Livelihood Security of Rural Women in Punjab

Any type of development cannot help women until their livelihood securities are improved. These securities are imperative and critical in empowering a woman. This study was taken up to examine economic, educational and social security of rural women in Punjab and to identify the constraints to her welfare in terms of better education, economic well-being and social capital. The study was carried out in 3 randomly selected districts of Amritsar, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda respectively from three soil zones of Punjab. 300 respondents from farm and landless categories, 25 from each of the 12 villages were selected randomly. To achieve the objectives, indicators were selected from standard menu indicators of CARE-USA Programme Division/PHLS. Aggregate mean score of ~omen's income, saving, ownership and control over resources points to serious threats to economic security and needs to be improved. Major constraints in respondents’ economic security are their low income, savings, level of unproductive assets and ownership and control of resources. Poor access to support from state and non-state organization, poor participation in community organization, shoWing less than satisfactory score are indicative of constraints to her livelihood. Providing higher education facilities, better skill development of women, creating awareness on women's rights, providing information on latest techniques can help women to find their rightful place within the family and community.