Chapter IV
PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS
Introduction
In social sciences research personnel characteristics of respondents have
very significant role to play in expressing and giving the responses about the
problem, keeping this in mind, in this study a set of personal characteristics
namely, age, sex, education, occupation, income etc of the 264 respondents have
been examined and presented in this chapter
Age
Age of the respondents is one of the most important characteristics in
understanding their views about the particular problems; by and large age
indicates level of maturity of individuals in that sense age becomes more
important to examine the response.
TABLE 4.1
AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS
Age in Years
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
18-28
72
27.5
29-45
126
47.5
46-75
66
25.0
Total
264
100.00
It is evident from the Table that on an average respondents are about 39
years of age with the standard deviation of about 12 years. The range of the age
was found to be 57 years starting from 18 to 75 years. It we consider the quartile
value, nearly 28 per cent are below 28 years of age, whereas one- fourth of
respondents are above 46 years of age, To be more specific large number of
respondents are 40 years of age in the sample. Some interesting feature of this
146
data is that very young respondents are shouldering the responsibility of the
household.
Graph 1
Distributions of Respondents by Age
140
126
120
100
80
72
18-28
29-45
46-75
66
60
47.5
40
27.5
25
20
0
Freqauency
Percentages
Gender
Gender is an important variable in a given Indian social situation which is
variably affected by any social or economic phenomenon and globalization is not
an exception to it. Hence the variable gender was investigated for this study. Data
related to gender of the respondents is presented in the Table 4.2.
147
TABLE 4.2
GENDER OF THE RESPONDENTS
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percent
Male
210
79.5
Female
54
20.5
Total
264
100.0
Gender
It is quite clear that out of the total respondents investigated for this study,
overwhelming majority (79.5 per cent) of them were males whereas about 20 per
cent were found to be females. In a Indian social conditions the households are
normally headed by the males and head of the household was the unit for data
collection, from the given sample very few households are headed by the females
and that too, due to various unavoidable and unique conditions and not because of
any attitudinal change per se hence large number of respondents are males by
gender in this study.
Graph 2
Distributions of Respondents by sex
54
Male
Female
210
148
Marital Status
Marriage is one of the most important social institutions. In a developing county
like India, it has undergone many changes. The perceptions and attitudes of the
person can also differ by the marital status of the persons because the marriage
might make the persons little more responsible and matured in understanding and
giving the responses to the questions asked.
The details of the marital status of the respondents is presented in Table 4.3
TABLE 4.3
MARITAL STATUS OF RESPONDENTS
Marital Status
Distribution of Respondent
Frequency
Percentage
Married
219
83.0
Unmarried
33
12.5
Widow
8
3.0
Others
4
1.5
Total
264
100.0
Table 4.3 shows that overwhelming number of the respondents (83 per
cent) were married and remaining (12.5per cent) were unmarried, where as three
per cent of the respondents were found to be widows. The respondents under the
category separated or widower were extremely negligible. Since the average
respondents were from late adolescent age group, this is the age at which,
normally, a person gets marry and shoulders the responsibility of a household.
149
Graph 3
Distributions of Respondents by Marital Status
84
33
Married
Unmarried
Widow
Others
219
Education
Education is one of the most important characteristics that might affect the
person’s attitudes and the way of looking and understanding any particular social
phenomena. In a way, the response of an individual is likely to be determined by
his educational status and therefore it becomes imperative to know the educational
background of the respondents.
Hence the variable ‘Educational level’ was
investigated by the researcher and the data pertaining to education is presented in
Table: 4.4
150
TABLE 4.4
LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF THE RESPONDENTS
Level of Education
Distribution of Respondent
Frequency
Percentage
Post Graduate
11
4.2
Graduates
36
13.6
Higher Secondary
46
17.4
High School
68
25.8
Middle School
28
10.6
Primary
37
14.0
Illiterate
38
14.4
Total
264
100.0
Table 4.4 shows that about 26 per cent of the respondents were educated up
to high school and relatively lesser number of them, 17 per cent were educated up
to higher secondary level. The number of respondents attaining higher education
were very few. Only four per cent of the respondents were educated up to the post
graduates level. A considerable number of respondents were just functionally
literates and more than 14 per cent of them were illiterates.
It can be concluded from the Table above that by and large the respondents
were progressive in education but they were still far away from the higher
education which is so important today to create a knowledge based society.
