The percentage gap has gone up from 80% in 2004-05 to 91% in 2009-10. But in absolute terms, rural incomes have gone up n are powering consumption

The percentage gap has gone up from 80% in 2004-05 to 91% in 2009-10. But in absolute terms, rural incomes have gone up and are powering consumption there, which has grown almost at par with the urban Indians, according to the NSSO data. The rural per capita consumption grew 6% in 2009-10 (1.2% in 2004-05) as against urban per capita consumption which rose by 6.8% in 2009-10 (2.9% in 2004-05).

The impact of all this is visible in some of the villages. "Women are far more visible on the farms today than they were in the past," says Sivakumar. They are also visible in jobs that were primarily a man's domain earlier, like spraying, harvesting etc, he adds. Also, it is not unusual to see a few retail shops in villages managed by women - a rarity in the past.