Synopsis Women represent half the world’s human resources. Though women perform different roles [reproduction (only women), household (housework, food preparation, child earning,…), and productive (income generating activities)], women continue to be mainly responsible for ‘care economy’. his study makes an attempt to understand the nature and impact of STEP programme on women and to draw lessons for future policy exercises. The specific objectives of the study are: (1) to study performance of ‘all women dairy cooperative societies’ (WDCSs) in different agro-climatic regions; (2) to calculate quantitative and qualitative changes in women covered under STEP programme; (3) to observe the differential decision making pattern of farm women in various animal husbandry tasks; (4) to develop an empowerment scale for women dairy farmers; and (5) to document working of self-help groups among respondents.