Integrated Approach Towards Small Family Norm, Income Generation and Empowerment of Rural Women-A Case Study

Abstract

The paper presents a case study based on an action research project entitled 'Comprehensive Population and Family Planning Activities in Integrated Rural Development' initiated by CIRDAP, where project activities had the effect of bringing about major changes in the status of women through a process of empowerment. The paper examines three villages from Andhra Pradesh, India, one a control, and two villages where the project was actually implemented. The main aim of the project was to implement rural development interventions which result in establishing a community with a better quality of life, and a two child norm for a family. Various activities aided the successful implementation of the project to empower women. These included village level participation, convening the Gram sabha, and holding awareness building camps. Following on from this, activities were held to encourage immunization, adoption of family planning, and introduction of prenatal care for women. Economic empowerment was encouraged through establishing savings and credit societies, training and skill development, and income earning activities.