AGRARIAN REFORM AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN
THE LAWWAY WITH LAWYERS JOURNAL VOLUME:-17 ISSUE NO:- 17 , NOVEMBER 17, 2024 ISSN (ONLINE):- 2584-1106 Website: www.the lawway with lawyers.com Email: thelawwaywithelawyers@gmail.com Authored by:- Almas Fatima Co – Authored by:- Faiza Imtiyaz AGRARIAN REFORM AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN ABSTRACT Rural Women in India plays an integral role in contributing for the economic development of rural areas. Whether their role in agriculture, participating at local levels or representing their communities and solving the core problem of rural areas. However, the study addresses the core issues like Social Inequalities, limited access to education, Patriarchal norms, discrimination and so on, which affects the women’s autonomy, their rights and interests. The study aims to empower the rural women and provide them a platform where they can raise their voices and can address the issues of their families and community at the grassroot levels. Though rural women have contributed at large in agricultural development but they lack direct control over ownership of land. And their direct Participation in decision- making can ensure them to implement best agrarian policies and programs which in turn can help in fostering the growth of deprived areas. This Paper describes how the implementation of agrarian policies can uplift women and can make them self-sufficient. The results have indicated that many countries including India, have proved to be effective at representing women at local levels and had reserved 1/3rd of electoral seats in the PRIs. These results suggest that though women have got certain opportunities at large but critical access to economic empowerment, participation in influencing agrarian policies and to advocate their rights and interests are still the matter of discussion and action. Keywords– Agrarian Policies, Deprived areas, Grassroot level, Decision-making roles, Discrimination, Social Inequalities. INTRODUCTION Rural Women are the torchbearers for social, economic, environment transformation for New India. Agrarian reform, political participation and women empowerment are all interconnected and essential for the rural development. This paper briefly reviews the concern for the rural women in Agriculture, their direct participation in political activity and to empower them across regions and communities. Women in Rural areas are more involved in practising agriculture than urban women’s as they had a burden to look after the entire livestock, and other household chores. So, they must get adequate access to it and their hard work should not get unrecognized. According to Food and Agriculture Organization, 2011 women comprise on an average 43 per cent of the agricultural workforce globally. Yet they have less access to assets, inputs and agricultural related services. In the same way, their active participation in political activity gives them a chance to represent themselves and to raise their voices solely and to participate in shaping laws, policies and programs. In a related context, women empowerment being dependent on complex sociological and economic issues, needs to be measured in terms of specific parameters like ‘access to resources’, ‘decision making capability’ and ‘ability to take a stand’. RURAL AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT RURAL WOMEN WORKFORCE IN AGRICULTURE- Rural Agriculture considered to be the backbone of Rural Economy. As agriculture is the primary source of livelihood on which half of India’s population rely upon. Studies have indicated that out of 33 percent women are engaged in agricultural work force and 48 per cent are self- employed farmers. Additionally, women invest much time than men in agricultural fields for the sake of livelihood and had major responsibilities in managing their children and other household chores. So, empowering them will have a direct impact on agricultural productivity and enhancing food security. Rural women are engaged in different activities like Processing, packaging, harvesting, production and other certain activities require in the agricultural field. Their daily tasks involve intense physical labor and mental fatigue. Women are involved in both crop and livestock production at subsistence and commercial levels. They produce food and cash crops and managed mixed agricultural operations. (FAO,2010) Fig1: Population dynamics of women in Indian agriculture (Vision 2050, CIAE Bhopal.) In the study mentioned in Fig:1 clearly states that how the share of female workforce in agriculture have drastically increased from the time period between 1991-2020 which is approximate 50 percent of the agricultural workforce. Though the workforce has increased in agriculture for the women’s but certain loopholes are still a challenge for the women and considered to be the important concern which has not only kept women in a vicious circle of low productivity but also has thrown up questions about inclusive and sustainable growth of the sector. AGRARIAN POLIICES The substantial involvement of rural women in agriculture, primarily as unpaid or contributing family workers highlights the importance of developing certain policies and programs that constraints the need and interest of women in agriculture. As per the Prime minister’s vision in AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the Government of India has prioritised Gender mainstreaming in Agriculture and schemes to rural women. Schemes of Ministry of agriculture and farmers, and welfare of ministry of rural development encourage the participation of women in agriculture. schemes like- THE MAHILA KISAN SHASHAKTIKARAN PARIYOJNA SCHEME(MKSP): scheme was launched by Ministry of Rural development to impart skill development and capacity building programmes for rural women. This scheme was introduced as a sub component of Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojna across India. THE DEEN DAYAL ANTYODAYA YOJNA-NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION(DAY-NRLM): under this scheme training on use of latest agriculture, allied techniques, Agro-ecological best practices are being imparted to women farmers through community resource persons and extension agencies. BIOTECH-KRISHI INNOVATION SCHEINCE APPLICATION NETWORK(BIOTECH-KISAN): initiated by the Department of Bio technology and has provided scientific solutions to the farmers especially women farmers or the small and marginal farmers of the region to avail innovative agricultural technologies in the farm. Likewise, Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) played significant role in dissemination of these programmes amongst rural women. Now the question arises Can these Agrarian Policies could shape the agriculture in rural areas and empower the women? Definitely