151
Graph 4
Distributions of Respondents by level of Education
Post Graduate
70
68
60
Graduates
50
40
46
36
38
28
30
20
Higher Secondary
37
11
10
High School
25.8
17.4
13.6
10.6
Middle School
14
4.2
14.4
Primary
0
Frequency
Percentages
Illiterate
Occupations
Person’s occupations do have a bearing on his or her personality and so
also the ways of looking at the problem before him. The quality of life is also
determined by an individual’s occupation and the incomes he derives from it.
Occupation of an individual also socialized him or her in a particular fashion
which in turn reflects his or her pattern of behaviors and his/her level of
understanding of particular phenomenon. In other words the person’s response to
a problem is possible determined by the type of occupation he is engaged in and
hence variable occupation was investigated by the researcher and data pertaining
to occupation is presented in Table 4.5
152
TABLE 4.5
OCCUPATION OF THE RESPONDENTS
Distribution of Respondents
Occupation
Frequency
Percentage
Govt. Service
22
8.3
Private Service
17
6.4
Self Employed
26
9.8
Agricultural Labors
121
45.8
Daily Wage
39
14.8
Unemployment
9
3.4
House Wives
12
4.5
Farmers
9
3.4
Retired
9
3.4
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from Table 4.5 that near about half of the total respondents
(45.8 per cent) were employed in agriculture as agricultural laborers.
Whereas
near about 15 per cent of the respondents were daily wage earners. The number of
respondents engaged in government services as well as in private services were
8.3 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.
A large number of respondents were landless agricultural laborers and
totally dependents on agriculture. This shows that the agricultural is still a major
sector of employment for the unskilled and less educated people in rural and semi
urban area.
153
Graph 5
Distributions of Respondents by Occupations
12
9
9
Govt. Service
22
17
Private Service
9
Self Employed
26
39
Agricultural Labors
Daily Wage
Unemployment
House Wives
Farmers
121
Retired
Income
Income of a person plays an important role in shaping the economic
conditions of an individual which in turn is likely to have bearing on the responses
about a problem posed to him. The researcher, therefore in this study attempted to
investigate the income as variable and the data related to income of the
respondents is presented in Table. 4.6
154
TABLE 4.6
INCOME OF THE RESPONDENTS
Income
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Low
060
22.7
Medium
138
52.3
High
066
25.0
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from Table 4.6 that the more than half of the respondents (52.3
per cent) were in the ‘middle’ income group whereas one forth (25 per cent) of
them were in the ‘High’ income group and remaining of them that is little less
than a quarter of the respondents (22.7 per cent) were in the ‘low’ income group.
The average income of the respondents was found to be Rupees 3,000/- per month,
with standard deviation of 6942 Rupees.
Graph 6
Distributions of Respondents by level of Income
138
140
120
100
80
60
40
Low
Medium
60
66
52.3
High
22.7
25
20
0
Frequency
Percentages
155
Type of Family
The type of family in which a person lives and gets socialized has immense
importance in deciding his values, beliefs and behaviors patterns which are likely
to affects his or her attitudes towards a particular problem, hence the family type
plays its own role in giving the response of an individual and therefore it was
thought important to understand the family type of the respondents.
Data related to the family type is presented in a Table 4.7
TABLE 4.7
FAMILY TYPE OF THE RESPONDENTS
Family Type
Joint
Nuclear
Total
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
65
24.6
199
75.4
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table 4.7 that a large majority of the households (75
per cent) were nuclear households and remaining (25 per cent) of the total
households were joint households. This shows the increasing trends in the
changing families from joint family to the nuclear family and the change in family
system can be attributed to the processes of urbanization, industrialization,
migration and modernization.
Type of Houses
The type of the house in which a person lives and socializes is likely to
have impact on his beliefs system and in molding his own personality. This will
have an immense value in giving a response to a problem faced by him and hence
the variable house type was investigated. The data presented in Table 4.8 shows
be result of investigation.
