Lalfamkima
Affiliation: Department of Sociology, Mizoram University, India
Email: [email protected]
Abstract: The present study aims to examine the socio-economic profile of Mizo women vegetable vendors in Aizawl. Aizawl is divided into four zones, from which 50 vendors were selected from each zone, resulting in a total sample size of 200 vendors, using purposive sampling. Data were collected through an interview schedule, and the data analysis was
conducted using SPSS. The findings show that most of the vendors (84.5%) are between the ages of 31 and 60. A large number of the vendors (58%) are married, which means they have to sell vegetables to make ends meet. The educational qualifications of Mizo women vegetable vendors are generally low, with most having completed high school; 21 vendors were reported to be illiterate. However, in comparison to vendors in other states of India, Mizo women vendors possess slightly higher educational qualifications. Furthermore, it was observed that Mizo women vendors work long hours, with 70% working for 12 hours each day, and their monthly income ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. The results show that selling vegetables is not just a way to make money, but also a way to stay alive that is affected by things like age, marital duties, lack of education, and need for money. This shows how important it is to quickly set up prog rams that help women in the informal sector by giving them access to training, financial services, healthcare, and social programs.
Keywords: Socio-Economic; Age; Marital Status; Educational Qualification; Working Hours; Income.