While there is much literature on women today, the focus is generally on the position and role of women in urban areas. This study turns the spotlight on rural women through the length and breadth of the districts of Maharashtra. Its findings enable the rural woman to emerge from the shadows of being labelled as ‘tT&itian-bound'', ‘passive'', ‘backward'', to hold her own, whether in the forefront of public life, in the expression of her convictions or in a courageous stand through crisis-situations. The dynamism of social change is sweeping over every sector of the country and rural women are second to none in making their response to the challenge, with due regard to the rural cultural context. Too often and too long has the impression persisted that only men can play an effective role in directing the course of planned development. As a result, women themselves maintain.a poor self-image and they are afraid of innovative moves which draw on them the wrath of the local community. The study explores through personal interviews with women elected or nominated on panchayat bodies, their views on situations affecting the status and role of women including their active involvement in local affairs. The first chapter traces the social emergence of women in the country, a movement which follows the ebb and flow of socio-political events. The second chapter explains the methodology of the study.

While there is much literature on women today, the focus is generally on the position and role of women in urban areas. This study turns the spotlight on rural women through the length and breadth of the districts of Maharashtra. Its findings enable the rural woman to emerge from the shadows of being labelled as ‘tT&itian-bound'', ‘passive'', ‘backward'', to hold her own, whether in the forefront of public life, in the expression of her convictions or in a courageous stand through crisis-situations. The dynamism of social change is sweeping over every sector of the country and rural women are second to none in making their response to the challenge, with due regard to the rural cultural context. Too often and too long has the impression persisted that only men can play an effective role in directing the course of planned development. As a result, women themselves maintain.a poor self-image and they are afraid of innovative moves which draw on them the wrath of the local community. The study explores through personal interviews with women elected or nominated on panchayat bodies, their views on situations affecting the status and role of women including their active involvement in local affairs. The first chapter traces the social emergence of women in the country, a movement which follows the ebb and flow of socio-political events. The second chapter explains the methodology of the study.