156
TABLE 4.8
HOUSE TYPE OF THE RESPONDENTS
House Type
Kachha
Pakka
Total
Distribution Of Respondent
Frequency
Percentage
157
59.5
107
40.5
264
100.0
It is obvious from Table 4.8 that a majority (59.5 per cent) of the
respondents were residing in ‘Kachha’ houses and remaining 40 per cent of them
were residing in ‘Pakka’ houses. The number of respondents living in ‘Kachha’
houses were much more than the respondents residing in ‘Pakka’ houses. It can
therefore be concluded that because of the economic backwardness and lack of
materialistic resources the house type of large number of respondents were of
‘Kachcha’ type.
House Ownership
The possession of a house is a status symbol in our society. The house
ownership is likely to boost confidence of a person in understanding and handling
of any situation or a problem. The house ownership is therefore likely to have an
impact on the type of response given by the respondents and therefore the variable
‘house ownership’ was considered an important variable and the same was
investigated and data is presented in Table 4.9
TABLE 4.9
HOUSE OWNERSHIP OF THE RESPONDENTS
House Ownership
Own
Rental
Others
Total
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
245
12
7
264
92.8
4.5
2.65
100.0
157
Table above shows that a large majority of respondents (92.8 per cent) had
their own houses and very few of them were having either rental houses or they
were living with the relatives. It can therefore be concluded that the housing as a
basic needs of a human beings have been met in case of most of the respondents in
the study area.
Whether Migrants?
An individuals when migrates to some other place becomes a new comer to that
particular place. As new comer he has to face many problems with regards to his
day to day living. This is likely to have effects on his perceptions towards the
particular problem and therefore the variable whether the respondent is a migrant
or not was investigated by the researcher and the same has been presented in a
Table 4.10
TABLE 4.10
WHETHER RESPONDENTS ARE MIGRANTS?
Response
Yes
No
Total
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
75
189
264
28.4
71.6
100.0
It is evident from Table 4.10 that the majority of the respondents (71.6 per
cent) were found to be non- migrants, where as about 30 per cent of them were
migrants from villages to towns and cities. The phenomenon of reverse migration
is not seen in the present sample. It can be concluded that the rate of migration is
quite slow and it may be because of the least urbanization and industrialization in
the study area.
Reasons for Migration
158
A person migrates to other place due to various reasons and various
situations he is facing at that time. The response of individuals therefore is likely
to be influence by the cause of his or her migrations depending upon the
magnitude of the hardship he has faced. Therefore it becomes imperative for a
researcher to investigate the reasons of a person becoming migrant. The variable
‘Reasons for migration was therefore investigated and the data pertaining to the
same is presented in table 4.11
TABLE 4.11
REASONS FOR MIGRATION
Distribution of Respondents
Reasons for
Frequency
Percentage
Employment
63
84.00
Service
4
5. 33
Others
8
10.66
Total
75*
100.0
Migration
* This question was not applicable to 189 respondents.
It is evident from the Table above that the overwhelming majority of the
respondents (84 per cent) were migrated for finding some employment in urban
areas.
Similarly, the migration due to service and some other reasons was
negligible. It can therefore be concluded that the migration are caused because of
loss of job or unavailability of jobs in the rural areas, enforcing the circumstances
leading to migration from rural to urban areas.
159
BPL Respondents
Socio-economic status of an individual is indicative of his life style and the
pattern of his behavior. The person from a low socio-economic background will
show some peculiar social and psychological characteristics which in turn will be
reflected in his responses towards a particular problem. Considering all this it
was thought necessary to investigate the variable BPL respondents. The data of the
same has been presented in a Table 4.12
TABLE 4.12
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS IN BPL
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Yes
95
36.0
No
169
64.0
Total
264
100.0
It becomes clear from the Table 4.12 that a large majority of respondents
(64 per cent) were above poverty line and relatively lesser number (36 per cent) of
the respondents were observed to be in BPL. It can therefore be concluded that a
majority of respondents had a better economic background.
160
Graph 7
Distributions of Respondents by BPL and Non-BPL category
95
169
BPL
NonBPL
Land Owned
Land is a status symbol in a village setting. The ownership of land also
affects the social relationships of any individual. The person’s views about the
problem is likely to be influenced by the material resources posses by him and
therefore it was thought that the variable ‘land possessed’ by the respondents was
important in understanding his response and hence the data in that regards was
collected and presented in Table 4.13
TABLE 4.13
LAND OWNED BY THE RESPONDENTS
Land Owned
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Yes
87
Percentages
33.0
No
177
67.0
Total
264
100.0
161
From the Table given above it is clear that a majority of the respondents do
not owned any land that means 67 per cent of the respondents are mostly landless
laborers and are totally dependent upon the upper caste people who owned most of
the land in a village. Merely 33 per cent of the respondents do possess some land.
