Using the perspective of sociology and social welfare, the report focuses on issues and concerns by considering the concepts and underpinnings of personal development, social development, community development, women's issues, rural social welfare, and self-help. Contexts are the social development and social welfare of total societies as well as of local rural communities. Philosophical and theoretical perspectives adopted for conceptualization and analyses are Western Utilitarian and Sarvodaya. Materials are both conceptual and factual and relate specifically to the major thrust of the paper: the interrelated topics of women's issues, community development, and self-help in organizing and bringing about all rural social development/welfare activities. For observation and insights, the major societal contexts used are that of the Third World and the United States. The last portion of the report considers some future issues and concerns of rural women's issues, community development, and self-help in their local, national, and global contexts. (Author/AH)