TARGETING THE POOR WOMEN-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN THE PURSUIT TO END POVERTY: A CASE STUDY OF ZUNHEBOTO DISTRICT OF NAGALAND IN NORTH EASTINDIA

The gender dimensions of poverty seemed to have grabbed the attention of many researchers and policy analysts in their study of gender and poverty aspects particularly on issues that target women in their pursuit to end poverty. Poverty situation in many developing countries like India is both an economic phenomenon as well as a social phenomenon. The age-old customs and traditions in India based on the socio-cultural and patriarchal setup bounded by traditional customary laws and practices puts Indian women in a subordinate position and thus increase their vulnerability. The paper estimates whether the incidence of poverty and deprivation is higher among the female-headed households than the male-headed households in Zunheboto District of Nagaland, in the North-eastern region of India. The study is based on a primary survey carried out across a sample of 160 households which were chosen based on purposive sampling. Using the specified measurement tools such as the Head Count Ratio, Poverty Gap Ratio, Gini Coefficient and the Adjusted Head Count Ratio, the findings of the study indicate a higher incidence of deprivation, vulnerability to and a higher intensity of poverty among the female-headed households vis-à-vis the male-headed households.