Land Ownership Right and Women’s Empowerment in Gujarat: A Critical Assessment

Abstract

This paper considers the issues associated with women’s land rights in the changing context of Gujarat’s socio-economic and legal landscape. It analyses the Hindu Succession Act (HSA) and its interpretations in terms of state customary laws and the implications of these for gender equality. The paper draws on a series of interviews with state government officials and village level focus group discussions (FGD). Land ownership is limiting when it not translated into control of the land. The issue of land ownership is not just a legal issue, but a complex social and cultural problem.