International Day of Rural Women: Triple burden & major challenges of rural women in India

Abstract

The International Day of Rural Women is celebrated on October 15 every year  which highlights the crucial role rural women play in agriculture, food security,  biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. As farmers, caregivers, and  community leaders, they manage crops, livestock, and natural resources, preserve  traditional knowledge, and adapt to climate change. Despite their contributions,  rural women face challenges such as limited access to land, education, healthcare,  and financial resources, along with triple household and community responsibilities.  Literacy among rural women in India has improved significantly, rising from 4.87%  in 1951 to 57.93% in 2011, reflecting efforts to empower them through education  and skill development. Initiatives like Bio-resource Centres engage women in  converting household and agricultural waste into vermicompost, promoting organic  farming, reducing pollution, generating employment, and sustaining biodiversity  knowledge. Complementing these efforts, Bihar’s Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan  (LSBA) integrates the Swachh Bharat Mission–Gramin and Lohia Swachhata  Yojana to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages and transition to ODF-Plus  by 2025 through sanitation infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and community led waste management in which rural women play an integral part. These strategies  collectively underscore the importance of women’s empowerment and community  participation in achieving clean, healthy, and sustainable rural development.