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Abstract The economy of Kumaon hills is largely dependent on natural resources. Women in Kumaon hills are real hard workers, for one they spend longer hours gathering fuel wood, fodder and fetching water. About 77 per cent population of Uttarakhand inhabits the rural areas. Marginal farming, poverty and limited employment opportunities are the main factors forcing male members of the families in rural areas to migrate in search of livelihoods to urban areas, particularly in the plains. The situation now has become a tradition in the area. Agriculture and animal husbandry have become dependent on women, who thus play a pivotal role in the economic development of mountain areas. Women in rural areas, nevertheless, lack education, awareness, leadership and decision making power to effectively undertake these vital responsibilities. Despite being at the heart of mountain society and economy they are in the grasp of poverty.