Women empowerment is the need of the hour. Much talked words women empowerment refers to the upliftment of faire sex in the social structure, in terms of position and also with regard to the respect and authority they hold.
Women empowerment means that women are empowered to think, dream and do whatever they aspire for and not dictated by society.
Why women empowerment?
30-40% rural families are poor.
Women contribute 65-75% labour in agriculture.
Participate in major in major generating activities.
Major role in growing children.
Burdened by scarcity of basic needs- water, food, fuel and fodder.
Suffer from malnutrition ,ill health and neglect
Poor access to maternal and child care facilities.
Low rate of literacy.
Deprived of their rights and decision making powers.
Suppressed by male dominating society.
Women empowerment is required because only 1% of world’s assets are in the name of women.70% of people in abject poverty living less than $1 per day are women. Among the developed countries women’s participation in managerial and administrative posts is around 33%, 15% in Africa and 13% in Asia & Pacific In Silicon Valley for every 100 shares of stock options owned by man, only one share is owned by a woman.
Women’s status from Vedic Period to Modern India-
The status of women has been continuously changing from ancient to modern period. The status of women in ancient period was vital. They were empowered and used to take decisions in family matters and they were allowed even to choose their life- partners through organizing Swyamvaras. The women were educated and considered superior to men They used to perform yajnas and take parts in wars. In Vedic period the influence of powerful women like Gargi, Maitreyee, Sita, Kaikeyee, Draupadi etc. are well known. But the position of women in Indian society deteriorated with the arrival of Muslim rulers. They brought purdah –system. Women were not given liberty to get education and come out of their houses
Many ill-practices were there like polygamy practices among rulers, Jauhar system in Rajputs, Devdasi system in south temples. All these practices made women’s situation in the society very pathetic Although Bhakti sects within Hinduism tried to bring social justice and equality between men and women. In spite of poor condition of women in medieval period Razia Sultan became the ruler and Mirabai became an important figure.
Although in British period some steps were taken and some schools for girls were open by Peary Charan Sarkar a member of YOUNG Bengal in 1847. Martha Mult and her daughter Eliza pioneerd the education and training of girls in South India. Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s efforts led to abolition of Sati practices in 1829 and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar led to Widow Remarriage act in 1856. The contribution of Rani Lakshmi Bai can never be forgotten. In 1917 the first Women Delegation met the Secretary of the State and demanded Women’s political rights. Child Marriage Restraint Act was passed in 1929 through the efforts of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Women played important role in freedom struggle. Some important women who participated in freedom struggle were Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kripalaini, Kasturba Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu etc.
Women in modern India are excelling in all fields. They were holding the key posts of the country like the President of India, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, IAS, IPS, Pilots, Corporate Chairpersons, sports persons ,media person ,scientists thereby covering the half sky. They are performing extraordinarily in each and every field from home maker to country maker.
Present situation-
But still majority of women are culprits of gender inequality which Is a result of pre-existing gendered social norms. It checks women from participating in social , political and economic activities thereby hampering the overall growth of the society. It is clearly shown in employment, health, education, nutrition.
Gender inequality in health is very clear from the mortality rate of mothers and girl child. Many Government programme National Rural Health Mission which aims at providing clear drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition lagging behind their goals. Women are not properly cared in rural areas from their birth to old age which results in lower sex- ratio. Maternity deaths occur mostly due to lack of proper care and transportation facilities, lack of trained healthcare personnel. According to UNICEF Report the main causes of maternal deaths are-
1. Haemmorrhage - 30%
2. Anaemia - 19%
3. Sepsis -16%
4. Obstructed labour - 10%
5. Abortion - 8%
Although the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Preamble of Indian Constitution The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also empowers States to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. From Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a marked shift in the approach to women’s issues from welfare to development
In recent years the empowerment of women has been recognized as central issue. The National Commission for Women was setup by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) of The Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for woman, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels.
Due to concerned efforts of the government much improvement has been seen in the status of women .Representation of women as increased in political arena, economic sphere and social life. Women achievers in various fields are-
M.S.Subbulakshmi, Gangubai Hangal, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and many more in music
B.Prabha, Amrita Shergil in painting, PT.Usha, Malleshwari, Mary Kom ,Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and others in sports . Mahadevi Verma, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan,Shivani, Amrita Pritam etc in Hindi literature, Arundhati Roy, Anita Desai, Jhuma Lahiri in English literature, Sudha Murthy, Arundhati Bhattacharya ,Chanda Kochar in corporate field, Kalpana Chawla in science, Kiran Bedi the first women IPS and many more IAS and IPS officers are being recruited every year. In politics also we had the President of India Mrs Pratibha Patil , the Prime minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Lok Sabha speaker and many chief ministers of the states and many MPs. Along with them many more women are excelling in medical, engineering, dance ,drama, film lines, science and technology.
Issues and Challenges-
Gender in equality has been displayed by many developing countries including India in education, employment and health. Women health concern receives a low priority resulting in bearing pain and discomfort in silence for long periods of time without seeking relief. The sex-ratio in India speaks the volume about the neglect. Not only poor even well to do parents tend to send more on the health care of boys than of girls.
India still rank 1 among the 12 countries that account for 2/3 under5 and maternal deaths in the world
Working women are often subject to sexual harassment. Most of the problems that beset working women are rooted in social perspective that men are bread winners and women are housekeepers. This typecast role model continues to put obstacles for the working women.
Women do not own any property right in their own names and do not get share of parental property. Due to weak enforcement of laws protecting those women continue to have little access on land and property.
Trafficking is rampant among women from lower economic background Domestic violence, acid attacks, dowry deaths, feticides, infanticide, emotional torture, child marriage , forced marriage and recently the interference of Khap Panchayats and honour killing are the forms of violence which affect women physically, mentally and emotionally leading to insomnia, depression, injury, diseases, isolation. In many cases women tolerate violence simply because of the fear of consequences
CONCLUSION-
To end the violence education for girl child is must. For this government should take stern stes to check wastage and stagnation problems in girls’ education. Campaign, change in attitudes of parents, awareness are essential steps. When a woman attains economic independence she naturally becomes the mistress of her own body and author of her own destiny. Despite constitutional provision of equal right, opportunities, political, social, educational and employment Indian women are not allowed to enjoy the rights and opportunities bestowed uon them. Women can be empowered through S.H.Gs., Micro financing, small scale enterprises. N.G.Os can play greater role in empowering the tribal women and women in farm and non-farm sectors.
We, the citizens, have got role to play if we want a better society and better environ ment to live in. We all should contribute towards the noble issue of women empower ment Not enduring what is one effective way to help this cause. Lodging complaints against the domestic violence and ill practices affecting this fairer population. We should all join hands together and start with a small step only because
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‘’Small beginnings have great endings’’
References-
1. Yadav,C.P. (2000) ‘Empowerment of Women’ ISBN-8126106603,Publisher –Lakshmi Shikshan Sansthan.
2. Uadhyay, H.C. (1991) ‘ Status of Women in India’, Anmol Publication PP35-45
3. Ganesamurthy, V.S.(2007) ‘ India: Economic Empowerment of Women’, New Century Publications- Business and Economics- ISBN- 8177081446, pp81-84
4. Reddy, A.Ranga (2002) , ‘Empowerment of Women and Ecological Development’, Serials Publications, ISBN- 8186771018
