Women's development

Women's status in Thiruvannamalai District is extremely low. Poor, dalit women suffer discrimination on multiple fronts. As children they do not receive the same nourishment or medical treatment afforded to their brothers. Their education rarely goes beyond primary school. Their marriages are arranged and they have no choice about where they live or how many children they have. They do more work than their husbands but receive half the pay. Even their participation in local politics is dominated by men. As dalits, they are made to sit on the floor.