Study of Gender Issues Making Use of GIS Database


M. Monitha, C. Subha, P.Divya Priya, R.Santhya Shenbagam
Student
B.E. Geo-Informatics
College Of Engineering
Anna University,Chennai-25
Mail id: cool_subha35@yahoo.co.in
Mail id: mointha_er@yahoo.co.in
Mail id: athu_jump@yahoo.co.in
Mail id: santhya_gi@yahoo.co.in

 Abstract
Since the 1990’s women have been identified as key agents of sustainable development and women’s equality and empowerment are seen as central to a more holistic approach towards establishing new patterns and processes of development that are sustainable.

Since the 1980’s the Government of India has shown increasing concern for women’s issues through a variety of legislation promoting the status of women. In this context, use of an indicator such as “Women Development Index” may be useful for studying the relative status of women in different parts of our vast country.

This paper aims at calculation of women development index to be used with GIS software to help in taking management decision for improving the quality of life of women in India.

A specific district in Tamil Nadu is chosen and results are given as per the data collected from the Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai and Census of India-2001. GIS is used to analyze the basic fields of health care available to women, elementary education provided to them, proportion of women in higher education, economic independence of women etc.

GIS will be used as a “Decision Support System” to take corrective actions whenever gaps are brought out by GIS analysis.

OBJECTIVE:
It is mainly aimed at capturing the magnitude of gap between women and men in four critical areas such as population, employment, health and education.

INTRODUCTION:
The gender gap between males and females and its effects on development has found a great participation from researchers all over the world.

In Women Development Index, the rank is determined using WDI values obtained to the sixth decimal point. Performance in each dimension such as health, employment, education etc, is expressed as a value between 0 and 1.Higher is the value, better is the result.

ADVANTAGES OF GIS.
  • Geospatial data are better maintained in a standard format.
  • Revision and updating are easier.
  • Geospatial data and information are easier to search, analyze and represent.
  • More value added product.
  • Time and money are saved.
  • Better decisions can be made.
  • User friendliness and visualizing impact.
STUDY AREA:



Vellore district lies between 12 °15’ to 13° 15’ N latitude and 78° 20’ to 79° 50’ E longitude in Tamil Nadu.

The geographical area of this District is 6077 sq.km.

The total population as per census 2001 is 3,477,317.

DATA SOURCES:
Data required for this study were collected from the following sources:

  1. Census of India 2001.
  2. Data available at Institute of Remote sensing, Anna University, Chennai.
METHODOLOGY:
In this study mathematical methods are used to calculate different indices for males and females and the gap between them. The steps involved are as follows:

  • Selection of study area.
  • Collection of data.
  • Extraction of block boundary using Arc-Map.
  • Addition of attributes using joins and relates.
  • Developing simple, compound, complex indices.
  • Designing forms using Visual Basic.
  • Comparison of blocks based on indices.
  • Analysis of results and recommendations.
FORMULAE USED:
A.Women Employment Index   =   Total no of female workers
     -----------------------------------
              Total population

B. Education Index for Female =          Total no of Girls Students
            ---------------------------------
                      Total Population
C. Sex Ratio = No of Females per 1000 males 
For the purpose of this study the following formulae are used for calculation of indices
D.Health Index  = Total no of maternity centers+ Total no of mother-child care centers
                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                                      Total Female Population
Women Development Index  = A+B+C+D
   -------------
          4


ANALYSIS:
With the data available from Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University,
Chennai and Census of India-2001, following outputs are obtained.

Education:
Block with Maximum value: K.V.Kuppam (0.038968)
Minimum value: Vellore (0.008124)

Health:
Block with Maximum value: Kanniyampadi (0.004999)
Minimum value: Vellore (0.000587)

Employment:
Block with Maximum value: Kaveripakkam (0.304232)
Minimum value: Vellore (0.049903)

Gender gap:
Block with Maximum gap: Kaniyampadi (0.116214)
Minimum gap: Walajapet (0.047368)

OUTPUT:





RECOMMENDATIONS:
To improve the index value the following suggestions are recommended for the fields.

Education:
  • Awareness for female education should be created through mass media.
  • No of schools separately for females must be increased.
  • To decrease drop out rates, some kinds of training on skills to gain money in addition to education must be given.

Employment:

  • Governmental and non-governmental organizations that offer youth should offer equal amount of loans for both the sexes.
  • Employment should be based on qualification and not on gender.

Health:
  • Health education must be made compulsory for every individual.
  • Maternity centers must be available at necessary region.
  • Female infanticides prevailing in Vellore district must be controlled.
  • Social security as offered in Scandinavian countries must be encouraged.
CONCLUSION:
Thus gender gap in various blocks of Vellore district is studied making use of GIS DATABASE. As GIS is a good decision support system, it would enable the policy makers in the formulation of plans and polices directed towards reducing gender inequalities with respect to three main indicators such as employment, education and health.