WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
AND
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“A woman is the full circle. Within her
is the power to create, nurture and
transform”
What is Women Empowerment?
• Women Empowerment means accepting and allowing women who are on the
outside of the decision-making process into it.
• This puts a strong emphasis on participation in political structures and formal
decision-making and, in the economic sphere, on the ability to obtain an
income that enables participation in economic decision-making.
• Women's empowerment is the way or a social action in which women elaborate
and recreate what it is to be in a circumstance that they previously were denied.
• Women's empowerment is all about equipping and allowing women to make
life-determining decisions through the different problems in society. Women
empowerment refers to making women powerful to make them capable of
deciding for themselves.
What is Inclusive Growth?
• Inclusive growth means economic growth that creates employment
opportunities and helps in reducing poverty.
• Having access to essential services in health and education by the
poor. It includes providing equality of opportunity, empowering
people through education and skill development.
• Inclusive growth allows opportunities for everyone to participate in
the growth process while making sure that benefits are shared.
Relation between Women Empowerment
& Inclusive growth
Equality
Hidden talents
Poverty
Independence
Characteristics of Women Empowerment
Attitude, values, beliefs
Autonomy
Equal mindedness
Transcend their subjugation
Maintain strength
Indicators of Women Empowerment
Qualitative Quantitative
Increase in self-esteem Maternal mortality rate
Increase in articulation Fertility rate
Changes in roles and
Sex ratio
responsibilities
Positive changes in social Average age of marriage
attitudes
Changing status of Indian Women
Pre-British Indian Society
In the early Vedic period,
During British Rule
woman was given a
The recognition of equal
Post indepenedence
subordinate position to man the
woman’s positions was by and right to women to education
large regarded as being in the was recognized against all It is only after the
home. Motherhood has played a conservative opposition and Constitution of
significant part in ancient the pernicious practice of independent India
India’s social life. purdah began to diminish, guaranteed equal rights for
particularly among the women in legal, social and
Hindu political spheres that the
Indian women’s movement
for emancipation has
reached a new phase.
Women in the New Millennium
• More and more, women recognize that they themselves have to unite and act as
one in order to end centuries of oppression and exploitation. They are organizing
themselves, raising consciousness and confidence, discovering problems and
working hard for solutions. At present, there is a multitude of women’s
organizations doing organizing, education and advocacy work for women’s
feminist issues, most of them are sectoral in nature.
Need for Women Empowerment
Recognising that women are equally
To Facilitate national development intelligent
To get rid of poverty To promote an overall development of
society
To grant women economic
To eradicate corruption independence
Realise the advantageous prospect of To reduce scope domestic violence
women over men and sexual exploitation
Status of women in India in the Era of
Inclusive Growth
• Other women’s organizations are issue-oriented, with health and
reproduction, overseas employment, children and family, prostitution
and mail-order brides being the most popular issues. There exist
several women’s groups, which mainly do research and education
work. The women’s movement today embraces millions of women and
men who are active in social change.
• The National Development Council (NDC) has approved the Eleventh
Plan on 19th December 2007 to raise the average economic growth
rate to 9 percent from 7.6 percent recorded during the Tenth Plan.
Features of Eleventh Plan
The draft document has
The investment rate has been The major thrust of the plan will
envisaged a savings rate of 34.8
proposed to be raised to 36.7 be on social sector, including
percent, which is substantially
percent from 30.8 percent in the agriculture and rural
higher than 30.8 percent
previous plan. development.
recorded in the Tenth Plan.
Important targets include
More investment on
reducing poverty by 10
infrastructure sector including
percentage points, generating 7
irrigation, drinking water and
crore new employment
sewage from 5 percent of Gross
opportunities and ensuring
Domestic Product (GDP) in 2005-
electricity connection to all
06 to 9 percent by 2011-12.
villages.
Objectives of 12th Year plan
To improve To improve To improve
regional living regional
To eliminate equality conditions equality To reduce
gender gaps. across states for SCs, STs, across states poverty
and within OBCs, and within
states Minorities states
Issues To Be Tackled For Women Empowerment And
Gender Inclusive Growth
Eliminating gender Women’s
Child marriage Physical health
differences tremendous role
Violence against Women’s political
Gainful employment Self empowerment
women participation
Nine Indian Government Schemes for Women Empowerment
Mahila E-haat Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao One Stop Centre Scheme Working Women Hostels
The Nari Shakti
Swadhar Greh STEP KANYASHREE SCHEME
Puruskars
SWABALAMBAN
SCHEME
Conclusion
• Although gender inclusive growth strategy is being adopted in India since
the Eleventh Five Year Plan, gender disparity is still very high in all
spheres, crimes against women are increasing and violence against women
is all time high. Workplace harassment of women is another phenomenon
which is rapidly increasing as more women join the workforce.
• For economic growth to be really inclusive, women empowerment is of
utmost value. It is crucial for achieving sustainable economic development
of our country and even beyond. Along with government, civil society
organisations and all other stake holders must come forward and involve in
the women empowerment process. Inclusive programmes involving the
men who have to understand the importance of empowering women.
References
