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This study is an attempt to measure the amount of depression, hopelessness, and self-esteem of a group of destitute women of Tripura who lives in various destitute homes of this state. Three leading homes who work for the welfare of the destitute women are selected and data were collected from 50 women by using three psychological scales, viz. The Beck hopelessness scale, the Beck depression inventory and Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Data were also collected from 50 non-destitute women of the same age and socioeconomic status. Results showed that destitute women have a higher level of depression and hopelessness, but a lower level of self-esteem than non-destitute women. Significant positive correlation between depression and hopelessness was found, but self-esteem is negatively correlated with both depression and hopelessness.
Keywords: depression, destitute women, hopelessness, self-esteem
Destitute means without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter or deprived of, devoid of, or lacking. A destitute woman is defined as a female without adequate means of support. A non-destitute woman, on the other hand, is a woman who has adequate means of support in her life. Women and girls in our country generally bear the heaviest load of human deprivation. The impact of the patriarchal structure can be seen in rural and urban India, although women's empowerment in rural India is much less visible than in urban areas. This is of particular concern since much of India is rural despite the high rate of urbanization and expansion of cities. Rural women, as opposed to women in urban settings, face inequality at much higher rates, and in all spheres of life. One of the reasons for increasing destitute women in India is violence against women. Official statistics from various sources repeatedly disclosed the violence against women in various forms have been increasing over the past few decades. According to National Crime Bureau, a total of 2,28,650 incidents of crime against women (both under IPC and SLL) were reported in India during the year 2011. It was 2,13,585 incidences in the year 2010, thus the rate has been increased of 7.1% during the year 2011 (NCRB, 2012). Former junior minister of women Choudhury declared that around 70% of women in India are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence and desertion...