Traditional Wine Brewing and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in Andro Village, Manipur

Abstract

The Scheduled Caste (SC) women are one of the most socio-economically backward communities in Manipur. The Scheduled castes community is mainly inhabited in remote foothill areas of the central Imphal valley. The socio-economic activity determines the present status of a community and their living condition. Geographically, Andro village is one of the ancient and rich cultural heritages of the scheduled caste community. They belong to the Meitei community; their traditions, culture, and customs are highly distinctive and have been preserved for generations. The main economic livelihood activity of women of Andro is traditional wine brewing. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the empowerment of women rice wine brewers in Andro by examining the various factors influencing their empowerment. The research is based entirely on primary data collected through a field survey conducted as part of my doctoral research. A total of 308 respondents were selected using a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistical methods, including percentages, and inferential statistics, particularly the Chi-square test, were employed to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between age and several dimensions of empowerment, namely decision-making, economic activities, autonomy, political participation, and social attitudes.