Rural women and sustainable development in Gujarat

A woman is the nucleus of the family, particularly, in rural India. She not only collects water, fuel wood, fodder and food but also plays a significant role in preserving the culture, grooming the children and shaping their destiny. Unfortunately, in spite of their laudable and vulnerable roles, which cannot be substituted by machine or men. Ironically, women have been neglected since generations. Women are the key agents of sustainable development and women's equality and empowerment are seen as central to a more holistic approach towards establishing new patterns and processes of development that are sustainable. For rural women, economic benefits often depend on the health of the natural resources they rely on. Governments, however, often treat the environment and economic development as mutually exclusive. This paper tries to unfold the role of rural women in Gujarat in fostering sustainable development.