Development and the socio-economic status of rural women in Pakistan as perceived by selective welfare organizations in Islamabad

Abstract

Traditional lifestyles have changed considerably in Pakistan over the last 2 decades or so. A new generation of women has come of age in both rural and urban areas. While many individual life sketches and biographies of distinguished and accomplished women have been published in Pakistan from time to time, no serious attempt has been • made to understand the corporate psyche of the women of Pakistan. Who are these women ? What struggles have they been through ? The term "development of women ' has developed over the years and today it certain characteristics that recently the need s of the time and society. It is important to remember that women must be recognized and perceived as beneficiaries , participants and decision makers not only in the urban world but also in the rural areas. Women are not a 'special' group. They arc half the population of the world. It is rightly said by some scholar that if you educate a man, you educate a person. But if you educate a woman, you educate a family . Through tradition and inheritance, the women in rural areas have been an integral part of the farming activities. Being a rural woman, she has not one, but multi roles to play. The position of women in rural areas is very depressing compared to their male counterparts. In our society, women, especially in the rural areas are regarded as non­ earning helpers . This view is unjustifiable in a situation where our women folk in the typical rural set-up shoulder the dual responsibilities of domestic as well as agricultural work, which is a cycle of unrecognized and unrewarded, physically exhaustive and servile labor from child hood to old age. She is called upon to carry out the multiple roles of a housekeeper, wife, mother, and agricultural worker, both on and off the field, the caretaker of livestock, and often with an added responsibility to earn an extra income to help the rural family. Mere recognition that women make important contribution to the economy through their participation in agriculture , manufacturing and service sectors is not enough. In an effort to speed economic development for rural women, special attention is required in areas of education, skills and employ ability. This would ultimately call for training facilities, creation of educational institutes in rural areas and higher participation of both men and women in the urban sector of the economy . This research was conducted in an effort to find out what actually is being clone by society, government sectors and private sectors to help bring rural women out of the darkness and into the world of equal rights. This research also seeks out organizations working for the welfare and development of women in rural areas of Pakistan. so, what is being done by them and to what extent have they been successful in achieving their goals? The questionnaires were specifically targeted toward such organizations to find out their respective efforts toward development of rural women in Pakistan.