Synopsis "Most of the studies in the hill region of Uttar Pradesh have ignored half the population of this region, i.e. women who play a vital role in the socio-economic set up of the hill economy. This book, based on a primary survey looks at the social, economic, and political status, contribution and quality of life of women in the rural areas of the Himalayan region. It is a comprehensive account of gender issue with an indepth analysis of the working pattern, problems and drudgery of womenfolk in this region. It highlights the fact that besides the fact that women play an important role in the economic and other day-to-day activities of the household, they themselves have hardly any time for their own personal development or recreation. In fact, among the households where the level of migration is higher, the females are over-burdened with work and even after so many years of all round planned economic development and the specific development programmes of the Government for the upliftment of womenfolk, there has not been any significant improvement in their life-style."