Rural Development and women in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir: Evidence from select Districts

Abstract

Women’s empowerment and rural development are central pillars of inclusive and sustainable growth, particularly in regions characterised by geographical constraints, socio-cultural complexities, and governance transformation. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) presents a unique rural landscape where women constitute nearly half of the population yet remain under-represented in economic activity, decision-making, and governance processes. This empirical study investigates the relationship between education, employment, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and women’s empowerment in the rural districts of Baramulla and Anantnag. Using a structured questionnaire comprising 46 Likert-scale items, data were collected from 471 respondents through a multi-stage sampling design. Reliability testing yielded a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.918, confirming strong internal consistency. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, multiple regression, and One-way ANOVA using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 26. Findings reveal moderate levels of overall empowerment (Mean = 3.35), with relatively higher economic independence (Mean = 3.47) and strong PRI performance in infrastructure-related services (Mean = 3.60). Regression results show that education significantly predicts women’s empowerment (Adjusted R² = 0.655), with personal growth, rights awareness, and economic independence emerging as the strongest predictors. ANOVA results indicate significant differences in economic independence across education levels (F = 14.222, p < 0.001) and in decision-making participation across occupational categories (F = 24.201, p < 0.001). Women with low education rely heavily on employment for empowerment, whereas educated women experience underemployment and limited leadership opportunities. PRI-led development emerges as moderately effective but uneven across sectors such as health and water supply.