Islamic Sharia. As time progresses, it is evident that the responsibilities of Wilayatul Hisbah have increased due to a rise in violations. Various phenomena of violations against Islamic Sharia rules within the community create the perception that Wilayatul Hisbah has not performed optimally in fulfilling its duties. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the extent of Wilayatul Hisbah's performance in implementing Islamic Sharia. This research employs a quantitative approach, with data collection conducted through a questionnaire via Google Forms and statistical data analysis. The results indicate that Wilayatul Hisbah's performance in implementing Islamic Sharia has not yet been fully realized in Simeulue Regency. To maximize the performance of Wilayatul Hisbah, considerations must be made regarding effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, equity, responsiveness, and accuracy.

Implementation of Policy Regarding the Program Desa Sarjana in Malinau District

Ezham Ahmal Alpansyaf'ri, Sukardi,, Dodot Sapto Adi — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Higher education is a strategic pillar in human resource development, especially in rural areas with limited access to education, such as Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan Province. To overcome educational disparities and expand access to higher education for rural youth, the Malinau Regency Government established the Program Desa Sarjana policy through Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2022. This study aims to examine the implementation of this policy and identify the supporting and inhibiting factors. This study uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive research type. The policy implementation theory used is the Van Meter and Van Horn model, which includes six main variables: policy standards and objectives, resources, characteristics of the implementing organization, attitudes of implementers, inter-organizational communication, and the external environment. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation of informants from the Community and Village Empowerment Agency (DPMD), program implementation staff, and Program Desa Sarjana (PDS) participants. The results show that the Program Desa Sarjana has been implemented per the established regulations, but still faces various challenges in the field. Supporting factors in implementing this program include political commitment from the local government, regulatory and budgetary support, and high enthusiasm among village communities for higher education.

On the other hand, the dominant inhibiting factors include limited scholarship quotas, a lack of higher education infrastructure, and low awareness among some communities of the importance of continuing their education to the undergraduate level. This study concludes that the Sarjana Village Program is a progressive and relevant affirmative action in the context of development in remote areas such as Malinau. However, for its implementation to be more optimal, continuous evaluation, expansion of targets, strengthening of implementing institutions, and improvement of educational literacy among the village community are needed.