Contents: I. Introduction. 1. Women in Development Programmes. 2. Current Status of Women in India. 3. Women and Politics. 4. The Concept and Definition of Women Empowerment. II. Rural Development Programmes and Women Empowerment: An Overview.5. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment. 6. Swaranjayanti Gram Swarizgar Yojana (SGSY)\\ National Rural Livelihood Mission (Aajeevika). 7. Conclusion. III. Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile. 8. Sample Districts and Blocks of Punjab. 9. Socio-Economic Profile of Respondents. 10. Conclusion. IV. Impact of Rural Development Programmes on Women Empowerment. 11. Impact on Women Employment. 12. Impact on Women Income. 13. Impact on Household Consumption. 14. Impact on Women Empowerment.15. Conclusion. V. Panchayati Raj Institutions and Women Empowerment. 16. The Concept of Panchayati Raj. 17. Socio-economic Profile of Respondents. 18. Political Background. 19. Measurement and evaluation of Political Empowerment. 20. Constraints Faced by Women Sarpanches. 21. Conclusion.
