The document discusses women empowerment in India through social, economic and political means. It outlines various government schemes and policies that aim to empower women through education, health, livelihood opportunities, and legal protection. Socially, women are empowered through literacy programs, health initiatives to reduce maternal and child mortality, and laws against dowry and child marriage. Economically, microfinance programs, rural development schemes, and laws ensuring equal pay aim to empower women. Politically, reservations in local governance and laws against discrimination have promoted women's participation and rights. The overall goal of these multi-pronged efforts is to eliminate discrimination and poverty, and allow women to live with dignity, equality, and decision making power.

1. Women Empowerment
Dr. Gopalrao, M.D. Ph.D.
Professor & Head,
Deparment of Community Medicine

2. Objectives
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At the end of the lecture students should learn
The Process of empowering
What is Social empowerment
Economic empowerment
Political empowerment

3. Continued….
 Of the 1.3 billion people who live in absolute
poverty around the globe, 70 percent are
women.
 For these women, poverty doesn’t just mean
scarcity and want. It means rights denied,
opportunities curtailed and voices silenced.

4.  Consider the following:
 Women work two-thirds of the world’s working
hours, according to the United Nations Millennium
Campaign to halve world poverty by the year 2015.
 The overwhelming majority of the labor that sustains
life – growing food, cooking, raising children, caring
for the elderly, maintaining a house, hauling water – is
done by women, and universally this work is accorded
low status and no pay.

5.  Women earn only 10 percent of the world’s income.
Where women work for money, they may be limited to
a set of jobs deemed suitable for women – invariably
low-pay, low-status positions.
 Women own less than 1 percent of the world’s
property. Where laws or customs prevent women
from owning land or other productive assets, or from
having the right to share in-law’s property or to own
their home, they have no assets to leverage for
economic stability and cannot invest in their own or
their children’s futures

6.  Women make up two-thirds of the estimated
876 million adults worldwide who cannot read
or write; and girls make up 60 percent of the 77
million children not attending primary school.
 Education is among the most important drivers
of human development.

7.  India stands 53 with score of 3.27 in gender gap
rating
 is a long term process occurring at international,
national, community, & individual level.
 A fashionable & buzz word
 Decentralization of authority & power
 Aims – participation of deprived sections in decision
making
 Voice to voiceless
 Draft National Policy for Empowerment of women
1996 describes……

8.  “A synergy of development measures will be effected &
affirmative action designed for holistic Empowerment of
women. Women will be given complete & equal access
to & control over factors contributing to such
Empowerment, particularly, health, education,
information, lifelong learning self development,
vocational skills, employment& income earning
opportunities, technical services, land & other forms of
property, including through inheritance & matrimony,
comman property resourses, credit, technology &
markets, etc’’

9.  Means that they can take decisions about their life,
their children & family & also contribute to the
community decisions, where women’s right to
personhood, bodily integrity is respected where their
reproductive rights, social economic & political rights
are respected, i.e. their work & contribution to family,
society is recognised , where there is no fear of sexual
& social violence, where women feel a sense of
acceptance & belonging, where their rights to their
home & to their children as guardians is respected.

10.  Equal status to women
 The principle of gender equality is enshrined in
the Indian Constitution in its Preamble,
Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and
Directive Principles.
 The Constitution not only grants equality to
women, but also empowers the State to adopt
measures of positive discrimination in favour of
women.

11.  Process in empowering women
 Central Social Welfare Board 1953-to implement
welfare measures for women.
 3rd five year plan- women’s education was a key
strategy
 4th five year plan-main emphasis was on family
planning & mass education to reduce birth rate

12.  From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78)
onwards has been a marked shift in the approach
to women’s issues from welfare to development.
 Emphasized the training of the women through
income generation & functional literacy
programme to make women more productive on
public as well as domestic front.

13.  6th five year plan-contained for the first time in
India’s planning history a separate chapter on
women & development.
 For the first time, government agreed to issue
joint titles of ownership of key development
assets such as land, housing, animals & other
units of economic production to husbands &
wives.

14.  In 1985,a separate Department of Women &
Child Development was created in the Human
Resource Development Ministry.
 Oversee the implementation of programmes
including employment & income generation,
education, training, legal support ect

15.  The Department of Women & Child
development formulated National Perspective
Plan ( NPP ) for women 1988-2000, which
presents long term comprehension policy for
Indian women & a frame work in integrating
women in country’s development process.

16.  The National Commission for Women was set
up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard
the rights and legal entitlements of women.
 The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the
Constitution of India have provided for
reservation of seats in the local bodies of
Panchayats and Municipalities for women,
laying a strong foundation for their
participation in decision making at the local
levels.

