Empowerment of farm women through income generating activities by KVK Shopian

Abstract

Women are backbone of the family, any change in society should be initiated with empowerment of the women. Women are said to be empowered when she gains complete control over decision making, have a say & being listened to, able to influence social choices and decisions affecting the entire society. Social change could be observed through empowerment in case of decision making, freedom of mobility, getting educated, becoming independent, media exposure and reducing domestic violence. Empowerment is a holistic process which encompassing personal empowerment, ethical, social, situational, economic, political, psychological and cultural Empowerment. Economic independence is one of the means to empower the women. This study was undertaken in district Shopian of Kashmir comprising 200 numbers of women farmers who had undergone training. The study revealed that, among various income generating activities, the extent of involvement of farm women in vermicomposting was highest (Rank I) followed by vegetable cultivation/nursery raising (Rank II), backyard poultry rearing, mushroom cultivation, value addition and processing, beekeeping, dairy farming, sheep farming, embroidery work, cutting and tailoring etc. Promotion of income generating activities in rural areas not only enhance national productivity, generate employment but also help to develop economic independence, personal and social capabilities of farm women. Economic empowerment of women depends on their long-term engagement in economic activities. Economic empowerment, improved standard of living, self-confidence, enhanced awareness, sense of achievement, increased social interaction, engagement in political activities, increased participation level in meeting, improvement in leadership qualities, involvement in solving problems related to women and community, decision making capacity in family and community are the positive outcome. Two arguments support this concept. One, majority of the poor in the world including India is women. Two, empowering women will transform the entire household and not the person concerned alone.