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Synopsis The female labour force constitutes one third of the rural workers in India. Women workers face serious problems and constraints related to work such as lack of continuity, insecurity, wage discrimination, unhealthy job relationship, absence of medical and accident care etc. The exploitation of female labourers in rural regions happens both horizontally and vertically. It is time to address the issues and discuss the kind of policy reforms and institutional changes required for the emancipation and empowerment of rural female labour force. Empowerment should aim at changing the nature and direction of the power structures which marginalise the women labourers. The book is a compilation of the papers presented and deliberated upon in the national seminar on "Empowerment of Rural Labour Force in India" organized by the Department of Applied Research, Gandhigram Rural Institute and sponsored by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. While the papers throw light on the problems and issues of women workers in general, the main thrust is on formulating strategies for the empowerment of the female labour force in rural India. This authentic and comprehensive account will be useful for the academicians, social activists and policy makers for understanding the labour movements and in developing effective ways or organizing and assisting economically disadvantaged women in rural India.