The most striking feature of this data is that those who posses land, majority of
them do not posses more than 2 ackares of land. They are the marginalized
farmers and despite of having their own land, they do not cultivate it because
farming is a costly business and hence they prefer to work on other’s fields for
their survival hence one can say that the socio-eco conditions of these
marginalized farmers is no way better than the respondents having no lands at all.
Graph 8
Distributions of Respondents by ownership of land
87
Yes
No
177
Visit to Buddha Vihar
The mass conversion of the formerly untouchables into Buddhism on 14th
octomber, 1956 at Nagpur city in Maharshtra under the leadership of Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar, had a long term impact on their life styles. It was expected that the
conversion to Buddhism will change the religious and cultural practices of the
former Mahar community. The new found faith will change their attitudes towards
162
the Hiindu religious rituals and this will have a significant value in responding to
the changes in their lifestyles. Hence, the variable visit to Buddha Vihar was
investigated by the researcher and the data is presented in Table 4.14
TABLE 4.14
VISIT TO BUDDHA VIHAR
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Yes
257
97.34
No
07
2.7
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table 4.14 that the overwhelming majority of
respondents (97.34 per cent) were paying visits to ‘Buddha Vihar’ as a way of
their life. This shows that, they no longer practiced the old rituals and places of
their worship have changed completely.
It can therefore be concluded that the Neo-Buddhists have taken up a new
set of values and their behavior and thinking (psychological change) has changed
drastically.
Celebrations of Festivals
Festivals could play an important role in setting our values and shaping the
behavior. Festivals can also be an agency of our socialization. The social values
of a person more or less are decided by the festivals observed and valued by the
people. The Attitudes of the persons are indirectly molded by celebrating such
festivals. The responses and reactions of individual are likely to be affected by the
festivals observed by him and therefore the variable, ‘celebration of festivals’ was
investigated and the data is presented in Table 4.15.
163
TABLE 4.15
CELEBRATIONS OF FESTIVALS
Festivals
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Hindu Festivals only
01
0.4
Buddhist Festivals only
199
75.4
Both Festivals
64
24.2
Total
264
100.0
It is quite clear from Table 4.15 that an overwhelming majority of
respondents (75.4 per cent) were celebrating the ‘Buddhists festivals’ and the
remaining quarter of them (24.2 per cent) were celebrating both the Hindus and
Buddhists festivals as a way of their life.
It can be concluded that the over all life styles of most of the NeoBuddhists are shaped by the Neo-Buddhism and their behavior pattern showed
total alintation from the Hindus religious and socio-cultural practices.
Ambedkar Jayanti
Celebration of Ambedkar Jayanti is one of the most important ritual and a
festival observed by the Neobuddhists people. It is a way of paying respect to a
person who liberated them from the social slavery. Dr. Ambedkar has remained
an ideal and icons of most of Neobuddhists till today. Their undisputed belief and
loyalty in Dr. Ambedkar is also reflected in their day to day behavior. Taking all
these into consideration, the variable, ‘celebration of Ambedkar Jayanti’ was
investigated and the data is presented in Table 4.16
164
TABLE 4.16
AMBEDKAR JAYANTI CELEBRATION
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Yes
260
98.5
No
04
1.5
Total
264
100.0
It is observed from Table 4.16 that an overwhelming majority of the
respondents (98.5 per cent) were celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti with gaiety and
enthusiasm. It shows that the cultural and religious symbols of Neo-Buddhists
people have undergone drastic changes and are replaced by new festivals.
Opinion about Inter-caste Marriages
The Indian society is one of closed society in the world. It is also
characterized by the uniqueness of endogamy, where in the marriages outside the
one’s social group is not permitted.
This has been one of the reasons for
continuance of the social disability of many downtrodden people. But with the
spreads of education and the modernization, the situation is changing day by day
and people are becoming socially liberal. Taking this into consideration, it was
felt necessary to know the attitudes of the respondents towards the inter caste
marriages.
