I have observed that women in rural West Bengal are full of wisdom as well as enthusiasm. What they need is some guidance and support to improve their economic condition so as to earn a better living. The rural co-operatives are better placed to support the Self-Help Groups of women folk in providing forward-backward linkages in procuring raw materials for their produce and marketing the finished products. The importance of training in acquiring technical skill for some critical vocations cannot be looked aside. The rural employment programmes of the Government alongwith financial inclusion...