SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE WORKING WOMENA CASE STUDY OF O.N.G.C. LTD., DEHRADUN (U.P.), INDIA

Abstract

The number of working women in India is increasing day by day. On one hand the working women are playing an important role in increasing the work force and the productivity in our country while on the other hand they have also been contributing a lot towards the economic development of the individual along with that of the family and the country. It is also a fact that working women from middle income families face a lot of problem. Parents and in-laws have many expectations from their working daughter-in-law. The socio-economic structure and the facilities available need improvement to suit the needs of working women. The plight of a working women under a male-boss needs special consideration. Her politeness and courtesy may be mistaken and if she is reserved, she is considered arrogant, introvert and unsocial. Working with men colleagues can also create tension. At times, she is labelled a snob while on other occasions, she is labelled a flirt. Since times immemorial, women have been considered a source of power and knowledge. Educated and working women play a role of vital importance and may give a lead in presenting before the society such exemplary social ideals, which may in the long run, given way for all round development oftheir personality and at the same time influence their views about marriage, their outlook towards change, social values and the pattern of the established institutions, have gone a long way in giving a proper direction to the social change and transformation of the society. The present study aims to understand the working conditions, job satisfaction and the effect of women's work on thenfamily, adjustment and changes in their socio-economic status including their standard of living. The study has been carried out on the women employees of O.N.G.C. Ltd., DehraDun. In brief, various objectives of the study may be summarised as follows : 1. To study the economic and the social aspects of the working women ofO.N.G.C. 2. To find out whether these working women are satisfied with their job, salary, working conditions, perks and other facilities available to them. 3. To find out if they are discriminated against as women. 4. To find out what problems they face as working women in respect of social and economic aspects. 5. To study what contribution these working women are making in the progress of the organisation. 6. To find out the impact of various aspects of social as well as economic well-being ofthe family ofthe working women as regards to themselves in respect of economy, respect, their out look and thinking. 7. To find our the changes in the role of working women in the context of social and economic aspects particularly in respect of awareness towards their rights and relative duties. The study is confined to the female employees numbering 374, of O.N.G.C. out of these, 125 are Class-I, Class-II, 187 Class-Ill and 41 Class- IV employees. Class-IV employees have been kept out ofthe purview ofthe present research work. Thus, 333 women working in Class I, II and III have been included in the universe of the study. Practically, every 3rd respondent has been selected for sample i.e. 38 respondents from Class I, 11 respondent from Class II and 51 respondents from Class III. Thus, a total number of 100 r have been selected out of 333 working women. The data collected for the study belongs to two categories - primary and secondary. The major source of primary data was the self-administered questionnaire which was distributed amongst the respondents. Personal discussions were also held with a number of working women. The secondary data consisted of published and unpublished material in the form of books, reports, journals and periodicals devoted to women, and particularly working women. The items on which information was collected included the role of respondents • in making important decisions in their family, the amount of freedom enjoyed by her, her job satisfaction, gender equality, household adjustment etc. besides sociological data such as age, education, family position held and income. In the analysis of data percentages, averages and associations have been worked out and presented at respective places. Most of the working women are satisfied with the working conditions in O.N.G.C. They enjoy various facilities like leave, emoluments, perks and have a say in important decision making. Most of the women are broadminded, rational and have a sense of self-satisfaction. A lot of avenues for promotions are there in O.N.G.C. in ratio to their education and qualifications. The income of working women has had a direct impact on supplementing their family income and thus raising their standards of living and socio-economic status of their family. Working women in O.N.G.C. are able to provide better education to their children. There is no discrimination on the basis of gender in O.N.G.C. Working women get due regard and respect from their colleagues as well as their family members. This obviously raises their self-confidence and degree of self-reliance. Working women are sober and have a preference for marriage and joint family. Their out look regarding family planning and equal treatment to son and daughter is encouraging. It is also found that the relationship with relatives, neighbours and friends is quite normal. They are neither guided by the caste factor nor by religion. Even the language and regional bias was not found amongst them. Actually they belong to one common organisation O.N.G.C. They do not have any social or psychological problems regarding adjustment inside or outside the campus. They are happy that they are contributing thenlot in the building of O.N.G.C. and the nation as a whole. Women Welfare Associations are looking after their welfare. It is heartening to note that dayto- day working experiences open new avenues of knowledge for working women. But it is shocking to learn that the working women in O.N.G.C. do not have sufficient knowledge of legal safeguards available to protect the interests of women workers. Only a few are well acquainted with these safe guards. It shall be better if the safeguards are brought home to these working women from time to time by the legal experts and the legal cell of O.N.G.C. It is also suggested that the term of maternity leave should be extended. This study is important from the point of throwing light on the improvement in socio-economic aspects of women through working in O.N.G.C. It stresses the fact that working women can improve not only their position and condition in society but also that of their family and family members. This study also shows that DehraDun due to being a very cosmopolitan and literate city, the problem for the working women are minimal, as people in general are very broad minded.