Disability and Women: A Note on the Tribal Aboriginals in Darjeeling Hills

Volume : IV, Issue : IV, April - 2015

Dr. Maumita Ghosh

Women with disabilities, especially from rural areas, are likely to be left out of family interactions and community

activities. In addition, they are exposed to social stigma and stereotyping within their communities, which leads

them to feel devalued, isolated, and ashamed. The problem faced are doubled when it comes to the aged disabled women as they are twice

marginalized and ignored. The WHO (2003; 2006) estimates that 10% of the world's population has some form of a disability, 20% of those

aged 70+, and 50% of those aged 85+. That is, with increasing age, disability increases and, among those who are elderly (age 65 and over), are

more likely to experience disability than are young elderly. For this reason, the WHO argues that in terms of disability, old age can be viewed

as starting at age 75. It is noteworthy in the population that the oldest old are the most rapidly growing segment of the population and among

the oldest old the severe disability is the highest. This article inscribes a note on various types of disability of indigenous tribal aged women of

Darjeeling hills and the vulnerabilities faced by them.