Economic empowerment of rural women for enhancing household income & health security- lessons from studies in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Kenya

Abstract

Intervention of various technologies to improve the food & nutritional status of the population proved the following facts: Promotion of malt based small scale food industry not only provides opportunity for rural women to develop entrepreneurship and employment, but also provides food and nutritional security through income generation. To address this several technologies were developed under NATP like value addition to fish & prawn products, artificial pearl culture, processing of salted fish, which helped the self help group women of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to improve their economic status. Received two patents & licensed the technology which helped the women to reduce their drudgery and also preserve the fresh fish for a longer time without getting spoiled. Product development can be taken as income generating activity in the rural areas by the illiterate women. Products can be included in supplementary feeding programs in order to improve the nutritional status of the vulnerable groups of the population. The horse gram which is commonly used for cattle feed can be diversified for human consumption with less investment. Mothers as well as Anganwadi workers preferred amylase rich supplementary foods which reduced Grade III and grade IV malnutrition in Pre- school children significantly. The studies revealed that spawn multiplication can be done by women as a co-operative venture and mushroom cultivation can be undertaken at household level as an income-generating activity. Introducing red palm oil is beneficial to overcome vitamin A deficiency. Formers are encouraged to grow back yard nutrition garden. Iron enriched chewing gum consumption improved the Iron nutritional status of boys & girls (2-16 years of age). After supplementation, morbidity rate decreased to 50% in preschool children, pregnant women and lactating women. The most important factor underlying the current nutritional situation in the country is poverty. Eradic