This study on two districts of West Bengal focuses on the status of rural women, and their equal right to productive resources, especially land, keeping in view the fact that the implementation and scale of land reform in the state has surpassed that of any other in India. Given the overwhelming desire of the women to be considered as individuals above all other classifications, and for direct ownership of property, to be able to emerge from the shadows of dependence, much needs to be done in the legislative, executive and legal spheres to address the issues pertaining to women's rights.
