Our study shows that membership of a dairy cooperative helped women to become economically independent and self-confident, with improved prestige in the community. Formal social participation and group actions increased and hence the overall empowerment of cooperative members was more. Women's participation should be ensured in cooperatives, training institutions, credit institutions, agricultural labour institutions etc, so that they can be able to organise themselves, identify their needs, build a positive image, and be aware of their rights and responsibilities.
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