Historically, rural women are powerful, strong and purposeful women who are deprived by the circumstances of abuse, inequality, and lack of opportunities. Women have always been considered inferior to men, especially in a country like India where women are taught to “stay at home” and “take care of the families’ needs” and are not permitted to work and make an income. This encouragement towards an ordinary and dependant path of life, is quite disappointing considering the abilities and achievable dreams of these women.
Women play important roles in the rural economy. They work as farmers, wage earners and entrepreneurs. Yet, women in rural areas face constraints in engaging in economic activities. Rural women are less likely to be wage earners, and when they are, they earn less than men. Rural women are often concentrated in low-skilled, low-productivity and low or unpaid jobs with long working hours, poor working conditions and limited social protection.
When women are empowered they, in turn, contribute to their family’s income and become active change leaders in their communities. It is no gainsaying that if you build a woman, you build a community; and a Rs.1000 investment in a woman is a smart investment. When she is empowered, her generation and her family is empowered. This is why we must keep on pushing these women to create their dreams into a reality.
Written by Anishka Daga
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