The concept of women empowerment has become a very significant topic of discussion in development and economies. Women empowerment is empowering women to take their own decisions for personal as well as social development. Empowering women is to make them independent in all aspects and to set them free from all social and family limitations.
Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. It implies a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights and obligations in all spheres of life. Equality between men and women exists when both of them are able to share equal distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities financially through work and through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and opportunity to fulfill personal ambitions. Yet there is discrimination against women and girls – including gender based violence, economic discrimination, sexual coercion, reproductive health inequalities, and harmful traditional practices. Women usually have less access than men to training and employment, medical care, property ownership, etc. They are less likely than men to be politically active and more likely to be victims of domestic violence. The ability of women to control their own fertility is absolutely fundamental. And when these reproductive rights – including the right to decide the number, timing and spacing of her children are free of discrimination, coercion and violence, she would have the freedom to participate more fully and equally in the society because when she would be healthy, she would be more productive. The roles of men and women are not biologically determined – they are socially determined and changeable.
India is a country where all the women are been honoured as goddesses since ancient times. However, when it approaches to providing them with correspondent rights the same people abandon its major importance and swallow that the main purpose of women is to take care of the family and kids firstly. Whereas, there have been various organizations and institutions advocating for women, supporting various projects that provides women basic education and health care requirements. Apart from these there are many welfare schemes for women – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujwalla, ICDS, Kishori Shakti Yojana, etc. implemented by the Indian government. According to me every women should be given equal opportunities to education and employment without any gender bias. Now, we know that women empowerment is a minute key to economic growth and social transformation.
Benefits of Empowering Women in India
Women, as the majority of India's population, represent a sizable portion of the country's untapped economic potential. As a result, providing equal opportunities for women in India would enable them to contribute to the economy as productive citizens. Women can thrive economically and rise out of poverty with higher literacy rates and equal pay for equal work.
Protecting women and girls from violence and abuse, as well as challenging the stigmas associated with reporting crimes, would result in a much safer society. Improving female political representation would allow more women to serve as role models for young girls and provide a platform to raise awareness about women's issues in India. Overall, gender equality enables women to have a higher quality of life, allowing them to determine their futures beyond traditional expectations.
As an African proverb says,
"If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a women, you educate a nation”
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