Women EMPOWERMENT (WALK TO EQUALITY)

-------- KEY TO SUCCESS OF INDIA

 Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status

Key Problems :Reflecting into the Vedas purana of Indian culture, woman is being worshiped such as LAXMI MAA, goddess of wealth; SARASWATI MAA, for wisdom; DURGA MAA, for power. The status of women in India, particularly in rural areas needs to address the issue of empowering women. Ironically, women have not actively participated in their own emancipation mainly due to low economic independence. With their age, they have been raped, kicked, killed, subdued & humiliated almost daily. Only 10% seats in worlds parliament & 6% in national cabinets are held by them.

Type of worker Profession al Sales Service Productio n

Occupational Distribution (%)

Women 7 4 7 22 59 2 Men 7 14 5 37 33 4

Agricultur al
Other

Maitreyi, Gargi Philosophers & women seers

Freedom to choose partners for marriage Daughters were not considered as liability or unwelcomed guest in the family Widow marriages were permissible

Status of women

Women had Subjugated status But gave the message that respectable wife is one who humbles herself vis--vis her husband

Did not deserve the freedom at any point of time in her life Not marring a girl before the age of 14 years was a sin

Vedic period
(1500-1000 BC)

Period of epics
(1000-500 BC)

Age of Manushatra
(500 (500 200 200 BC) BC)

Market Health facility Places outside All three places None of the three 4
10

51 48 38 33

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The process of empowering the women

Four of the main processes that could lead to women's empowerment, as defined by the IFAD evaluation, were: changes in women's mobility and social interaction

changes in women's labor patterns

changes in women's access to and control over resources changes in women's control over decision-making.

Women Empowerment Program

Society for Human Development (SHD) carries out women empowerment program, and its implemented at 2 levels.. 1. Attitudinal change process at local level 2. Constitutional reforms and legislation for equal citizenship for women. CEDAW (Convention of Elimination of all kinds of Discrimination against Women) and focus the four sectoral areas 1. Womens Political and 2. legal Empowerment 3. Womens Economic and 4. Social Empowerment.

Contd..
The strategy adopted for interventions by CEDAW includes 1. Capacity building of local women groups/councilors/political representatives. 2. Exploring opportunities for economic and social upliftment and transferring information, knowledge and skills to women. 3. Networking with national and regional level organizations for advocacy and lobbying at policy level. 4. Influencing policy makers and parliamentarians through demonstrations, walks, seminars and rallies.

How to achieve it?

One of the strategies is EDUCATION that builds a positive self-image and boosts self-confidence among them & develops their ability to think critically. Promoting self-employment, through credit & training. Providing lean season wage employment. Addressing minimum needs such as nutrition, health, sanitation, housing & education. Direct involvement of women who are likely to be affected by development programme. Providing saving habit among them.

Legal Empowerment Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Factors influcing women empowerment

Women literacy

Wisdom

Economically independent women

Industry Women Empowerment

Women participation in election Proportion of women in parliament, local bodies

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Strength

Empathy
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International Women Day, 8 March a tribute to the women