THE LIVING CONDITION AND CHALLENGES OF SINGLE MOTHERS

Abstract

Child upbringing vested with single mothers is challenging due to death, divorce, and separation from spouse. According to a UN report in 2019, 4.5 percent of all Indian households are run by single mothers, drawing attention to the country's significant number of single-parent families. Thus, the researcher has taken up the study to know the economic challenges single mothers face in raising their children. The study adopted a descriptive research design and used semi-structured interviews to collect data on the socio-demographic profiling of single mothers. The study collected data from 40 Kanadamangalam and Vanur block village participants in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. The investigation observed that most participants were agricultural workers and earned less than five thousand rupees monthly. The lower level of education made them engage in daily agricultural wages, which is distressing in their economic status, which leads to upgrading their children's settlement and secure life. The researchers suggested that the local industries can develop their welfare scheme through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by finding the needy to benefit single mothers' development. The Government also relook or create a new welfare program for strengthening single mothers families.

Key Words: Single Mothers; Socio-Economic Status; Poverty; Living Condition,