Patel, A. (2010). Empowerment of Rural Women – Concern and Commitment of Elected Women Representatives. Kurukshetra, 58(8), 3-7.
Dr. Amrit Patel, author of this article is Ex-Deputy General Manager, Bank of Baroda, currently International Consultant, Kazakhstan
Summary
Dr. Amrit described the role of women in an agrarian India. He indicated that women constitute about 66% of the agriculture force. Around 48% self-employed farmers are women and 64% of the informal sector work force depending on agriculture is women.
He clearly documented the “genesis of women empowerment” and the establishment of “Women’s Day” (p. 3) in the international arena. He highlighted the status of Indian women in ancient, medieval and modern India (p. 4). He categorically emphasized on the pathetic condition of the rural Indian women stating that “the plight of most rural women has been pathetic since they have to collect firewood, fetch drinking water, search fodder to feed cattle, work on their meagre land to raise crops, work as labourer on another farms, take care of children etc.” (p. 4). He further elaborated the gradual improvement of rural women by means of “Self-Help Group” (p. 5), “Education” (p. 6) and in the field of politics. Many of his view explained the “weak enforcement” of women related acts passed by the government of India.
