Assessing the Impact of Modernization on Indigenous Culture and Status of Women in the Himalayas: A Case Study of Kargil District

The Scheduled Tribes known as “Adivasis”, refers to the indigenous settlers. Throughout much of history, they have been perpetually socially and geographically isolated. They were dispersed over various ecological zones and belonged to multiple races with varying cultural traits, varied languages, and varied religions. It is often considered that tribal women enjoy better social status and freedom than mainstream society. However, they often suffer from ills like low educational levels, poor health, ignorance, and lack of decision-making power at the community level. The study is primarily based on primary survey based on questionnaires. Google Forms were used to collect the data from women aged between 15 to 45 years of age. Both quantitative as well as qualitative data was collected. The collected data has been tabulated with the help of MS Excel. Simple statistical techniques like percentages, averages, etc. are calculated to analyze the data. Moreover, graphical representations like pie charts and bar graphs are used to show the analysis. The results show the mixed impact of modernization. There is a need to maintain a balance between promoting modernization and the preservation of culture.