AUTHOR:This article is written by Geetanjali Seth, a student of NMIMS law school,Mumbai campus.
TOPIC NAME: The topic chosen for the research article is Critical Analysis of Women Empowerment in India.
INTRODUCTION:Traditionally being a patriarchal society,women have secondary role to play in every household in India.Howeve,issues related to welfare of women have always been a priority among policy makers since independence,though the path has witnessed repositioning with time and as per the requirement from the Fifth year Plan onwards,there has been a remarkable shift in approach to women’s issues from welfare to development.India has also endorsed various global efforts as the Mexico Plan of Action.In the 21st century,the world is enthusiastically progressing and taking up the women partake in uplifting the society and economy in the world.Women empowerment is the key to strengthen their participation in the decision-making which is the most important key to socio-economic development.The India is a developing country and its economic status is also very bad because of the male dominated country.Women constitute roughly 50 percent of the nation’s population and a majority of them remain economically dependent,without employment.Women empowerment is a very neccassary to make the bright future of the family,society and country.Empowerment of women would mean encouraging women to be self-reliant,economically independent,have a positive self esteem,generate confidence to face any difficult situation and incite active participation in various social-political development endevaours.Education is a key factor for women empowerment,prosperity and has been recognized as an essential agent of social change of development in any society.Education of women is important for all,but essential for the survival and empowerment of girls especially.Social peace can also be easily established.There is a list of safety laws for women in India,working in the field to provide safety to the women from all types of crimes against women.Women’s rights are human rights.They cover every aspect of life-health,education,political participation,economic well being and freedom from violence ,among many others.Women are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all forms of discrimination this is fundamental to achieve human rights,peace and security and sustainable development.Various NGO’s play an important role for women empowerment.Many schemes and programmes for women empowerment are provided by the Government.
SCHEMES FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN INDIA:
The ministry of women and child development,as the nodal agency for all matters pertaining to welfare,development and empowerment of women,has evolved schemes and programmes for their benefit.These schemes are spread across a broader spectrum such as women’s need for shelter,security,safety,legal aid,justice
Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas-This scheme as a bub-scheme of IRDP was introduced in 1983-84.This programme is meant for the development of women and children in rural areas by providing a revolving fund of Rs 25000 to a group of 10-15 women belonging to poverty group of undertaking economic activities and ancillary services like nutrition,health,adult education facilities.
Shwawlamban Programme:This programme was launched in 1982-83 with assistance from the Norwegian Agency for Development corporation.The objectivesof the programme is to provide training and skills to women to facilitate them to obtain employment or self-employment on sustained basis.The first groups under the scheme are the poor and needy women ,women from weaker section of the society.
Mahila Samriddhi Yojana:
This scheme was a centrally sponsored scheme and through this scheme every rural women
Aged 18 and above can open an MSY account of money she can save.The government would contribute an incentive money of 25 % savings.An important aspect of this scheme is the involvement of NGO’s.
Swa Shakti-The Project jointly founded by the IFAD,World Bank and The GOI was launched in Oct 1999.The objective of the programme was to bring out socio-economic development of women through promotion of women SHGs,micro credit and income generating activities.
CASE LAWS RELATED TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
Some of the special legislations related to women empowerment are Immoral Traffic Preventive Act,1956,Maternity Benefit Act,1961,Crimes Identified Under IPC Prohibition of Child marriages Act,2006.
The famous case of Vishakha vs State of Rajasthan where the girl was molested at her workplace so the rights of the woman was upheld and she was considered as a victim of molestation.
In the case of Vineeta sharma vs Rakesh Sharma also the woman was burned down due to inadequate dowry here again rights of the woman was upheld and she was helped to be educated properly and given oppurtunities to complete her education.
CONCLUSION
Women empowerment is considered excrutiangly vital because everyday we see cases of women being tortured and treated cruelly.It is of vital importance that NGO’s and other government agencies organise programmes especially in the rural areas where it is of utmost importance that the girls and women in the underdeveloped areas get equal education rights as the women in the cities.More stringent laws have to be implemented so that women rights can be upheld and once education is provided to them they will be well equipped with their basic rights and can file a suit on grounds of their rights being infringed.They could be protected from mental agony and torture and would be educated with their rights.
FAQ
One of the most frequently asked questions is how long would it take for women to be completely freed from male domination and harassment?
The answer to this is even though stringent laws have been implemented it is of vital importance that stricter laws ought to be implemented for complete non violence on women