Hence, the variable, ‘opinion about inter caste’ marriages was
investigated and data presented in Table 4.17
165
TABLE 4.17
OPINION ABOUT INTER CASTE MARRIAGES
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentages
Yes
146
53.3
No
92
34.8
Not Responded
26
9.8
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table 4.17 that a large majority of respondents (53.3
per cent) had expressed favorable opinion about inter caste marriages, whereas
more
than quarter of them (34.8 per cent)
did not approve of inter caste
marriages. It can, therefore, be concluded that the attitudes of the respondents,
(Neo-Buddhists), towards the traditional institution like ‘marriage’ has also
changed to a greater extent and it is also an indication of their progressive thinking
and modernization.
Social Participation
Social participation of a person in various events and gathering shows his
degree of involvement in his social and cultural life. This is likely to have an
impact on this views and attitudes about the particular problem. Keeping this in
mind variable social participations was considered for the investigation and data of
the same is presented in Table 4.18
166
TABLE 4.18
SOCIAL PARTICIPATION OF RESPONDENTS
Level of social
Distribution of Respondents
Participation
Frequency
Percentage
Regularly
19
7.2
Occasionally
89
33.7
Never
156
59.1
Total
264
100.0
The Table above clearly shows that more than half of the respondents (59.1
per cent) never participated in any social function organized by the upper castes
people. A very few respondents (seven per cent) said that they were participating
regularly in the social functions organized by caste Hindus.
The non-participations of the respondent in social functions reveal the
predicament of respondents and also their exclusions from social life. Their non
participation can be attributed to various reasons including the self imposed
isolation from upper caste due to the sense of inferiority complex.
Graph 9
Distribution of Respondents by Social participations
19
Regularly
Occasionally
89
Never
156
167
Practice of Untouchability
Practice of untouchability is an age old phenomenon and is still prevalent in
most of the rural areas. The subjugation of an individual to the heinous treatment
like observance of untouchability can play an important role in shaping the
personality of a person who is subjected to this custom, these kinds of experiences
are likely to have an impact on his views and attitudes and hence, the variable
practice of ‘untouchability’ was investigated. The data pertaining to that effect is
presented in Table 4.19
TABLE 4.19
PRACTICE OF UNTOUCHABILITY
Untouchability
Distribution of Respondents
practiced
Frequency
Percentage
Always
10
3.8
Some time
52
19.7
Never
202
76.5
Total
264
100.0
From the above Table it is evident that the majority of the respondents that
is 202 (76.5 per cent) of them never felt the ‘untonchability’ being practice with
them by the upper caste people. Whereas 52 (20 per cent) of respondents felt that
‘untouchability’ was practiced against them by the upper castes.
Very few
respondents near about four percent of them said they were always experiencing
the practice of untouchability.
The most surprising feature of this data is that the prevalence of
untouchability in urban and rural areas is seems to be disappearing. It also
indicates that the caste based stratified Hindu society is on its way of shading out
the age old dogmas and prejudices.
168
Graph 10
Distributions of Respondents by subjections to Untouchability
250
202
200
Always
150
Some time
100
76.5
52
50
10
3.8
19.7
Never
0
Frequency
Percentages
Relations with the upper Castes
Indian society is traditionally compartmentalized and stratified one. The
channels of communication among various castes groups were not opened and
hence exchange of ideas and views was not possible. With passage of time and the
educational advancement of the people, followed by modernity the caste equations
are expected to change and become more cordial. In this context, it was necessary
to investigate the variable, relations of the respondents with the ‘upper castes’.
The data pertaining to that effect is presented in Table 4.20
169
TABLE 4.20
RELATIONS WITH THE UPPER CASTES
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
Very Good
13
4.9
Good
161
61.0
Average
76
28.8
Not At all good
14
5.3
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table above that more than half of the respondents
had ‘good’ relations with the upper castes people. In all 161 (61per cent) of them
had stated to have cordial relations with the upper castes people whereas more
than a quarter (28.8 per cent) of them had rated their relationships with the upper
castes people as ‘average.’ The most outstanding feature of this data a handful of
respondents had good relations with the other people specially the upper castes
people in the caste ladder, indicating that the social fabric of traditional Hindu
society is seems to be changing
Graph 11
Distributions of Respondents by Relations w ith upper castes
14
13
Very Good
76
Good
Average
161
Not At all good
170
Member of Social Organization
The association of a person with the social organization shows the degree
of his investment with societal issues and problems. The social organization can
also mould the personality of a person.
