Author:

Moloy Mukherjee
State Aided College Teacher
Department in History
Dasarathi Hazra Memorial College
Purba Bardhaman,West Bengal,India

Email: moloymukherjee86@gmail.com

Abstract::Abstract::This study examines the socio-economic conditions of Muslim women in Suri, the urban
administrative center of Birbhum district, and its surrounding rural villages in West Bengal. The research
focuses on comparing indicators such as education, employment, income, healthcare access, mobility, and
participation in local governance to understand the urban-rural divide among Muslim women in the region.
Despite policy efforts aimed at inclusive development, Muslim women—particularly in rural areas—continue
to face layered marginalization due to intersecting factors of gender, religion, class, and geography. Using a
mixed-methods approach, including field surveys, interviews, and secondary data analysis, the study reveals
that Muslim women in urban Suri have relatively better access to education, healthcare, and incomegenerating opportunities compared to their rural counterparts, who remain largely dependent on informal
labor and face severe educational and infrastructural deficits. Cultural norms, patriarchal constraints, and
limited government outreach further deepen rural women’s vulnerabilities.The study argues that targeted
policy interventions, community awareness programs, and infrastructure development are essential to bridge
this socio-economic gap. By highlighting the contrasts and commonalities between urban and rural Muslim
women’s lives, this research contributes to the broader discourse on gender, development, and minority
rights in India.

Key Words::Birbhum District, Employment, Minority, Muslim Women, Urban-rural Divide etc.