Abstract
Although the discussion of human rights has evolved significantly on a global and regional level, women in rural India continue to have unequal access to and knowledge of these rights. This study examines the level of human rights awareness among women in Assam's Nalbari district, a place where sociocultural norms and economic disadvantage combine to produce distinct gendered realities. By means of qualitative interviews and survey-based data collection, the study finds a troubling discrepancy between lived experiences and formal legal rights. Although many women are generally aware of their fundamental rights, they nevertheless lack specific information about legal protections against domestic abuse, property rights, and political involvement. This disparity reflects what Nussbaum (2000) calls women's "capability failure," in which systemic societal impediments prevent institutional frameworks from empowering women. (Nussbaum, 2000, p. 98)The study also looks at how local government, civil society organizations, and education affect people's understanding of their rights. It concludes that women's knowledge of their rights under Indian constitutional law and international human rights frameworks is much enhanced by having access to education and participating in self-help groups or women's NGOs. However, the scope of these programs is frequently restricted, especially for women from underprivileged caste and tribal backgrounds. The results are consistent with those of Agnes (1999), who emphasized the systemic injustices that support gendered legal consciousness in India. (Agnes, 1999, pp. 112-115) The study emphasizes the critical need for locally based, culturally relevant, and context-sensitive legal literacy and human rights education initiatives, especially in areas like Nalbari where traditional patriarchy still shapes gender relations. (Mohanty, 2003, p. 142)