Social forestry as a strategy for women’s empowerment with particular reference to Jessore district

Abstract

Women constitute about half of the total population of Bangladesh. Rural women live in poverty deprivation and that they are discriminated at every stage of life. The participation of women in the development process contributes significantly in the balanced socio- economic growth and development of the country. The present status, activities and constraints of women in Social Forestry activities and their empowerment through Social Forestry programs are identified. Social Forestry activities have developed confidence in women, developed awareness of their potentialities and they have developed sense of respect in them. Woman actively participates in income generation activities such as Social Forestry, then she can play an important role in the family affairs. The raising empowerment of women in the family means the development for their family, development of a rural family, ultimately the development of the society, as a whole, the greater development of the nation. In order to have some understanding about the actual situation of working women and their empowerment through Social Forestry program, a case study has been presented here which may illuminate certain issues of profound interest and may provoke further investigations in relevant fields.