17.  India has also ratified various international conventions
and human rights instruments committing to secure
equal rights of women.
 The Mexico Plan of Action (1975), Copenhagen
(1980 ) the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies
(1985), the Beijing Declaration as well as the Platform
for Action (1995) followed by Beijing + 5 ( 2000).
 Convention on Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

18. 
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Social Empowerment of Women
Education And literacy
Obstacle for empowerment- dismal educational level in women
Equal access to education for women and girls should be ensured
‘‘Education as the Fundamental Right’’- Gov’s concern
fulfil constitutional commitment ‘‘Education for All’’ by 2007
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA); launched in 2000, efforts are being
made to reach the unreached women & girl child
 Vocational education at secondary educational level for women is
important area under National Education Policy by establishing more
women Industrial Training Institutions.

19.  “Education for Women Equality’’ advocated by
national policy on education in 1986 ( revised in
1992)-reducing the gender gap in the secondary &
higher education levels
 Directly or indirectly towards in making women &
adolescent girls literateNational Literacy Mission, Rural Functional Literacy
Project, Mahila Samakhya , Shisha Karmi Yojana.
 These schemes & programmes have drawn national &
international attention.

21. Continued….
 Health
 A holistic approach to women’s health which includes
both nutrition and health services
 special attention should be given to the needs of
women and the girl at all stages of the life cycle.
 The reduction of infant mortality and maternal
mortality, which are sensitive indicators of human
development, is a priority concern.
 Janani Suraksha Yojana – safe motherhood
intervention under NRHM – reducing IMR & MMR
 RCH – also working with same objectives.

22. Continued….
 Women should have access to comprehensive,
affordable and quality health care.
 Measures should be adopted that take into account the
reproductive rights of women to enable them to
exercise informed choices, their vulnerability to sexual
and health problems together with endemic, infectious
and communicable diseases such as malaria, TB, and
water borne diseases as well as hypertension and
cardio-pulmonary diseases.

23. HIV and AIDS
 HIV/AIDS increasingly has a young women's face.
Today, over 60 per cent of 15–24 year olds living with
HIV/AIDS are women
 UNIFEM & National Policy for Women's
Empowerment 2001 focuses on enhancing HIV/AIDS
policies and translating them into effective strategies
on the ground.
 Strict implementation of Registration of Births and
Deaths sould be ensured and registration of marriages
should be made compulsory. –the Registration of
Birth & Deaths Act, 1969.

24. Continued….
 The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971&
the MTP rules & regulations 2003- this law provides
the liberalised conditions for the women to seek
abortion.
 The Maternity Benefit Act 1961-protect & empower
women as workers.
 Prevents unfair employment practices & exploitation
 Safeguards the health & well being of the mother &
child.

25. Continued….
 In accordance with the commitment of the
National Population Policy (2000) to
population stabilization, this Policy recognizes
the critical need of men and women to have
access to safe, effective and affordable methods
of family planning of their choice and the need
to suitably address the issues of early marriages
and spacing of children.

26. Nutritional status
 Nutrition
 high risk of malnutrition and disease that women face at
all the three critical stages viz., infancy and childhood,
adolescent and reproductive phase, focussed attention
should be paid to meeting the nutritional needs of
women.
 This is also important in view of the critical link between
the health of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating
women with the health of infant and young children.
 Nutritional Program for Adolescent Girls 2003
 Girls weigh less than 35 kg & pregnant women weigh
less than 40 kg & below poverty line – entitled ration of
6 kg / month free of cost in the form of wheat or rice

27. Continued….
 Scheme for Adolescent Girls ( kishori shakti yojana)
 Launched by the Department of Women & Child Development,
Ministry of Human Resource Development 1991
 All girls 11-18 years
 Services- watch over menarche
 Immunization
 General health check up once in every 6 month
 Deworming, prophylactic measures against anemia, goiter, vit
deficiency
 Referral services

28. Continued….
 House hold food security & nutrition security through
Targeted Public Distribution System & micronutrient
deficiency integrated with ICDS to improve nutrition
 Special efforts should be made to tackle the problem of
macro and micro nutrient deficiencies especially
amongst pregnant and lactating women as it leads to
various diseases and disabilities – National Nutrional
Anemia Prophylaxis Program.

29. Legislative provisions
 Rights of the Girl Child
 All forms of discrimination against the girl child and
violation of her rights should be eliminated by
undertaking strong measures both preventive and
punitive within and outside the family.
 Pre-conception & pre-natal diagnostic
techniques( prohibition of sex selection) Act, 1994
regulates investigation for sex determination of foetus
before & after conception.
 strict enforcement of laws against prenatal sex
selection and the practices of female foeticide, female
infanticide, child marriage, child abuse and child
prostitution etc.

