The Empowerment of Rural Women : Crucial for Rural Development
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Chronic hunger and the status of women in India. 3. Changing status of women in independent India. 4. Education, economic and health issues. 5. Women and rural development. 6. Women in Panchayat Raj. 7. Empowerment of women for the XI Plan. 8. Interlinking women and economy: problems and issues. 9. Women and the Indian law. 10. Socio-economic and cultural interventions for vulnerable groups. 11. Social empowerment. 12. Political empowerment gender budgeting and women component plan. 13. Institutional mechanisms for advancement of women. 14. National policy for the empowerment of women (2001). 15. Schemes of the ministry of women and child development. Bibliography.
India is a developing country, growing rapidly rather on a fast pace. It claims to be a welfare state, with equal opportunities for all. But ironically, rural women still remain a disadvantaged segment of Indian society. The women are still a deprived lot. Despite all efforts for the emancipation and empowerment of rural women, the goal is quite far away. Certainly rural women are the most resourceful, enthusiastic and committed to new ways to improve their lives, that of their families and communities. Rural women become powerful agents of change when opportunities come their way. Since the beginning of the sixth plan period, massive efforts have been undertaken by the government to bring the rural women into the orbit of the development network. The rural India breathes though rural women. Studies show that majority of rural females are actively engaged in agriculture, producing food crops and look after livestock. In addition to caring for their families and their domestic chores, equivalent or more to their male counterparts. While rural males have opportunities in construction, trade, transport, storage, and services, these are mostly denied to rural females. In this context, the present book focuses on where these rural women stand in the development process today. This book highlights various aspects of life and role of women in rural India. It also elaborates the ways to conduct and promote experimentation, innovations and research in the problems for empowerment of rural women. (jacket)
India is a developing country, growing rapidly rather on a fast pace. It claims to be a welfare state, with equal opportunities for all. But ironically, rural women still remain a disadvantaged segment of Indian society. The women are still a deprived lot. Despite all efforts for the emancipation and empowerment of rural women, the goal is quite far away. Certainly rural women are the most resourceful, enthusiastic and committed to new ways to improve their lives, that of their families and communities. Rural women become powerful agents of change when opportunities come their way. Since the beginning of the sixth plan period, massive efforts have been undertaken by the government to bring the rural women into the orbit of the development network. The rural India breathes though rural women. Studies show that majority of rural females are actively engaged in agriculture, producing food crops and look after livestock. In addition to caring for their families and their domestic chores, equivalent or more to their male counterparts. While rural males have opportunities in construction, trade, transport, storage, and services, these are mostly denied to rural females. In this context, the present book focuses on where these rural women stand in the development process today. This book highlights various aspects of life and role of women in rural India. It also elaborates the ways to conduct and promote experimentation, innovations and research in the problems for empowerment of rural women. (jacket)
