WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CASHEW INDUSTRIES

Cashew was introduced into India four centuries ago by the Portuguese who came to the sunny sands of the West Coast of India bringing with them Cashew. A recent statistics shows that in India Cashew is cultivated in 7.2 lakh hectares of land with an annual production of 45 lakh metric tonnes, exported 89155 MT of cashew kernels valued at Rs. 2.49.60 crores and 2246 MT of Cashew nut shell liquid valued at Rs. 3.89 crores. Among the agricultural commodities exported from India, cashew held the third position contributing 0.93% to the total earnings of the country. India is the largest producer, processor and exporter of cashew nut in the world. According to Kamala Nath, Economic development in any underdeveloped country will always remain a far cry from reality as long as women are not allowed to play an active role in the task of nation building. She adds that it is absolutely essential to allow the women folk to take up innovative and administrative jobs in industries and business undertakings. They are enterprising and dynamic as their male counterparts. The cashew nut industry in India has opened up vast employment opportunities for women to the extent of 90%. In Kanyakumari district there are about 900 cashew industries are functioning by providing employment opportunities to nearly 75000 people. Industrial backwardness, thick population and unemployment problems are the major reasons for the development cashew industries in the district. Before being got ready for export or market, it has to undergo many processes both by manual and through machines. Cashew Kernel which is obtained from cashew nut, a popular dry fruit is sweet and delightful in taste. It is a valuable food both for physical and mental health. It is a complete nourishing diet and a suitable food medicine for several ailments. It is also a good source of riboflavin which keeps the body active, gay and energetic. It is being rich in iron is good for anemia. The survey among hunared women workers working in cashew industries in Kanyakumari District reveals the following. Out of the total sample respondents, 94% belong to the age group of below 50, the literacy rate is very low to the maximum of 11th standard, 54% are unmarried, and 97% are able to earn an income below Rs. 3000. The family background of the sample respondents reveal that 55% are depending only on the wages earned by them through this job but for 45%, there are some other sources also like property income, business and interest from investment. Out of them 83% have the experiences of less than 10 years and 17% have the same above 10 years.