[A peculiar characteristic of hill agriculture-prevalent from Kashmir in the west to Arunachal in the east - is the important role assigned to women. In the difficult terrain no single economic activity can sustain the household. Typically, there is a ‘basket’ of economic pursuits – cultivation, cattle rearing, outside employment, perhaps some trade-that requires the equal participation of women. Thus, the women of the house are also equal partners in the struggle to achieve economic security. Their labour is no way less valued than that of male members. They work equally with men in the fields, help them in looking after domestic animals and, of course, take physical care of husband and children. Except ploughing, a wife does virtually everything to help her husband cultivation, which (elsewhere) are the men’s task].