Abstract:
In general, it has been observed that there is an empirical knowledge gap regarding gender equality and personality development of Women Headed Households (WHHs) in most part of Sri Lanka including Batticaloa. In order to overcome this issue INGOs and NGOs are taking many initiatives in Batticaloa. In this view the objectives of this study were develop to assess the role of INGOs and NGOs in improving gender equality and personality development of WHHs in this study area, to identify the types of services provided by the INGOs and NGOs in order to improve gender equality and personality development and to suggest the strategies to further improve gender equality and personality development of WHHs in the future.
In order to achieve the objectives of this research, an empirical study was conducted by using 100 WHHs based on stratified random sampling method. This study was cross-sectional in time horizon. The unit of analysis of this study was individual WHH. Mainly by using univariate analysis, results and findings were generated. The results of univariate analysis revealed that the INGOs and NGOs contributed to the overall level of gender equality and personality development. The gender equality variables are gender awareness, maintaining the children with gender equality, equal opportunities in education and employment, equality in work distribution and works and freedom in expressing ideas and opinions. The mean values for gender equality variables were 3.4, 3.2, 3.5, 3.32, and 3.41 respectively. This overall value 3.4 was fallen under the range of moderate level.
The personality development variables are awareness, character development, family leadership, leadership in social events and independent life style. The mean value for personality development variables were 3.5, 3.3, 3.6, 3.2 and 3.5 respectively. This overall value was fallen under the range of moderate level. Therefore these results revealed that INGOs and NGOs need to improve their assistant to the WHHs in order to improve gender equality and personality development further in the future.