“I rise up my voice- not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai

And that sentiment precisely outlines the basis of new age women empowerment. Discrimination against women is rampant all over the world even in this 21st century. Even though about 50% of the world’s population consists of women, but unfortunately most of them are denied basic rights education, freedom of speech, voting power and even independent identity.

In India, in theory, women enjoy a status of equality with the men as per constitutional and legal provisions. Arguably, our country has taken enormous strides towards inclusion of women with the fairer gender excelling in diverse fields, from literature to astrophysics to finance. But with headlines about dowry killing, female foeticides and domestic violence still making the newspapers, put a silent question mark behind the two words.

Meaning of Women Empowerment

If it is to be elucidated beyond the two self-explanatory words, ‘Women Empowerment’ refers to complete emancipation of women from socioeconomic shackles of dependancy and deprivations. Often made synonymous to gender equality, the term women empowerment encompasses a much larger set of principles that needs whole-hearted attention.

Empowerment of women would mean encouraging women to be self-reliant, economically independent, have positive self-esteem, generate confidence to face any difficult situation and incite active participation in various socio-political development endeavours. The growing conscience is to accept women as individuals capable of making rational and educated decisions about them as well as the society, increasing and improving the economic, political and legal strength of the women, to ensure equal-right as men, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for their families and communities.

The various facets of women empowerment that needs to be addressed for a rounded out development are listed as:

Human Rights & Individual Rights:

A woman has the right to express her thoughts and opinions freely, without any restriction. Individual empowerment may be achieved by imparting self-confidence to articulate and assert the power of independent decision making. Women should be aware of their rights and social positions that they are entitled to constitutionally.

Social Empowerment of Women:

The most critical aspect of social empowerment of women is the promotion of gender equity. Gender equality implies that in society women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

Educational Empowerment of Women:

It means enabling women to grab the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process. Giving preference to the girl child for educational opportunities is a start.

Economic Empowerment of Women:

It means reducing the financial dependence of women on their mate counterparts by making them a significant part of the human resources. A better quality of material life, within the family as well as for the overall society, can be achieved through promotion of sustainable livelihoods like cottage industries, small entrepreneurial efforts owned and managed by women.

Empowerment Through Legal Knowledge:

Not only does it suggest the provision of an effective legal structure which is supportive of women empowerment, there also is the need to spread awareness among women about their legal rights and laws preventing their exploitation. It means addressing the gaps between what the law prescribed and what actually occurs.

Political Empowerment of Women:

The existence of a political system encouraging the participation of women in the political decision-making process and in governance. Indian constitution has provided the bulwarks for gender equality in the country in the following articles:

Article 14: Equality before law “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India Prohibition of discrimination on groups of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth”.

Article 16 (2): Equal opportunities “No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect or, any employment or office under the state”.

Article 23: Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.

Article 39(a): The citizen, men & women equally have the right to an adequate means of livelihood.

Article 40 (after the 73rd Amendment): 1/3rd of seats in panchayats shall be reserved for women.

Article 42: State shall make provisions for just and humane working conditions & maternity relief.

Article 51 A (e): One of the duties of every citizen is to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of woman.

Government Laws and its subsequent amendments have seen larger inclusion of women with respect to their standing in the society and also there many acts which are preventing polygamy and bigamy, and their strict enforcements has to a large extent contributed towards lessening women exploitation. Various government schemes like Rastriya Mahila Kosh and STEP (Support to training cum Employment for women) have managed to bring financial development of rural women through self-sustainable employment. Also “Kanyashree” scheme which is in West Bengal, has been ranked 1st globally for women empowerment. The National Policy of Empowerment of Women (2001) is aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women including physical, mental and that arising from customs and traditions.

Why Woman Empowerment is Important?

A strong patriarchal society with deep-rooted socio-cultural values continues to affect the progress of women’s empowerment in the country. The need of the hour is an egalitarian society. Where there should be no place for gender superiority. Aim of government policies should be to identify and eliminate forces that are directed towards keeping the tradition of male dominance over its female counterpart alive.

Women empowerment in its actually is synonymous with complete development of the society. An educated woman, with knowledge about health, hygiene, cleanliness is capable of creating a better disease-free environment for her family. A self-employed woman is capable of contributing not only to her family’s finances, but also contributes towards increment of the country’s overall GDP. And many things which can be achieved.

All we need is an organized approach from the Government and law enforcement agencies of the country focussed in the right direction that would rest only with the liberation of women from all forms of evil.