Evolving Role Of Women In The Context Of Male Out-Migration

Excessive rates of male out-migration in the hill districts of Uttarakhand have led to changes in the rural production system and the sociocultural structures of the villages. There have been observable changes in the lives of these women left-behind; from the workload to the amount of responsibility they hold in the household and the livelihood options they follow. This research, using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, aims to delve deeper into this vulnerable context and map changes in the lives of women due to male-outmigration. Further, it aims to assess the role of the livelihood intervention - Integrated Livelihood Support Project (ILSP) by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – India, in this dynamic setup. The study design adopted a case-control approach choosing three villages of Almora district. Mixed method was used for data collection which included household surveys, interviews with 80 women, focused group discussions and participatory rural appraisal tools.