30. Continued….
 Marriage related laws Special Marriage Act, 1954
 Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961- prohibit the giving &
taking of dowry
 Child Marriage Restraint( Amendment ) Act, 1976
 The Commission of Sati ( prevention ) Act 1987
 The Family Court Act, 1984- to promote reconciliation
& secure speedy settlements of disputes relating to
marriage & family affairs

31. Continued….
 Launched Balika Samridhi Yogana on 2 oct 1997 to
promote survival & care of girl child
 Objective- female & community attitudes towards the
girl child
 Encourages enrolment & retention of girls in school,
financial support to girls attending school
 Cash incentive of Rs 500 is awarded at the birth of girl
child of birth order 1 or 2

32. Continued….
 Violence against women
 All forms of violence against women, physical and
mental, whether at domestic or societal levels,
including those arising from customs, traditions or
accepted practices should be dealt effectively with a
view to eliminate its incidence.
 In India, a numbers of NGOs & individuals have been
involved
 Stree Aadhar Kendra
 Working on women's right

33. Continued….
 Zero violence zone
 Aimed at complete eradication
 Concept is- encourage people to take part in
eradicating violence from their localities
 Support from UNIFEM, ASTHA, SEWA
 Lok Adalat ( People’s court )
 The Criminal Law Amendment Act ,1983

34. Continued….
 PROVISIONS UNDER THE INDIAN PENAL
CODE, 1860
 Section 318- Concealment of birth by secret
disposal of dead bodySection 372-Selling of
girls for prostitution
 Section 376 - Rape
 Section 377- Unnatural Offences

35. Continued….
 The Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act 2005 was brought into force by
the Indian government from October 26, 2006.
 Is a comprehensive law & addresses all issues
related to women
 It is for the first time that an act has been made
to address women’s issues in such detail.

36. Continued….
 In trafficking & prostitution
 Joint Women's Programme
 Started in 1977, first to conduct surveys,
establish contact with source & destination
points, & also attempt familiarization with local
circumstances
 Efforts to combat total system of oppression &
exploitation is therefore comprehension in
nature

37. Continued….
 2 pronged action adopted
 Crèche cum balwadi – children of prostitutes
followed by admission when they attain 6 years
of age
 Mahila Mandals- health related interventions &
education, legal education & action, organizing
to demand for citizen’s right & basic needs,
police protection for both women & children
rescue where possible

38. Continued….
 The Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1956
 Indecent Representation of Women Act &
National Commission For Women Act (1993) –
set up commissions both at central & state levels
to recommend on policies & legislations
concerning women & investigate cases of human
rights & other violations against women
 National Human Rights Commission – it has
special programmes to sensitize law enforcement
agencies to human rights

39. Continued….
 Women’s Cells in Police Stations, Encourage
Women Police Stations Family Courts, Mahila
Courts, Counselling Centers, Legal Aid Centers
and Nyaya Panchayats should be strengthened
and expanded to eliminate violence and
atrocities against women.

40. Oppertunities
 Economic Empowerment of women
 Poverty Eradication
 Since women comprise the majority of the
population below the poverty line and are very
often in situations of extreme poverty, given the
harsh realities of intra-household and social
discrimination.
 The Equal Remuneration Act 1955 amended in
1976

41. Continued….
 Women's Empowerment is critical to the socioeconomic progress of the community and, bringing
women into the mainstream of national development
has, therefore, been a major concern of the
Government.
 The Ministry of Rural Development has special
components for Women in its programmes and funds
are earmarked as "Women's Component" to ensure
flow of adequate resources for the same.

42.  The major Schemes, having Women's Component,
(implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development
during the last three years) include the
 Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana(SGSY),
 Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY),
 Indira Awas Yojana (IAY),
 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP),
 Restructured Centrally Rural Sanitation Programme, the
 Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme,
 (erstwhile) Integrated Rural Development Programme
(IRDP), the (erstwhile) Development of Women and
Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)
 and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY).

43.  SGSY: The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar
Yojana,
 launched with effect from April 1, 1999,
 holistic programme covering various aspects of
self-employment, such as
 organisation of the poor into self-help groups,
training, credit, technology, infrastructure and
marketing

44.  It is envisaged that 50 percent of the Groups formed in
each Block should be exclusively for women.
 Under this Scheme, women are encouraged in the
practice of thrift and credit which enables them to
become self-reliant.
 Through assistance in the form of Revolving Fund,
Bank Credit and Subsidy, the Yojana seeks to integrate
women in the economy by providing increasing
opportunities of self-employment.

