EMPOWERMENT OF

WOMEN
 Meaning
• Empowerment of women means
development of women
• The Constitution of India also specify
regarding rights & privileges of women
under , the head – “Fundamental Rights”
• Article 14, 15,15(3), 16, 39,42,51 (A) contains
various provisions for equal rights & opportunities
for women.
• Amendments – 73 & 74 provides 1/3rd of
total no. of seats reserved for women in
– Panchayat (50% from 27-08-2009)
– Municipality and local bodies and Local self
Government (incorporated under State
Act.)
• Several bills & laws have been passed
under different Acts to protect the human
rights for women.
 Population
• Female population of India is 48% (2001
census)
• 73 rd & 74 th amendments 1993 to the
Constitution of India provides 33.3%
reservation for women in all local Govt.
bodies.(Now revised to 50%)
 Pillars of Empowerment
1. Literacy ( very low in rural areas)
2. Education is necessary to impart to women
3. Better health facilities ( for mother & child)
4. Nutrition
5. Political representation ( Gram Panchayat to
Lok Sabha)
6. Financial security
a. Equal opportunity for self employment
b. Self- relience
• This all depends on:
a. Making Women aware about their rights
b. Creating a conducive atmosphere
c. Giving due opportunity to live (Equal
opportunities are not given hence not
getting equal wages)
• Indian women are now working in every field:
1. Engineering
2. Medical
3. Management
4. Administrative Services
5. Industries
6. Police & Armed forces
7. Politics
8. Education & Judiciary
9. Public & Private sector
10. Business entrepreneur and Corporate Houses.
• Great potential exist in Women. Men &
Women are two wheels of our country .
Both the wheels should move together for
smooth movement.
• Discrimination exist in society. This
discrimination (difference) is required to be
removed.
• Equal opportunity & powers to women will
Empower a women.
• Microfinance has Empowered women.
• The society has to change attitude
towards girl-child & women.
• There is need to create awareness in the
society to fight against discrimination &
violence against women (i.e. Torturing,
depriving, exploitation , humiliating etc.)
• “The Father of Nation”-Mahatma Gandhi
desired that:-
Women should enjoy the same rights as
men in every walk of life, i.e.
• Cultural – Social
• Political – Economic
• Developmental process
• Decision making etc.
• The Hon’ble President of India (Smt.
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil) have recently
said that—
– Half of population is women’s population,
– i.e. Half the Talent,
– Half the progress,
– Half the Development.
• Thus, 50% is contributed by Women, so it
must be realised and use of Talent
(available) should be there.
• Thus, Opportunity needs to be given to
women for development.
 GENDER BASED
DISCRIMINATION:
• Gender based discrimination exists in our
society which is enforced by Religious,
Social and Cultural norms.
• It is a Violation of the very Right to Life of
Women and deprive them of the civil,
political and Economic liberty both within
the Society and Family.
 GENDER JUSTIC:
• Gender justice is possible only through
Women’s Empowerment which involves
Economic and Political opportunities,
Social Equality and Personal Rights.
 HOW TO REMOVE
DISCRIMINATION:
• To remove discrimination and improve the
Status of women, following are the
avenues :
• 1. By promotion of EDUCATION and
awareness among Men and Women.
• 2. By Capacity Development in Women:
– (a) SKILL DEVELOPMENT (by Training)
– (b) ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT (Trg.)
• 3. By Transfer of Technology to Women
both in Farm and Non-Farm activities.
• 4. By giving LEGAL RIGHTS in parental
properties.
• 5. By providing credit facilities to women
by Banks for business or income --
generating activities.
• 6. By giving opportunities to Enterprising
Women (proper guidance for business to
be given, if required).
• 7. Promotion of SHGs and Area
Programmes for Women.
• 8. By showing Successful Model on
Women Development – in various
fields:SEWA Bank is one of the Model.
– Lady Political Leaders :
• PRIME MINISTER (Smt. Indira Gandhi)
• PRESIDENT (Smt.Pratibha D. Patil)
• GOVERNOR OF STATES/UT
• CHIEF MINISTER (Smt. Sheela Dixit)
• OTHER AREAS:
– Economist, Scientists, Administrators,
– IPS and IAS Officers, Army Officers, Pilots.
• High Court Judges.
• Vice-Chancellors.
• Chief Executive Officers in Corporate Houses
like ICICI BANK, SEWA
BANK,ENTERPRENUERS, CEO of COCA-
COLA COMPANY, Chairperson of NGOs and
so many other portfolios.
