Volume: III Part I Section:2 Chapter:6 Page No:
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add to their productivity. •
The overall literacy rate of women is low as compared to men folk. Keeping in view the active role played by women in home management special schemes should be introduced to get her more educated.
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Social participation should be encouraged. There is a need to educate the people about the importance of co-operatives, self help groups and youth clubs. Further, they may be motivated to establish these rural institutions. While using the People Rural Appraisal (PRA), it is noted that most of the people were not having knowledge about development activities. Thus, their participation in such institutions may be encouraged to improve their knowledge about developmental activities.
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In the study area major source of family income is agriculture/horticulture. Every farmer who wants to expand or even maintain his or her business invariably needs cash. The need for cash implies a need for credit, and as most small scale farmers need relatively small amounts of credit. Microcredit is not always the solution farmers are looking for, and they benefit from it less than other sectors. Their need for credit may be relatively small, but it is larger than that of the average micro-entrepreneur. Farmers need access to credit over a long period of time as they have to wait until harvest time or later, until they can pay back a loan. Unlike other micro-enterprises, agriculture cannot sustain above market interest rates as the financial returns are not high enough. Keeping this in view government should make efforts for microfinance instead of microcredit.
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All incumbents in study area are marketing their produce to private parties but resentment was also there among them that private parties are not purchasing their produce at proper rates. Government should do efforts in this respect.
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In order to make the people economically better off, there is a need to introduce new income generating activities as suggested by them. Proper training should be imparted to them to start new activities. Existing income generating activities should be strengthened by making them more trained. Women folk should be trained to improve their economic status. Improved economic status will lead to increase in empowerment of women and also enable them to participate increasingly in decision making in the family and society, which at present is more or less the exclusive domain of the men folk.
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There exists a gap in fodder requirement and which is mostly met with from forests. To meet out this gap new species of fodder trees and grasses and improved management practices (Agronomic practices and fertilization application) should be popularized.
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To cover the gap in fuel people were dependent on forests for fuel wood. To release the pressure of forests alternative sources like solar energy, bio-gas should be encouraged. An investment in this direction can be cheaper and more eco-friendly source electrification.
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Pressure cookers should be provided to them on subsidized rates.
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Training should be imparted to women to save energy. Wood saving devices like improved chullas should be introduced.
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin