摘要：The government of India encouraged setting up of Industrial units in backward areas
granting subsidies and tax holiday. One such area is in the foothills of Shivalik hills in northern state
of Punjab. Female workers of one yarn-producing unit were studied. This area is marked by largescale
emigration out to other states of India and to Western Europe, North America and Down Under.
Contrary to the popular feeling, 95 per cent of women workers wanted to pursue their career, though
keen to pick up jobs with better emoluments. Worker management relationship was found to be
harmonious. Workers felt satisfied with respect to facilities like toilets, canteens, rest rooms etc. but
wanted more in-house hostel facilities, better outlets for fuel for cooking and health care inputs.
Coming from extreme patriarchal ethnic backgrounds, women felt empowered and were confident to
pass on this new light to the next generation.
关键词：Empowerment; gender sensitization; industrial employment; backward area; North India.
