Political events

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 in development 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. 

About the author: I am a law graduate and have a strong penchant for issues of global importance. Being an amateur writer, I frequently express my views and thoughts about such issues through short write-ups.