45.  JGSY: The Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana
(JGSY)
 Launched with effect from April 1, 1999,
 twin objectives of creation of demand-driven
1. community village infrastructure and the
2. generation of supplementary employment (for the
unemployed poor) in the rural areas.
 Wage-employment under the JGSY is extended to
below poverty line families.
 It is stipulated that 30 percent of the employment
opportunities should be reserved for women.

48.  IAY : The Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)
 aims at providing assistance for the construction of
houses for people 'Below the Poverty Line' in rural
areas.
 Under the Scheme, priority is extended to widows and
unmarried women.
 It has been laid down that IAY houses are to be
allotted in the name of women members of the
household or, alternatively, in the joint names of
husband and wife

49.  NSAP: The National Social Assistance
Programme (NSAP),
 which came into effect five years back represents
a significant step towards introducing
 National Policy for Social Assistance benefits to
households 'Below the Poverty Line', with a
major focus on women.

50. 
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The NSAP has three components, namely,
the National Old Age Pension Scheme, the
National Family Benefit Scheme and the
National Maternity Benefit Scheme.
The National Maternity Benefit Scheme is
exclusively aimed at assisting expectant
mothers by providing them Rs.500 each for the
first two live births.

51.  National Family Benefit Scheme,
 Central Assistance of Rs.10,000
 bereaved family in the case of death of the
primary breadwinner due to natural or
accidental causes.
 Women are also beneficiaries under this
Scheme.

52.  Revised Widow’s Pension Scheme
 Widow between 18-60 years is entitled to Rs
500 per month
 Additional Rs 80 per minor child up to 2
children

53.  CRSP: The Restructured Centrally Sponsored
Rural Sanitation Programme (RCRSP),
 launched with effect from 1st April, 1999,
 provides for the construction of sanitary latrines for
rural households.
 Where individual household latrines are not feasible,
provision exists for construction of village sanitary
complexes exclusively for women, to ensure privacy/
dignity.
 Upto 10 percent of the allocated fund can be utilised
for construction and maintenance of public latrines for
women.

54.  The erstwhile Scheme of Development of Women
and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA),
 now merged with the SGSY,
 was intended to raise the income level of women of
poor households so as to enable organised participation
by them in social development for economic selfreliance.
 The primary thrust was the formation of groups of 1050 women from poor households at the village level
for delivery of services like credit and skill training
and cash and infrastructure support for selfemployment

55.  Micro Credit
 In order to enhance women’s access to credit
for consumption and production, the
establishment of new, and strengthening of
existing micro-credit mechanisms and microfinance institution should be undertaken so that
the outreach of credit is enhanced.

56.  The prime minister initiated the Mahila
Sammriddhi through the Post Office Networkfacilitating the opening of savings accounts in
the name of rural women.
 Asset for the rural women- great prestige
 Augment savings

57. Political committment
 The right to vote had been granted to Indian Women in
1929.
 Committee on Status of women in India; 1971-demand
for greater representation of women in political
institutions.
 The Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992,
provides for reservation of elective posts for women.
 It has been provided that not less than one-third of total
number of posts of Members and Chairpersons at all
three tiers .

58.  Panchayati Raj Institutions (i.e. Gram
Panchayat, Intermediate Panchayat and District
Panchayat) shall be reserved for women.
 At present, there are 6,81,258 women elected to
Gram Panchayats; 37,109 women to Panchayat
at intermediate level and 3153 women to
Panchayat at district level.

59.  Orientation training for elected representatives of
Panchayati Raj Institutions is primarily the
responsibility of the State Governments/Union
Territory Administrations.
 The Constitution has placed enormous responsibility
on the Panchayats to formulate and execute various
programmes of economic development and social
justice, and a number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes
are being implemented through Panchayats

60.  The National Alliance of Women’s Organisation
( NAWO) organised a National consultation on
Mainstreaming Women’s Agenda into Electoral
Politics on march 21 1996
 For the first time women coming together as
political entities, drafted a Women’s Manifesto
 The manifesto demanded 30-35 % reservation for
women in local, state, & national level political
institutions, an end to criminalisation of politics.

62.  NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
(2001)
 Goal and Objectives
 The goal of this Policy is to bring about the
advancement, development and empowerment of
women. The Policy will be widely disseminated so as to
encourage active participation of all stakeholders for
achieving its goals.
 Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include….

