Women's Participation in Sustainable Development: Accounts of Firsthand Indian Experiences

According to the World Commission for Environment and Development or Brundtland published report 1987, sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. It is development that generates the environment through which the life of the nature dependents can be sustained. The development that empowers indiscriminately all to participate in the decision making process. Sustainable development encompasses multiple areas of economic, environmental, social development and their interdependence.

Women's participation in sustainable development is essential as they play vital roles in sustainable growth of resources and it's equitable use. The women as teachers promote sustainability among students. They are capable of running the household with limited resources in an inexpensive manner. Their involvement is crucial in the areas of environmental management, forest protection, soil conservation, tree plantation and instilling these ideals in their children.

This paper is supplemented with some firsthand informations that the author has experienced from many studies she has done on the women's efforts to manage with the scarce natural resources which would have taught them to think over sustainability.

A study at Malethi in Pouri district of Uttarakhand, India observed that the women are in charge of fodder collection at times they even climb up the trees to gather fodder for which men take no botheration. Another study in Balasore district of Odisha found that they take the entire responsibility of running the household from multiple sources of income including cultivation.

The unique role and responsibility of the women are to be realised. They should be given unrestricted access to resources, education, credits, technical support and information. The family and society at large are to trust on the women's efficient use of natural resources which ensures sustainability.