The personal characteristics of an
individual are closely associated with the his membership and activeness with
social organization keeping this in mind, the variable member of social
organization was investigated and the data is presented in Table 4.21
TABLE 4.21
MEMBER OF A SOCIAL ORGANIS ATION
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequency
Percentage
Yes
128
48.5
No
136
51.5
Total
264
100.0
The opinion of the respondents with regards to their involvement in social
organization is evenly divided. Near about half of the respondents (49 per cent)
had said that they are active in social organizations whereas remaining half of
them (52 per cent) had said that they are not associated actively with any socialpolitical movement of their emancipation.
It can be concluded from this data that Neo-Buddhists are losing their
interest in their social movements. Some of them may be due to their frustrations
from selfish Dalit leaderships and some of them who are well of due to their
adoptions to the newly acquired middle class life styles of self centered
individualism.
171
Improvement in Social Status
In a society like ours which is based on gradation and inequality, came a
long way social status enjoyed by an individual plays a very important role in
perceiving of any incident or a social phenomenon. Hence the responses about
perceptions of improvement in social status was investigated and the data is
presented in Table 4.22
TABLE 4.22
THE RESPONSE TOWORDS IMPROVEMENT IN SOCIAL STATUS
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Agreed
98
37.1
Undecided
57
21.6
Disagree
109
41.3
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the above Table, that above 41 per cent of the total
respondents disagreed with the statement that there is a improvement in their
‘social status’ and approximately one third of the respondents could not decide
whether their status has improved or not. Where as more than 37 per cent of the
respondents agreeably said that their ‘social status’ has improved during past few
years.
More than (40 per cent) of the respondent’s refusal to admit any positive
change in their ‘social status’ indicates that the social spheres of the respondents
did not change much.
172
Graph 12
Distributions of Respondents by Response to improvement in Social
Status
98
109
Agreed
Undecided
Disagree
57
School Enrollment
The enrollment of children in a school is an indication of educational
development of a house hold. Enrolment is a tricky issue for a society having a
long history of educational deprivation. The proportion of school enrollment also
shows awareness amongst the respondents about the education. Taking those
things into considerations the variable school enrollment was investigated and the
data is presented in Table 4.23
TABLE 4.23
SCHOOL ENROLLNMENT OF THE CHILDREN OF RESPNDENTS
School Enrollment
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Yes
167
63.3
No
97
36.7
Total
264
100.0
173
The data presented above shows that near about (38 per cent) of children in
school going ages have not been enrolled in the school whereas a little more than
(60 per cent) of the children in the school going age of the respondents have been
enrolled in the near by school. The sizeable number of children being out of
school without enrollment shows that the respondents who are poverty stricken
will first try to satisfy his hunger. Poverty and lack of regular employment has
forced the parents not to send their children to schools. The attitudes of parents
that education is useless thing today because it failed to provides employment after
the education, is also equally responsible for low enrollment of the children in
schools.
It can therefore be concluded that globalization have created the new
educational disparities for the third generation learners of Neo-Buddhist
community.
Type of School
The quality of education in public schools and in the private school is
beyond comprehension. The children enrolled in the public school do not get the
best access of education and therefore they could not compete with the other
children who are educating in a private education institutions.
The state
government seems to be indifferent as far as the quality of public education is
concerned. As per the WTO provisions, ‘education’ has become a commodity to
be sold and buy in a market. The poor parents could not afford to send their
children to such expensive educational Institutions. The higher education is now
becoming a monopoly and privilege of few well to do people and rests of people
are left in the larch. All these changes are important and therefore, in the present
study, it was thought necessary to look into both types of education is available for
poor and marginalized sections of the society.
The Data presented below pertains to the type of school being attended by
the third generation learners of Neo-Buddhists.
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TABLE 4.24
TYPE OF SCHOOL ENROLEMENT
School Type
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Public
126
74.11
Private
44
25.88
Total
170*
100.0
* This question was not applicable to 94 respondents.
It is evident from the Table 4.24 presented above that an overwhelming
majority (74.11 per cent) of school going children of respondents were enrolled
in a public schools and little more than one forth of the children were enrolled in
a private schools. This clearly shows that quality education which is provided by
the private educational institutions is not affordable and accessible to the majority
of the respondents.
