A presentation on
Women empowerment
BY-
SHIVANGI GUPTA
A-53
JAHANVI GUPTA
A 51
INTRODUCTION
The subject of empowerment of women has becoming a burning issue all over
the world including India since last few decades. Many agencies of United
Nations in their reports have emphasized that gender issue is to be given
utmost priority. It is held that women now cannot be asked to wait for any
more for equality.
Inequalities between men and women and discrimination against women have
also been age-old issues all over the world. Thus, women’s quest for equality
with man is a universal phenomenon. What exists for men is demanded by
women.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
Women Empowerment refers to the creation of an environment for women where they can make decisions
of their own for their personal benefits as well as for the society.
Women Empowerment refers to increasing and improving the social, economic, political and legal strength
of the women, to ensure equal-right to women, and to make them confident enough to claim their rights,
such as:
freely live their life with a sense of self-worth, respect and dignity,
have complete control of their life, both within and outside of their home and workplace,
to make their own choices and decisions,
have equal rights to participate in social, religious and public activities,
have equal social status in the society,
have equal rights for social and economic justice,
determine financial and economic choices,
get equal opportunity for education,
get equal employment opportunity without any gender bias,
get safe and comfortable working environment.
WHY WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IS
IMPORTANT
1. Under-employed and unemployed: Women population constitutes around 50% of the world population. A large number of women around the world are
unemployed. The world economy suffers a lot because of the unequal opportunity for women at workplaces.
2. Equally competent and intelligent: Women are equally competent. Nowadays, women are even ahead of men in many socio-economic activities.
3. Talented: Women are as talented as men. Previously, women were not allowed higher education like men and hence their talents were wasted. But
nowadays, they are also allowed to go for higher studies and it encourages women to show their talents which will not only benefit her individually but to the
whole world at large.
4. Overall development of society: The main advantage of Women Empowerment is that there will be an overall development of the society. The money that
women earn does not only help them and or their family, but it also help develop the society.
5. Economic Benefits: Women Empowerment also leads to more economic benefits not to the individuals but to the society as well. Unlike earlier days when
they stayed at home only and do only kitchen stuffs, nowadays, they roam outside and also earns money like the male members of the society. Women
empowerment helps women to stand on their own legs, become independent and also to earn for their family which grows country’s economy.
6. Reduction in domestic violence: Women Empowerment leads to decrease in domestic violence. Uneducated women are at higher risk for domestic
violence than an educated women.
7. Reduction in corruption: Women Empowerment is also advantageous in case of corruption. Women empowerment helps women to get educated and know
their rights and duties and hence can stop corruption.
8. Reduce Poverty: Women Empowerment also reduces poverty. Sometimes, the money earned by the male member of the family is not sufficient to meet the
demands of the family. The added earnings of women helps the family to come out of poverty trap.
9. National Development: Women are increasingly participating in the national development process. They are making the nation proud by their outstanding
performances almost every spheres including medical science, social service, engineering, etc.
10. Irreplaceable in some sectors: Women are considered irreplaceable for certain jobs.
BARRIER TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Illitracy:Women’s illiteracy stands in the way of women’s employment in business and
commerce, agriculture and industries, both traditional and modern.
Even on the political scene, their small representation in legislative assemblies shows how
marginal women are in the whole political process.
Poverty: Due to immense poverty of the majority of the Indian population, the opportunity of
education, participation in social and civic life are thus restricted to women belonging to the
upper and middle layers of society.
Decline of household industries: One factor is the decline in household industry. Since
household industries constituted the largest traditional non-agricultural source of women’s
employment, women were the greatest victims of the economic transformation.
Competition from factories: Within the category of household industry, those activities
performed by women – such as hand weaving, oil processing, and rice pounding, – faced
especially stiff competition from factory production.
