Integrating women in rural development programs is taken into consideration all across the globe. Rural development is necessary to enhance the living standards of rural people.
Role and Significance of Women's Participation in Rural Development
To make rural development programs a successful one, women need to be unified. Women, specifically rural women need to be integrated in acquiring their rights to access land and other supportive agricultural inputs. The main reason of integrating women in rural development is that they can play a crucial role not only in the area of rural development but also in the areas of social and economic development of the country.
Necessities to integrate women in rural development
Some of the effective ways of integrating women in rural development are as follows:
- Establishment of cooperatives: One of the best ways of providing equal participation and opportunities to women is through the formation of cooperatives. Cooperative activities of women should be encouraged, specifically in the areas of healthcare services, employment and education. Government should encourage women through participatory programs in training and political activities.
The government should also assure women about an equal salary for equal work. One of the effective ways of integrating women in rural development can be through the way of training not only in the fields of agriculture, but also in the field of family planning.
Survey Report: Women Participation in Rural Development
Survey report shows that the rural women have a tendency to stay with their group of people and actively participate in rural development programs, if they are given facilities like employment opportunities in local areas, local education and vocational training.
Statistical Report: Women Participation in Rural Development
- In Germany: About 40% of rural women work in occupations at a level below their qualifications.
- In Denmark: Most of the rural female workers are unskilled in nature.
- In Spain: In the year 1998, about 48% of women were engaged in occupational activities.
- In France: In the year 1991, about 34% of women were unemployed.