Women Empowerment

Since beginning, Indian constitution has always given due

consideration to the women category. The

Eighth plan of Indian Planning claimed to provide benefits form

the economic development to women equally. Ninth and Tenth Plans

also emphasized on empowerment of women.

Rashtriya Mahila Kosh was set up in1993 to help the economically

poor and deserving women.



Empowerment refers to freedom to choose and action in economic,

social and political fields. Initially women had no control over

his decisions and assets due to the prevailed inequalities in

the society.



For elevating the status of the women

in Indian society, it is mandatory that women possess

educational and vocational abilities.Along with it she must

have the capability to systematize and organize the things. The

status of the women has improved considerably in Indian society

but even in the present situation, varied inequalities between

men and women exist.



It is very unfortunate but true that in the Indian society the

girl has to face discrimination for

the whole life. In the low-income category the girl is

considered as a burden.



Even the basic facilities like education, nutritious

food, and medical assistance are curtailed to her. Not only in

poor class but also in middle class and high class, son is

preferred than daughter. These conditions are setback for the

empowering of women issue.



Poverty is another culprit in attaining the goal of women

empowerment. Poverty has definitely more impact on women than

men. Several poverty mitigation programs are trying to solve the

problems of the poor women. Among the total population living

under poverty line, 70% is women.



Besides the existing programs,

several new approaches are necessary for the eradication of

poverty. This would in turn improve the position of the women in

the Indian society.



Empowerment of women is a gradual and complicated process.It

involves changing the way of thinking of the whole society. From

long time it has been stamped on the minds of the people that

women are inferior to men. It is not easy to change the stubborn

attitude of the people. In rural India, Women have inadequate

access to education, health facilities, healthy diet etc.



Out of total women population, more than 55% is in the age group

of 15-59. This group constitutes financially

independent women. The policy of empowerment must consider

this group preferably because if a women is financially

independent her status in the society will also be far above the

ground.The women between 15-59 must involve themselves

indevelopment process in each sphere.



In India gradually the percentage of working women is

rising.Only by contributing towards income of the family the

women can get rid of the status of "burden".



In the present

situation also, the percentage of working males is still much

greater than women. In the most of the parts of the country, a

large volume of women are still illiterate or inadequately

educated so they acquire less wages as compared with men.In

rural areas most of the women are engaged in farming or related

spheres. Women are often exploited and they do not even revert

back due to lack of knowledge and guts.



Even in modern India, mostly women do not have possession of land,

property and finance.



They are contributing towards income

of the family but property rights still are in the hands of

males. Women empowerment can be attained in true terms when

women are free to use and manage the financial resources

according to her desire.



Entrepreneur women can positively contribute to attain the goal

of women empowerment.Entrepreneurship provides women for what

she is longing for - control over the resources and power of

decision making. Such women can help in poverty alleviation by

providing job opportunities for many other deserving women.



Surveys have proved that a large percentage of educated but not

trained women are present in the country. Such women can be

given training in a specific field like making homemade papads

or pickles, handicrafts and many such things and can start their

own small enterprise. Due to lots of family responsibilities to

perform, they lack most important elements of business i.e. time

and mobility. So it is better for them to exploit available

resources and start their enterprise near their residential place.



Self-employment is a blessing for poor and deserving women as

sufficient job opportunities are not available in the

country.In small sector, the women may be owner of the

enterprise may be a manager or controller or may be a worker in

the enterprise.



Women come across numerous problems inside and outside their

homes, especially at starting stage than men while establishing

their enterprise like financial constraint, time constraint,

problems in advertising and marketing field, not adequately

skilled and educated etc.



Tenth plan is initiating women empowerment by implementing

specific strategies like such social environment would be

created by providing necessary services so that women would be

proficient to utilize their potential, To make the women

economically self-reliant, proper training would be provided to

them. Equal rights

for the women would be provided so that there is no social,

political discrimination against her.



In the present scenario, where phenomenal advancements are

occurring in each and every sphere, women empowerment has become

crucial for alleviating poverty and procuring over all growth.