Technological changes: Technological changes have a dampening effect on the demand for
unskilled labor. Since the majority of the women in the industrial sector are unskilled, they
are the main victims of this change.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
India’s Constitution makers and our founding fathers were very determined to provide equal rights to both women and men. The
Constitution of India is one of the finest equality documents in the world. It provides provisions to secure equality in general and
gender equality in particular. Various articles in the Constitution safeguard women’s rights by putting them at par with men
socially, politically and economically.
The Preamble, the Fundamental Rights, DPSPs and other constitutional provisions provide several general and special
safeguards to secure women’s human rights.
Preamble:
The Preamble to the Constitution of India assures justice, social, economic and political; equality of status and opportunity and
dignity to the individual. Thus it treats both men and women equal.
Fundamental Rights:
The policy of women empowerment is well entrenched in the Fundamental Rights enshrined in our Constitution. For instance:
• Article 14 ensures to women the right to equality.
• Article 15(1) specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
• Article 15(3) empowers the State to take affirmative actions in favour of women.
• Article 16 provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any
office.
These rights being fundamental rights are justiciable in court and the Government is obliged to follow the same.
Directive Principles of State Policy:
Directive principles of State Policy also contains important provisions regarding women empowerment and it is
the duty of the government to apply these principles while making laws or formulating any policy. Though
these are not justiciable in the Court but these are essential for governance nonetheless. Some of them are:
• Article 39 (a) provides that the State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally
the right to an adequate means of livelihood.
• Article 39 (d) mandates equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
• Article 42 provides that the State to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work
and for maternity relief.
Fundamental Duties:
Fundamental duties are enshrined in Part IV-A of the Constitution and are positive duties for the people of
India to follow. It also contains a duty related to women’s rights:
Article 51 (A) (e) expects from the citizen of the country to promote harmony and the spirit of common
brotherhood amongst all the people of India and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Other Constitutional Provisions:
Through 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1993, a very important political right has been given to
women which is a landmark in the direction of women empowerment in India. With this amendment women
were given 33.33 percent reservation in seats at different levels of elections in local governance i.e. at
Panchayat, Block and Municipality elections.
Thus it can be seen that these Constitutional provisions are very empowering for women and the State is duty
bound to apply these principles in taking policy decisions as well as in enacting laws.
SPECIFIC LAWS FOR WOMEN
EMPOERMENT IN INDIA
Here is the list of some specific laws which were enacted by the
Parliament in order to fulfil Constitutional obligation of women
empowerment:
• The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
• The Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994.
• The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention,
Protection and) Act, 2013.
Above mentioned and several other laws are there which not only
provide specific legal rights to women but also gives them a sense of
security and empowerment.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT LEADS TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
When we educate and empower one woman, we set off a chain reaction that transforms
the life of her family and the community she lives in. An exemplary model is the
network of trained Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), created under the
National Rural Health Mission, who have played a crucial role in improving the health of
women and children across India.
• Empowered Indian women can also pioneer self help groups and initiatives for
creating positive social change in rural or underdeveloped areas. There are notable
examples of women self help groups in India which have generated employment and
income for many families in villages and small towns.
t. Women contribute to the Indian economy in many ways. Apart from her importance
in the social framework, a women’s vital role in village centric community activities,
protecting our culture and in determining the consumption attitude makes her special
for economy. The high growth figures of 8 to 9 percent of Indian economy depend
basically on high rates of its gdp of which 70 percent comes from household saving, 20
percent from private sector and rest 10 percent from public sector. Household saving in
the country is all due to women as it is a part of the culture of the Indian society is to
do savings.
CONCLUSION
Empowerment of women socially, economically, educationally, politically and
legally is going to be a Herculean task. It is not going to be easy to change the
culture for disrespect for women. Only revolution can bring changes in a day,
but reforms take their time. Women have a unique position in the economy. If
women gain economic strength they gain visibility and voice. Women’s direct
participation in decision making capacity and income generation activities
can make significant contributions towards women empowerment.
Entrepreneurship can help women to gain economically strong which may
help them in improvement of their social status.
