Name: Pasam Vasundhara
Academic Status: BBA.LLB(Hons.) (Second Year)-
Vignan Institute of Law, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
INTRODUCTION: -
Women’s empowerment can be defined to promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.
It Is closely aligned with female empowerment – a fundamental human right that’s also key to achieving a more peaceful, prosperous world.
In Western countries, female empowerment is often associated with specific phases of the women’s rights movement in history. This movement tends to be split into three waves, the first beginning in the 19th and early 20th century where suffrage was a key feature. The second wave of the 1960s included the sexual revolution and the role of women in society. Third wave feminism is often seen as beginning in the 1990s.
- Women’s empowerment and promoting women’s rights have emerged as a part of a major global movement and is continuing to break new ground in recent years. Days like International Women’s Empowerment Day are also gaining momentum. But despite a great deal of progress, women and girls continue to face discrimination and violence in every part of the world.
Principles of women empowerment: -
Created in a collaboration between the UN Global compact and used to empower women in the marketplace, workplace and community.
There are seven principles of women empowerment: -
Principle 1: Create high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
Principle 2: Treat all people fairly at work, respecting and supporting non-discrimination and human rights.
Principle 3: Ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of all workers, whether male or female.
Principle 4: Promote education, training and professional development for women.
Principle 5: Implement supply chain, marketing practices and enterprise development that empower women.
Principle 6: Champion equality through community initiatives and advocacy.
Principle 7: Measure and report publicly on progress to create gender equality.
These principles are the result of collaboration between the UN Global Compact and UN Women and are adapted from the Calvert Women's Principles®. They are informed by real-life business practices and input gathered from across the globe. These Principles also can inform other stakeholders, including governments, as they engage with business.
Why empowerment is important for girls and women: -
Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries.
When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential. Contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier Preamble of the Constitution.
Under the Constitutional law, women have equal rights as men so as to enable them to take part effectively in the administrative of the country.
Equality before law: -
Article 14 embodies the general principles of equality before law and equal protection of laws.
Prohibition from discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article 15(1) and (2)prohibits the state from discriminating against any citizen only on the basis of any one or more of the aspects such as religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.
Article 15(3) makes it possible for the state to create special provisions for protecting the interests of women and children.
Article 15(4) capacitates the State to create special arrangements for promoting interests and welfare of socially and educationally backward classes of society.
Equality of Opportunity: -
Article 16 provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.
Article 39 requires the State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of livelihood [Article 39(a)]:, and equal pay for equal work for both men and women [Article 39(d)].
Article 39A directs the State to promote justice, on the basis of equal opportunity and to promote free legal aid by suitable legislation or scheme or in any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
Humane Conditions at Work: -
Article 42 directs the State to make provision for securing justice and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
Fundamental Duty: -
Article 51A (e) enjoins upon every citizen to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Reservation of seats for Women in Panchayats and Municipalities.
Article 243 D (3) and Article 243 T(3) provide for reservation of not less than one third of total number of seats in Panchayats and Municipalities for women to be allotted by rotation to different Constituencies.
Article 243 D(4) T(4) provides that not less than one third of the total number of officers of chairperson in the Panchayat and Municipalities at each level to be reserved for women.
Voting rights/Electoral law: -
Not less than one-third seats shall be reserved for women. Such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat.
The office of the chairperson in the Panchayat at the village or any other level shall be reserved for SCs, STs and women in such manner as the legislature of state may, by law provide.
Reservation of seats for women in Municipalities is provided.
To uphold the Constitutional mandate, the state has enacted various legislative measures intended to ensure equal rights, to counter social discrimination and various forms of violence and atrocities and to provide support services specially to working women. Although women may be victims of any of the crimes such as ‘Murder’, ‘Robbery’, Cheating the crimes, which are directed specifically against women, are characterized as ‘Crime against Women’. These are broadly classified under two categories. children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
A key part of this empowerment is through education. Girls who are educated can pursue meaningful work and contribute to their country’s economy later in life. They are also four times less likely to get married young when they have eight years of education, meaning that they and their families are healthier.
Women Empowerment Schemes: -
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
- Archive – One Stop Centre Scheme
- Archive – Women Helpline Scheme
- UJAWALA : A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
- Sakhi Niwas
Ministry approves new projects under Ujjawala Scheme and continues existing projects
6.SWADHAR Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances)
7.NARI SHAKTI PURASKAR
Awardees of Stree Shakti Puruskar, 2014 & Awardees of Nari Shakti Puruskar
8.Women Helpline Scheme
9.Mahila police Volunteers
10.Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK)
11.NIRBHAYA
- Women And Children Development: -
Poshan Abhiyaan:
The fourth Poshan Abhiyaan progress monitoring report, preserving progress on Nutrition in India in Pandemic Times was submitted to the prime minister’s office (PMO) in August 2021.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana yojana: -
A Comprehensive monitoring report on the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana yojana, highlighting the achievement and limitations of the scheme, was prepared and submitted to the PMO in May 2021.
Rice Fortification: -
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, with Member (Health) and CEO, NITI Aayog, along with other stakeholders, on rice Fortification. Subsequently, on 15 August 2021, the Hon’ble prime minister announced the universalization of rice Fortification in social safety net schemes by 2023.
. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent. As if all the rights belonged to men even something as basic as voting. As times evolved, women realized their power. There on began the revolution for women empowerment.
As women were not allowed to make decisions for them, women’s empowerment came in like a breath of fresh air. It made them aware of their rights and how they must make their own place in society rather than depending on a man. It recognized the fact that things cannot simply work in someone’s favor because of their gender. However, we still have a long way to go when we talk about the reasons why we need it.
- Need for Women Empowerment: -
Almost every country, no matter how progressive has a history of ill-treating women. In other words, women from all over the world have been rebellious to reach the status they have today. While the western countries are still making progress, third world countries like India still lack behind in Women Empowerment.
In India, women’s empowerment is needed more than ever. India is amongst the countries which are not safe for women. There are various reasons for this. Firstly, women in India are in danger of honor killings. Their family thinks it’s right to take their lives if they bring shame to the reputation of their legacy.
Moreover, the education and freedom scenario are very regressive here. Women are not allowed to pursue higher education; they are married off early. The men are still dominating women in some regions like it’s the woman’s duty to work for him endlessly. They do not let them go out or have freedom of any kind.
In addition, domestic violence is a major problem in India. The men beat up their wives and abuse them as they think women are their property. More so, because women are afraid to speak up. Similarly, the women who do actually work get paid less than their male counterparts. It is downright unfair and sexist to pay someone less for the same work because of their gender. Thus, we see how women’s empowerment is the need of the hour. We need to empower these women to speak up for themselves and never be victim of injustice.
Specific laws for women empowerment in India
- The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
- The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
- The Immortal Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
- The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
- The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
- The Commission of Sati (prevention) Act, 1987.
3 Main Objectives of women empowerment: -
- Self-empowerment through individual action.
- Mutual empowerment that is interpersonal.
- Social empowerment in the outcomes of social action.
CONCLUSION; -
Despite progress toward women’s empowerment, there is still a long way to go. Making women aware of their potential has now become a need of the times, and the government should implement measures such as health, education, employment, women’s awareness etc…..