2. DEFINITION
The term “empowerment of women” refers to
the process of providing power to woman to
become free from the control of others, that is,
to assume power to control her own life and to
determine her own conditions.
“Women empowerment refers to increasing the
spiritual, political, social or economic strength
of women. It often involves the empowered
developing confidence in their own capacities”.
3. PROBLEMS OF WOMEN IN MODERN INDIA
Increasing Violence Against Women
Gender Discrimination
Problems of Female Education
Problems Relating to Employment and
Unemployment of women:
Harassment of women at workplace
Exploitation of women in the media
Divorce and desertion
The problem of dowry
Decline in the political participation of women
4. COMPONENTS OF WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
Women's sense of self-worth
Right to have and to determine choices
Right to have access to opportunities and
resource
Right to have the power to control their own
lives, both within and outside the home
Ability to influence the direction of social
change to create a more just social and
economic orders, nationally and internationally
5. FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
Educational problems
Gender prejudice -
Problem related with health
Poverty
Societal issues
Low confidence
Lack of unity
Ignorance
Traditional barriers
6. FACTORS FACILITATING
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
Acknowledging womens rights
Freedom to take decisions and choices
Access to education and employment
Educate girls
Opportunities for political participation
7. NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
Goal and Objectives
Creating an environment through positive
economic and social policies for full
development of women to enable them to
realize their full potential
Fundamental freedom by women on equal basis
with men in all spheres – political, economic,
social, cultural and civil
Equal access to participation and decision
making of women in social, political and
economic life of the nation
8. Equal access to women to health care, quality education
at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment,
equal remuneration, occupational health and safety,
social security and public office etc.
Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all
forms of discrimination against women
Changing societal attitudes and community practices by
active participation and involvement of both men and
women.
Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development
process.
Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence
against women and the girl child; and
Building and strengthening partnerships with civil
society, particularly women’s organizations.
9. POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS
Judicial Legal Systems
Decision Making
Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in the
Development Process
Economic Empowerment of women
Social Empowerment of Women
Women in Difficult Circumstances
Violence against women
Rights of the Girl Child
Mass Media
Legislation
10. SPECIFIC MEASURES
Strict enforcement of all relevant legal
provisions and speedy redressal of grievances
will be ensured, with a special focus on violence
and gender related atrocities.
Measures to prevent and punish sexual
harassment at the place of work, protection for
women workers in the organized/ unorganized
sector and strict enforcement of relevant laws
such as Equal Remuneration Act and Minimum
Wages Act will be undertaken
11. Crimes against women, their incidence, prevention,
investigation, detection and prosecution will be regularly
reviewed at all Crime Review fora and Conferences at the
Central, State and District levels. Recognised, local,
voluntary organizations will be authorized to lodge
Complaints and facilitate registration, investigations and
legal proceedings related to violence and atrocities
against girls and women.
Women’s Cells in Police Stations, Encourage Women
Police Stations Family Courts, Mahila Courts,
Counselling Centers, Legal Aid Centers and Nyaya
Panchayats will be strengthened and expanded to
eliminate violence and atrocities against women.
Widespread dissemination of information on all aspects
of legal rights, human rights and other entitlements of
women, through specially designed legal literacy
programmes and rights information programmes will be
done.
12. NATIONAL MISSION FOR EMPOWERMENT OF
WOMEN
Support to Training and EmploymentProgramme of
Women (STEP) scheme
“Priyadarshini” scheme
Swarjjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
India Vision 2020
Helplines for Women
Women’s Leadership Summit 2010
Women’s Reservation Bill 2010:
India’s Tirade Against Anti-Woman Activities
13. OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
The Hindu Marriage Act (1955)
The Hindu Succession Act (1956),
Dowry Prohibition Act (1961)
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1971)
Equal Remuneration Act (1976)
Child Marriage Restraint Act (1976)
Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act (1986)
Pre-natal Diagnostic Technique (Regulation and
Prevention of Measure) Act (1994)