• Rly.Engine/Bus Driver/Conductors
GENDER BUDGTING: Allocation of
Budget for Women
• (a) Allocation of number of Seats in
Ministry– in Lok Sabha and State
Legislative Assembly ( MP and MLA) for
Women.
• (b) Poverty Eradication Programmes, for
Women.
• (c) Special attention to productive Rights
of Women for Quality Health & Care.
• -Reducing Malnutrition,
• -Reduction of Maternal Mortality (Girl
child)
• - Infant Mortality
• -Death Rate
• -Women’s Health care with child.
• (d) Private Sector Employment (in
organised and unorganised sector)
• (e) Safe and clean drinking water.
• (f) Shelter and Housing facilities.
• (g) Sanitation and Toilet facilities for
women.
• (h) Human values (equal for men and
women)
• (i) Training in Gender sensitization in all
areas.
• OTHER PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE
PROGRAMMES OF GOVERNMENT FOR
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN:
• (1) RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMES:
• DWCRA JGSY SGSY NREGS
• IRDP SHG NSAP JRY
 41 - WOMEN RELATED
LEGISLAATIONS PASSED :
• Women Specific Legislations:
• - The immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,
1956.
-The Dowry Prohibtion Act, 1961.
-The Indecent Reprersentation of
Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
-The Commission of Sati (Prevention)
Act, 1987.
 Women Related other important
Legislations are as under :
• 1. The Guardians and Wards Act,1860.
• 2. Indian Penal Code, 1860.
• 3. Christian Marriage Act,1860.
• 4. The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
• 5. The Married Women’s Property
Act,1874
• 6. The Legal Practitioners (Women) Act,
1923. – The Workmen Compen.Act,1923.
• 7. The Indian Succession Act, 1925.
• 8. The Child Marriage Restraint Act,1998.
• 9. The Payments of Wages Act, 1936.
• 10 The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat)
Application Act, 1937.
• 11.The Factories Act, 1948.
• 12.The Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
• 13.The Employees’ State Ins. Act, 1948.
• 14.The Plantation Labour Act, 1951.
• 15.The Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• 16.The Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• 17. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
• 18. The Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance
Act,1856
• 19.The Hindu Minority & Guardianship
Act, 1956.
• 20.The Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
• 21.The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
• 22.The Beedi & Cigar Workers (Condition
of Employment ) Act, 1966.
• 23.The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.
• 24.The Indian Divorce Act, 1969.
• 25.The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act,
1971.
• 26.Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
• 27.The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act,
1976.
• 28.The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
• 29.The Contract Labour (Regulation &
Abolition) Act, 1976.
• 30.The Inter-State Migrant Worker
(Regulation of Employment and
Conditions of Service ) Act, 1979.
• 31.The Family Courts Act, 1984.
• 32.Juvenile Justice Act, 1986.
• 33.The Child Labour (Prohibition & and
Regulation) Act, 1986.
• 34.National Commission for Women Act,
1990.
• 35. The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding
Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of
Production, Supply and Distribution
Act,1992.
• 36. The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse)
Act, 1994.
 LEADING BUSINESSWOMEN IN
INDIA
• 1. Akhila Srinivasan, MD, Shriram Investments
Ltd.
• 2. Chanda Kocchar, ED, ICICI Bank.
• 3. Ekta Kapoor, Creative Dirretor, Balaji
Telefilms.
• 4. Jyoti Naik, President, Lijjat Papad.
• 5. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD,Bicon.
• 6. Lalita D. Gupta, Jt.MD, ICICI Bank.
• 7. Naina Lal Kidwai,Dy.CEO, SHBC.
• 8. Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals
• 9. Priya Paul, Chairman, Apeejay Park
– Hotels.
10.Rajshree Pathy, Chairman, Rajshree
Sugars and Chemicals Ltd.
11.Ranjana Kumar, Chairman, NABARD.
12.Ritu Kumar, Fashion Designer.
• 13.Ravina Raj Kohli, Media Personality
and Ex-President , Star News.
• 14. Renuka Ramnath, CEO,ICICI ventures
• 15.Ritu Nanda, CEO, Escolife.
• 16.Shahnaz Hussain, CEO Shahnaz
Herbals.
• 17. Sharan Apparao, Proprietor, Apparao
• Gallaries
• 18.Simone Tata, Chairman, Trent Ltd.
• 19. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Jt.MD, Kinetic
Engineering.
• 20. Tarjani Vakil,Ex.CMD, EXIM Bank.