She is a woman. She is a mother, daughter, wife and sister. She is a person. She is strong, smart and crafty. She is passionate, courageous and generous. She is emotional. She has hope, beauty and power. She gives you life. She gives you respect, love and gratitude. She believes in you. She will nurture you, fight for you. She deserves nothing less from you.
A woman is the universe, within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. A woman is the real architect of the society. A woman is bold enough to voice her opinion, brave enough to listen her heart and strong enough to live life according to her choice.
Women empowerment refers to increasing and improving the social, economic, political and legal strength of women to ensure equal rights and make them confident enough to claim their rights as freely to live their life with a sense of self worth, respect and dignity, independent enough to make their own choices and decisions, have equal rights to participate in social religious and public activities, have equal status in society, have equal rights for social and economic justice, determine financial and economic choices, getting equal opportunities for education and employment without gender biases, get safe and confident working environment.
The status of women in india has been subjected to many great changes over the past few decades. With decline in status from ancient to medieval times, to promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful. From partition period and before that, children and especially women were treated as a term of property. They were kidnapped, abducted and openly raped. The women were subjected to maximum humiliation and torture. Their agony can be judged by the fact that a number of women jumped into the well to save their honour. In modern India, women have held high offices including that of president, prime minister, chief ministers etc.
Today however, many women in India continue to face numerous problems, including violent victimization through rapes, molestations, acid attacks, dowry killings, marital rapes and forced prostitution of young girls. Traditions such as Sati, Jauhar, Devadasi among some communities have been banned and are largely difunctional in modern India. However, some instances of these practices are still found in remote parts of India. The purdah is still practiced by Indian women in some communities. Child marriage remain common in rural areas, although it is illegal under the current Indian law.
Women in India now participate fully in areas such as education, sport, politics, media, art and culture, service sector, science and technology etc. Women are entering in much broader range of occupation and professional life. Women nowadays are engaging in industries and roles which were previously regarded as a role prerogative of men. Women are moving into jobs that were used to be done my men. There has been a huge change that has been seen in the past decades, with women moving into paid employment outside their home in ways that their grandmother or even their mother could only dream of. But we can still see that although more women are working they are often still worse paid than men. The economist has argued that increase in number of women in work force can boost a country’s GDP by approximately 21%.
The modern women are inclined towards social issues and trying hard to improve the social status of women at large. Nowadays, the husband – wife relationship has become more equalitarian in character and much more companionable. Now women have freedom of choice in marriage. Increasing awareness and education has inspired women to come out of four walls of home.
The Constitution of India guarantee to all Indian women equality (article14), no discrimination by the state (article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (article 16), and equal pay for equal work (article 39(d)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of women (article 51(A)).
The female literacy rate in India is less than the male literacy rate. In urban India, girls are nearly on a par with boys in term of education. However, in rural India, girls continue to be less educated than boys.
Domestic violence in India is never ending. Around 70% of women in India are victims of domestic violence according to MS Renuka Chowdhury, former Union Minister for Child Development. The national crime records bureau reveals that a crime against women is committed every 3 minutes, a woman is raped every 29th minute and one cruelty committed by either husband or relative. This occurs despite the fact that women in India are protected from domestic abuse under the protection of women from domestic violence act.
In India, the violence towards women is consider a type of abuse or at an extent level as a threat, it can be physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. Many women refuse to speak of the violence and find help as seen more as a private or family matter. Rape in India, as described by UN’s human right chief as “a national problem”. Eve teasing is a euphemism used for sexual harassment against women. Many of the crimes against women include harassment in work place and molestation. One of the most recent case is that of the Mass Molestation that happened in Bangalore among many others.
Women play a pivotal role in the development and progress in society. CSR is one of the most prominent concept which have scope for ensuring a development in the status of women through women empowerment. CSR has allocated emphasis on education by improving the facilities with the regard to a project called “SHIKSHA” which specially emphasize on education of the girl child, environment and health.
Empowering women and encouraging their entrepreneurial spirit was a vital aspect of CSR. Hindustan Unilever started a programme known as “Shakti Amma’s”, where rural women became distributer of H.U.L. It had economically empowered rural women. Jindal steel also organised various women self help groups and trained them in leaf plate making which has augmented income. CSR had initiated a number or rural women and youth has been trained in stitching, beauty and healthcare etc. Many women have begun micro enterprise activities in areas around manufacturing division like Hazira, Vadodra, etc.
Being a patriarchal society, it is not going to be easy to change the cultural disregard for women which is so deep rooted in Indian society. But with the changing culture, Indian women are no longer hesitant about claiming a share and visibility within the family, at work and society.
By JNICSR Foundation
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