Participation of rural women in decision making pattern on farm and household related activities

In Indian Society both husband and wife participate in different household activities. Their role are generally complementary not only in physical participation in farm but also in the decision making process concerning major land use activities. Women play a pivotal and potentially benefiting role in all-round growth of resource poor farm families. But often they are neglected in decision making on farm and house hold matters which are mostly managed by them. Participation in decision making process especially in economic activities is an indication of empowerment. The present study attempts to investigate the level of women economic empowerment in resource poor farm families by analyzing their extent of participation in decision making on farm and house hold related economic activities. The study was conducted in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. Out of sixteen blocks three blocks i.e. Salempur, Bhatpar Rani and Bhatni were selected for this study. From each block three villages selected and from each village ten resource poor farm families were selected randomly from nine villages, thus a total 90 couples (180 respondents) were selected for the purpose of the study. The study revealed that wives played a major role to jointly decide purchasing or hiring of land (41.11–42.22%), borrowing for agriculture (35.55–40.00%) and selling of produce (20.00–38.88%). Decisions for milking and processing of milk, utilization of dung and sale of milk and milk products were dominantly taken by wives (86.66%, 54.44% and 17.77% respectively), where purchase and sale of animals (37.77–40.00%), type and number of animals to be kept (30.00–37.77%) and adoption of new animal husbandry practices (28.88–33.33%). Household economic decisions on building new house, household purchasing, selected of occupation for children, Marriage of the children, education of children and financial activities were mainly taken jointly (36.66–41.11%, 34.44–35.55%, 33.33–34.44%, 24.44–32.33% and 24.44–30.00% respectively). The findings of the study indicate higher level of women economic empowerment in animal husbandry and household sectors.