The geo-environmental constraints impose severe limitations on the availability of cultivable land as well as on agricultural productivity in Himalaya. Furthermore, population pressure and drivers of global change, particularly, economic globalisation, rapid urbanisation and climate change have transformed the traditional land use pattern and declined the productivity of natural resources. These changes have exerted sharply accentuated pressures on local economy through depletion of land, water, biodiversity and forests resources collapsing conventional production system and increasing community vulnerability to livelihood and food insecurity along with increased risks of natural disasters. This has augmented male out-migration, and consequently increased hardships for rural women and deteriorated their quality of life.  Empowerment of women and sustainable rural livelihood may go a long way in improving of women’s condition in Himalaya and also in South Asia.

The objective of the study is to interpret inter-linkages between environmental changes and rural out-migration, assess their impacts on quality of life of women and suggest measures for improving the life-quality of rural women with a case illustration of Uttarakhand Himalaya. Methodology for this study includes (a) appraisal of land, water and forest resources through digital interpretation of multi-date satellite data supported by ground validation; and (b) generation and analysis of primary socio-economic data for  identification of factors of resource depletion;  interpretation of inter-linkages between resource depletion, local production systems, traditional livelihood and gender implications, and lastly the assessment of impact of collapsing conventional livelihood on status and quality of life of women.

The results of the study indicate that availability of water, fuel-wood and fodder has decreased, and agricultural production has declined by 17%, whereas livelihood opportunities in traditional forest and agricultural sectors has reduced by 21%, as the male out-migration increased 15% during last 30 years. Consequently, workload on women increased by 25% reducing their available time for personal and child care. The study revealed that 40% women are under severe threat of variety of health risks generated mainly due to excess workload, under-nourishment, unsafe drinking water, lack of hygiene and sanitation. The proportion of women who died due to natural disasters and poor-health was 71% and 67% respectively of the total deaths occurred during 1981 – 2011. The study concludes that optimal management of emerging drivers of change can contribute significantly towards improving quality of life of rural women through sustainable development of natural resources, and seizing upcoming livelihood opportunities both for men and women in non-traditional sectors, specifically eco-tourism, dairying and horticulture. In view of increasing concern for the betterment of rural women both at national and regional levels, the above-mentioned components would constitute the core elements of women’s socio-economic development strategies in Himalaya as well as in South Asia in the coming years.