Deterioration in Educational Status
Education is one of the most powerful means of empowerment of persons.
Education makes the person aware of his conditions and prepares him to take up
the challenges in life. An individual’s perceptions about the deterioration of his
educational status is therefore becomes important to assess the impact of any
external phenomenon. Hence the variable deterioration in educational status was
examined and the data is presented in Table 4.25
175
TABLE 4.25
RESPONSE TOWARDS DETORIATION IN EDUCATIONAL STATUS
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Agree
66
37.93
Undecided
97
55.74
Disagree
11
6.32
Total
174*
100.0
* This question was not applicable to 90 respondents.
The Table above clearly shows that the majority of the respondents (38
percent) were agreed
with the statement that the globalization had led to their
educational deteriorations. It was also found that very few of them (6.32 per cent)
were undecided in answering their perception about the statement.
One of the striking features of this data is that a large majority of the
respondents could not express clear opinion about the progress or regress in their
educational status. The respondents in large majority are seems to be in a state of
confusion over the issue.
Graph 13
Distributions of Respondents by Response to deteriorations in
Educational Status
11
Agree
66
Undecided
Disagree
97
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Occupational Changes
The occupation of an individual is an important factor in determining the
life style and also achieving the economic well beings. It is quite possible that the
views and perceptions of persons can be affected by the changes in occupations
and the way the person socialize at his or her work place. Hence the variable
occupational changes was investigated by the researcher and the data about the
same is presented in Table 4.26
TABLE 4.26
OCCUPATIONAL CHANGES
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Yes
63
23.9
No
201
76.1
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table shown above that more man two third (76.1 per
cent) of the respondents did not perceive any change in their occupations during
the last few years where as little less than one fourth (24 per cent) of the
respondents said that there is a changed in their occupations during the last few
years.
The overwhelming majority of the respondents did not experience any
occupational changes it can be concluded that there is occupational stagnations
and the respondents were not been able to achieve any occupational mobility.
Nature of Employment
The employment status of a person is reflected in his level of confidence
and his ability to handle the problems at his hand Individuals over all outlook and
perceptions about a particular social phenomenon is likely to be influenced by his
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employment status. Hence the variable nature of employment was investigated
and the data is presented in Table 4.27
TABLE 4.27
NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT
Nature of
Distribution of Respondents
Employment
Frequencies
Percentages
Temporary
201
85.89
Permanent
24
10.25
Others
09
3.84
Total
234*
100.0
* This question was not applicable to 30 respondents.
The data presented above demonstrated that the more than two third (76 per
cent) of the respondents were employed temporarily. Where as only nine per cent
of the total respondent were permanently employed.
The temporary employment always creates uncertainties and the
psychological tensions and pressures which affects efficiency and functionality of
any persons. The majority of the respondents being unsecured indicate that we are
living in the world which is much unsecured and uncertain.
Satisfaction about Present Occupation
Any occupation is not free of tensions, stress and anxieties in today’s
competitive age. In Individual attitudes, views and perceptions are likely to be
affected by his level of satisfactions from the present satisfactions and therefore
the responses about their level of satisfaction were investigated by the researcher
and the same has been presented in Table 4.28
178
TABLE 4.28
SATISFACTION ABOUT PRESENT OCCUPATION
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Satisfied
52
19.7
Undecided
19
7.2
Not Satisfied
193
73.1
Total
264
100.0
The data present above clearly shows that near about two third (73.1) of the
respondents were not satisfied about their present occupation where as less than
one fourth of them any were satisfied about their present occupations. The low
wages, hardships, without any incentives and undignified treatment could be some
of the factors which might led to the dissatisfaction of the respondents about their
present occupations.
Graph 14
Distributions of Respondents by level satisfactions about present
Occupations
52
Satisfied
19
Undecided
Not Satisfied
193
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Discrimination at Work
The social and economic discrimination is a common feature of our society.
This kind of discrimination at the work place can have the bearings on person’s
behavior and his ability to responds to his social and physical environment. His
beliefs and perceptions could also be affected by the treatment; a person receives
from his co employees and the employer. Keeping this in mind the variable
‘Discrimination at work place’ was inquired and the data is presented in Table
4.29
TABLE 4.29
DISCRIMINATION AT WORK
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Yes
76
28.8
No
188
71.2
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the Table above that majority of the respondents little
above 70 per cent of them did not experience any discrimination at the work place
whereas 29 per cent of the respondents did experience the discrimination at the
work place.
