International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages [Author: Biswajit Das et al.] [Sub.: Geography] I.F.6.156 Vol. 8, Issue: 10, Oct.: 2020 (IJRSML) ISSN: 2321 - 2853 1 Print, International, Referred, Peer Reviewed & Indexed Monthly Journal www.raijmr.com RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR) Rural Scheduled Caste Women’s Autonomy in Household Decision making: A study of Dinhata sub-division of Koch Bihar District of West Bengal BISWAJIT DAS Research Scholar (UGC-SRF), Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal PROF. SUSHMA ROHATGI Professor, Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal Abstract: Autonomy is the capacity to make an uncoerced decision and women’s autonomy means the freedom of the women of making any decision. Gender disparity in household decision making is a common phenomenon in developing countries like India. In the 21 st century, women could not take a decision freely by their own in most of the household in India. The main focus of the study is to observed the participation of the rural scheduled caste women in household decision making process and discuss the factors that affects the decision-making process of the women. The study is based on the primary survey in the Dinhata Sub-division of Koch Bihar District. Stratified random sampling technique has been adopted for collecting the data through a scheduled questionnaire and 5 percent village and 2 percent household from each selected village have been surveyed. The study indicts that the household decision making is depends on the age, level of educational attainment and income level of the women although long run decision is taken by their husband or male member of the family. Keywords: Autonomy, Decision Making, Long Run Decision, Short Run Decision 1. Introduction Autonomy is the ability to obtain information and make decisions about one's own concerns. It facilitates access to material resources such as food, land, income and other forms of wealth, and social resources such as knowledge, power, prestige within the family and community (Acharya et al., 2010). Female autonomy in simple terms indicates the decision-making power of the women within the household relative to their husbands’ (Banerjee and Roy, 2015). Women's autonomy in household decision making is extremely important as an indicator of women's empowerment. In developing countries women are looked upon as the potential mothers and homemakers. A woman plays a vital role on the well being of a family. A decision-making power of women is the most important factor for the welfare of their family (Safilios, 1983). The evidences from other developing countries show that women’s age and family structure are the strongest determinants of women's authority in decision making (Sathar, 2000). The socio-cultural context conditions the relationship of women's individual- level characteristics to decision making, and autonomy is a key intervening mediator between women's status and reproductive outcomes. Autonomy also affects women's decision-making processes. Population and development programmes are most effective when steps have simultaneously been taken to improve the status of women in the decision-making process (Dyson, 1983). Women often have unequal access to food, education, and health care, limited opportunities to earn incomes, restricted access to, and control over, productive resources, and very few effective legal rights (Empowerment for Nepal's Most Disadvantaged Women, 2004). The household is a crucial unit for consumption and labour supply decisions in the rural environment. Rural household decisions are made in the light of social and economic changes and are normally