Existing Livelihood Status of the Char Land Women in Jamalpur District

The main purpose of the study was to determine the livelihood status of char land women. The livelihood status of a char land women was measured by computing a 'livelihood status score' which was considered six month aspects of her livelihoods: food security , ability to provide family education, health and sanitation, shelter and family assets, clothing condition and social upliftment. The field work for the study was carried out in two Upazilas of Jamalpur District during November 2006 to March 2007. Data for the study were collected from 200 randomly selected char women by using interview schedule. More than four-fifths of the respondents possessed low livelihood status compared to 17.5 percent medium and none of them had high livelihood status. The large majority (63.5%) of the women perceived medium food security, majority (86.5%) of the respondents possessed low ability to provide family education, and large population (85%) of hte respondents had low medicare facility. In case of shelter 58.0 percent of the respondents had medium status and 65.5 percent of the respondents proposed low family assets. In case of social upliftment, 86.5 percent of the respondents had medium status in decision making ability and 82.5 percent of the char women had low freedom in expenditure for family affairs.