This paper highlights the dynamics and pathways of development of rural women
and men in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of India. It chronicles a series of studies
undertaken at ICRISAT which aimed at understanding the gender perspectives
in agricultural research, inclusive of gender concerns for empowering men and
women in the marginalized and vulnerable regions of SAT. The �ndings from the
case studies show that empowering rural women (in particular) point towards
recognizing the power of individuals (agency), enhancing their skills to change the
context in which they live and thereby bringing about equitable and sustainable
change and development. The distinctive view of empowerment in this study
encompasses networks of relationships which help bring about change and
improvement in the physical, economic, socio-cultural and political well-being of
women (particularly formal and informal social networks). A sequential analysis
is implemented using a series of related case studies conducted over a period of
almost two decades (1992 to 2011) and complemented by analysis harnessing
the VLS longitudinal household panel data. For example, how does technology
uptake lead to empowerment particularly for marginalized groups including
women and tribals? What stimulates gender-equitable change