Women empowerment is the agenda of uplifting the status of women so that they can gain control over their lives, set their own agenda and make strategic life choices. It involves increasing women’s access to resources, knowledge, skills, and enhancing decision-making power while promoting self-reliance and removing constraints that impede women’s ability to self-determination. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, women’s empowerment encompasses five main elements: (1) women’s self-esteem and self value; (2) their entitlement to make and control decisions; (3) their access to opportunities and resources; (4) their authority to manage their lives, both in personal and public spheres; and (5) their capacity to impact social progress towards a fairer social and economic structure on both local and global scales.
The Reservation of Seats for Women in Parliament and State Assembly Bill which was introduced in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2008 failed, and it became an Act only in 2023. Even then, it is yet to benefit women population of the country. The 106th Amendment Act, 2023, popularly known as the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 (Nari Sakti Vandan Adhiniyam), was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19th September 2023 during the special session of Parliament. This bill was passed by both the Houses of Parliament but it will be effective after the next census is conducted. Based on the census, delimitation will be undertaken to reserve seats for women. The reservation will be provided for a period of 15 years. However, it shall continue till such date as determined by law made by Parliament. It is reported that women seat reservations will not be possible before 2029.
In the 17th Lok Sabha 2019 there were 78 women Members of Parliament i.e. 16% whereas in the 18th Lok Sabha 2024 it has reduced to 74 women Member of Parliament i.e. 14% only. When we look at Manipur State Assembly, out of 60 members there are only 5 women representatives i.e. only 8.33%. Meghalaya is a matriarchal society but only 5.08% representatives of women are in the state assembly. From the above percentage of women representation in the parliament and state assembly, we can understand whether women are politically empowered in our country.
As per 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992, there is a provision of 33% of seat reservation for the women in all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipalities. Are these 33% seats really filled and enjoyed by women? Or are they merely filled and exercised by pseudo or ghost representatives on behalf of women? It is reported that in some places women are not given the real political power to take decisions, rather husbands decide on behalf of their wives in the local bodies.
In the case of Autonomous District Councils of Manipur which is the local self-government system for the people of the hills, there is no provision for women reservation in the Act. Though there is a provision of women reservation in Panchayati Raj and Municipalities for the valley, no election was held in time and women are denied their political rights.
Why is Women Empowerment Important?
Empowerment of women is not a single-ended goal but plays a significant role in the overall social, economic, and political progress of a country and achieving an egalitarian society. From a socio-cultural perspective, empowering women can lead to a more peaceful society with less gender-based violence and crimes against women, including domestic violence and sexual harassment. Women are traditionally understood as the binding force within families and communities, and their well-being may trigger a ripple effect of positive change in society.
Empowered women are more likely to prioritise education for themselves and their children, leading to higher literacy rates and improved educational outcomes. Additionally, empowered women are more likely to raise children who are emotionally and intellectually healthy. This, in turn, can lead to better outcomes for society as a whole. Empowered women are more likely to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, leading to better health outcomes for themselves and their families.
Economic empowerment of Indian women can lead to increased economic development of the country. Women play a crucial role in building human capital, and their inclusion in the workforce can boost economic growth. Providing women with equal economic opportunities and fair wages promotes gender equality in the workplace, boosting the Female Labor Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) and leading to diverse skills and perspectives.
Women’s participation in politics can lead to better decision-making and outcomes. Encouraging political participation and supporting women in leadership roles can lead to more diverse and innovative solutions to national and global challenges, including economic inequality, social injustices, and climate change. Gender parity in the economy can also lead to increased innovations and better solutions, as diverse perspectives and talents bring more ideas to the table.
Disadvantages of Women Empowerment
We don’t deny the importance of women’s empowerment but there are complexities and challenges involved in achieving gender equality in different contexts in our society. Some even argue that emphasizing women’s empowerment over broader social cohesion and harmony could lead to divisions within communities, undermining efforts for unity and cooperation.
Women’s empowerment initiatives may face resistance from cultural and religious institutions that uphold traditional gender norms and values. According to them, women’s empowerment initiatives may disrupt traditional family dynamics, causing tension and resistance within households, particularly in more conservative societies.
Critics suggest that rapid changes in gender dynamics could lead to political instability in some regions, as traditional power structures are challenged and new voices emerge.
Women Empowerment Initiatives in India
The Government has realised the importance of women empowerment in the country and has taken up various initiatives. Some of these initiatives are as follows:
Beti Bachao Bet Padhao: To ensure the protection and survival of the girl child. Ensuring the participation and education of the girl child;
Nirbhaya Fund: For empowerment, safety and security of women and girl children. The fund was used to create “One Stop Centres”.
One Stop Centre: Providing integral support and assistance to women affected by violence in public and private spaces. Immediate access to medical, legal and counselling support under one roof to fight against all forms of injustice against women.
Ujjawala Scheme: A comprehensive scheme for the prevention of Trafficking, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, facilitating repatriation of cross-border victims to their native country.
Sakhi Niwas: A scheme that provides safe, affordable housing for Working Women’s and girl students Hostel.
Nari Shakti Puraskar: National Award Conferred every year on March 8 (International Women’s Day). Given to eminent and outstanding Institutions or organizations or individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the cause of women.
Mission Shakti: An integrated women empowerment program that is an umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women. Some sub-schemes under Mission Shakti are: One Stop Centre (OSC), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Ujjawala, etc.
Measures Suggested for Women Empowerment
Social Empowerment of Women: The fact that gender disparity has persisted despite so many legislations says that a social problem cannot be tackled only through legislation. What is required is a sustained campaign to change the social attitude. Education and women empowerment have a strong link and enabling access to education is the best tool for empowering women. It goes a long way in improving the status of women in India by instilling in them enough self-confidence to decide and build their own destinies. Ensuring effective implementation of existing laws through efficient judicial systems and law enforcement will help reduce gender-based violence faced by women.
Economic Empowerment of Women: Providing women with market-relevant skills will help them enter the labor force easily. Enabling access to credit through tools such as micro-financing can enable women to participate in economic activities. This, in turn, will make them financially independent.
Political Empowerment of Women: Offer leadership development programs for women to prepare them for roles in politics and civil society. This will go a long way in doing away with gender disparity in India and improving the status of women.
As India strives towards its vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047”, the government, civil societies, communities, and individuals should put their collective efforts into fostering a society where every woman has the opportunity to thrive. Anyone who supports the idea of women empowerment should genuinely care for women, not doing it only for virtue signaling. Now that women empowerment has become a buzzword, we should also take part in making it a focal point for international development efforts. Women are becoming vocal about their concerns internationally. This should be lauded until true women empowerment is achieved. To quotte Michelle Obama, “Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered”.
The writer is former Director, HRD, North Eastern Council, and former Joint Registrar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
