Abstract:
Women play a major role in tea sector and they have been struggling for a better
life for decades. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between
women empowerment and livelihood status of women laborers in Kahagala estate
Badulla. The objectives of this study were to evaluate levels of empowerment and
level of livelihood status and to find factors influencing empowerment of women
laborers in tea sector. Empowerment was evaluated under six dimensions; social,
economic, psychological, physical, legal and interpersonal. Livelihood status was
evaluated using levels of social capital, financial capital, human capital and physical
capital. Seventy-two (72) women laborers were selected using cluster sampling
technique and interviewed using pretested questionnaire for primary data in
addition to informal discussions with different stakeholders and direct
observations at the fields. Descriptive statistical tools were employed for primary
analysis and ANOVA and regression analysis were used as inferential statistical
tools. Study revealed that about 46% of the women laborers attended only up to
grade eight. Majority of women (90%) belong to moderate empowerment level
(50%-75%) while 8% of women empowering level was low. About 72% of women
were under low livelihood status. Financial contribution to family (r =+0.651, p =
0.000), domestic decision making (r = +0.756, p = 0.002), psychological wellbeing
(r = +0.745, p = 0.000) and active participation in social works (r = +0.671, p =
0.011) have significant impact on women empowerment. Positive moderate
correlation (r = +0.663, p = 0.000) was found between women empowerment and
livelihood status. Economic (β = +0.671, p = 0.002), social (β = +0.590, p = 0.001)
and interpersonal (β = +0.487, p = 0.021) dimensions have significant relationship
with livelihood status. It can be concluded that livelihood status can be developed
by increasing economic, social and interpersonal dimensions through women
empowerment in Kahagala estate tea communities.