The above responses can be understood in the context of number of
respondents employed in formal and Non formal sectors.
The majority of
respondents in this study are working in unorganized sector where the
consciousness about their own rights and the level of sensitivity to the
discrimination being practice is very low. The majority of the workers are not
sensitized about their own rights.
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Member of Association
The assertiveness of a person and his or her inherent human rights can be
translated into action by way of associations and involvement in unions. The
association and union can also mould the personality of a person in a different
way, influencing his attitudes, values and he beliefs system. Hence the responses
about the respondent’s membership to any association or union were investigated
and the same has been presented in Table 4.30
TABLE 4.30
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATION
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Yes
25
9.5
No
239
90.5
Total
264
100.0
It is quite obvious from the above Table that overwhelming majority of the
respondents (90.5 per cent) were not associated with any associations by way of
membership and involvement. It was noted that little less than 10 per cent of the
respondents had responded positively regarding their involvement and
memberships of association/unions.
The trends of not having any association or weaking of the unions in all
spheres of employment is a world wide phenomenon which also reflected in this
study.
181
Savings
The economic conditions and social conditions are closely related to each
other. The surplus money in the hands of any individual gives him/her a sense of
satisfaction and sense of comforts. The person with money in balance will be
more risky and courageous in his approach. The money in accounts will give him
extraordinary confidence and will change his personality all together. Saving
could leads to prosperity and physical and psychological comforts. This is likely to
have an impact on the responses of the respondents.
Therefore the variable
saving was investigated. The data presented below shows the responses of the
respondents about whether they have any saving or not.
TABLE 4.31
SAVINGS OF THE RESPONDENT
Response
Distribution of Respondents
Frequencies
Percentages
Yes
48
18.2
No
216
81.8
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from Table 4.31 that an overwhelming majority (81.1 per cent)
of the respondents did not have any saving whereas little more than 18 per cent of
the respondents had some saving.
It can be concluded that the majority of the respondent’s earning is just
sufficient to sustain their livelihoods and they do not have surplus money to save
because majority of the respondents are agricultural laborers and do not have a
regular source of income.
182
Indebt ness
The recent incidents of farmer’s suicides in the study areas and elsewhere
in the country were associated with bankruptcy and inability to repay the debts
taken from relatives, Banks and ‘Savakars’ (money lenders). At one point we are
talking about the India becoming the economic power at the same time there are
people who are suffering from the economic problems. The economic condition is
likely to affect the response and attitude of the respondents towards a particular
problem and hence the variable ‘indebt ness’ was considered for investigations.
The data presented in Table 4.32 shows the response of the respondents with
regards to their indebt ness.
TABLE 4.32
INDEBTNESS OF THE RESPONDENTS
Response
Frequency
Percentages
Yes
64
24.2
No
200
75.8
Total
264
100.0
It is evident from the table given above that more than two third (76 per
cent) of the respondents did not have any debt against them whereas little less than
one third ( 24 per cent) of the respondents said that they were indebted.
It can be said that, majority of the respondents had no access to the formal
money lending agencies because of their strict rules, regulations and attitudes
towards the poorer sections of the society and hence, the poor people like NeoBuddhists had no access to formal money landing agencies. The non-accessibility
of the crediting formal agencies to the poor sections is a common phenomenon in
183
Indian villages/Rural areas and this could be the reason had not borrowed money
and were shown as not indebted.
Conclusions
By and large the respondents were appeared to be progressive in their
thinking and were vocal about the issues pertaining to the process of globalization
which was reflected in the focused group discussions and the personnel interview
conducted with them. Majority of them were following the new lifestyles after
conversion into Buddhism. Even if their Social Status is better than what it was a
decade ago their economic conditions remained the same. This corroborates the
earlier studies conducted by Sunanda Patwardhan (1977) and Johannes Beltz
(2005). The respondent’s perceptions about the globalization and its relevance to
their socio-economic status differs as per their level of education, level of income
and the other characteristics like occupations. It is noteworthy to mentioned that
the discontents about the globalization and its policies was seen and observed but
their was no organized protest and no mass movement to protest these policies.
*****
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