63.  (i) Creating an environment through positive
economic and social policies for full
development of women to enable them to
realize their full potential
 (ii) The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all
human rights and fundamental freedom by
women on equal basis with men in all spheres –
political, economic, social, cultural and civil

64.  (iii) Equal access to participation and decision
making of women in social, political and
economic life of the nation
 (iv) 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

65.  v) Strengthening legal systems aimed at
elimination of all forms of discrimination
against women
 (vi) Changing societal attitudes and community
practices by active participation and
involvement of both men and women.
 (vii) Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the
development process.

66.  (viii) Elimination of discrimination and all
forms of violence against women and the girl
child; and
 (ix) Building and strengthening partnerships
with civil society, particularly women’s
organizations

67.  Operational Strategies
 Action Plans
 All Central and State Ministries will draw up time
bound Action Plans for translating the Policy into a set
of concrete actions, through a participatory process of
consultation with Centre/State Departments of Women
and Child Development and National /State
Commissions for Women. The Plans will specifically
including the following:

68.  ) Measurable goals to be achieved by 2010.
 ii) Identification and commitment of resources.
 iii) Responsibilities for implementation of
action points.
 iv) Structures and mechanisms to ensure
efficient monitoring, review and gender impact
assessment of action points and policies.
 v) Introduction of a gender perspective in the
budgeting process

69.  The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted
in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often
described as an international bill of rights for women.
 Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines
what constitutes discrimination against women and sets
up an agenda for national action to end such
discrimination.

70.  The Convention defines discrimination against
women as "...any distinction, exclusion or
restriction made on the basis of sex which has
the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying
the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by
women, irrespective of their marital status, on a
basis of equality of men and women, of human
rights and fundamental freedoms in the
political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any
other field."

71.  The Convention is the only human rights treaty which
affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets
culture and tradition as influential forces shaping
gender roles and family relations.
 It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain
their nationality and the nationality of their children.
 States parties also agree to take appropriate measures
against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation
of women

72.  States Parties shall take in all fields, in
particular in the political, social, economic and
cultural fields, all appropriate measures,
including legislation, to ensure the full
development and advancement of women , for
the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise
and enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality
with men.

73.  Article 6 States Parties shall take all appropriate
measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms
of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of
women.
 Article 7 States Parties shall take all appropriate
measures to eliminate discrimination against women in
the political and public life of the country and, in
particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with
men, the right

74.  Article 12 1. States Parties shall take all
appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the field of
health care in order to ensure, on a basis of
equality of men and women, access to health
care services, including those related to family
planning.

75.  UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations. It
provides financial and technical assistance to
innovative programmes and strategies to foster
women's empowerment and gender equality.
 UNIFEM focuses its activities on four strategic areas:
(1) reducing feminized poverty, (2) ending violence
against women, (3) reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS
among women and girls, and (4) achieving gender
equality in democratic governance in times of peace as
well as war

76.  All UNIFEM programmes support women’s
human rights, because women suffer from the
denial of these rights in all regions of the world.
 Women’s rights are violated wherever they are
poorer than men, confront discrimination in
access to land and employment, or don’t
participate in the decisions that affect their
lives.

77.  Fourth World Conference on Women( FWCW)
 Beijing, China - September 1995
Action for Equality, Development and Peace
 BEIJING DECLARATION.
 Determined to advance the goals of equality,
development and peace for all women
everywhere in the interest of all humanity,
 Acknowledging the voices of all women
everywhere and taking note of the diversity of
women and their roles and circumstances,
honouring the women who paved the way and
inspired by the hope present in the world's youth,

78.  Ensure the full implementation of the human
rights of women and of the girl child as an
inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms
 Women's rights are human rights

79.  The empowerment and advancement of
women, including the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion and belief, thus
contributing to the moral, ethical, spiritual and
intellectual needs of women and men,
individually or in community.

80.  How Health Care System Can Respond
 At Community level
 Typical staff includes- community health
wokers,traditional birth attendants,
 First order response- integrate lessons on abuse,
sexuality, healthy relationship training
 Active community changes agents- role play, posters,
community events, workshops, support groups,
 Accompany women to the police & medical examiners
office

81.  At Primary Care Level
 Typical staff – nurses, ANM, Midwives
 Train the staff to identify & respond
appropriately to victims abuse
 Facilitate linkage with local women’s group
 Display posters & pamphlets in waiting areas

82. 
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Polyclinic or hospital level
Staff include- GP, Medical specialists, social workers.
Initiate active screening for abuse
Organize self help support group for women
Coordinate with local women’s group to have an
advocate on call
 Establish specialized services for victims of sexual
assault, including proper collection of forensic
evidence

84. Thank You