Economic Participation of Rural Women in Rural Development: The Role of Non-Formal Education

This study aimed to explore the significance of non-formal education to enhance economic involvement of rural women in rural development. To achieve this objective, the study was examined the contribution that non-formal education can make: to equip rural women with knowledge and skills necessary to get in to income-generation activities; to promote active participation of rural women in decision about marketing of their produce; and to increase overall productivity of rural women, so that to reduce poverty. Analysis was made based on the primary data collected from 189 target respondents from rural women of Nalpathimala Village of Kottayam District, Kerala State of India, who organized under Kudumbashree (women self-help groups), and 10 officials from local level government structures, who have direct link with Kudumbashree. For further data verification, Chi-square test of independence was used to test either statistically significant relationship between non-formal education and economic involvement of rural women exists or not. Accordingly, the result of this study shows that, there is significant relationship between non-formal education and: enhancement of rural women's skills and knowledge necessary to get in to income-generation activities; participation of rural women in decision about marketing of their produce; and productivity of rural women and poverty reduction. Therefore, the finding of this study reveals, the existence of positive significant association between non-formal education and enhancement of economic participation of rural women in rural development.