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Source: Women Empowerment: A Challenge of 21stCenturyThis is an edited version and is used strictly for academic purpose by Prodigy, Kohinoor.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT- CONCEPT AND CHALLENGESThe different definitions of empowerment range between defining it as a largely individual

process of taking control of and responsibility for ones life and situation, and defining it as a

political process of granting human rights and social justice to disadvantaged groups of people.

The empowerment of women is located within the discourse and agenda of gender equality.

At the Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1993 and the International Conference on Population

and Development in Cairo 1994 Governments committed themselves to the empowerment of

women. This commitment was operationalised and formulated into a clear action plan at theFourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 1995 where Governments committed

themselves to 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 with others and thereby

guaranteeing them the possibility of realizing their full potential in society and shaping their lives

in accordance with their own aspirations.

In India, there are many examples witnessed where women are empowered like Ms. Chandra

Kochar occupying highest position in the Corporate Sector but the fact remains that dowry

system and deaths, domestic violence, female feticide are not uncommon. The male female ratio

still resembles the situation of female feticide. The female literacy rate is lower than the male

literacy rate.

Dr. Dashrath Bhuyan in his article titled Empowerment of Indian Women : A challenge of 21st

century writes Women are being brutalized, Commodified, materialized and subjected to

inhuman exploitation and discrimination Inspite of reservation being granted to women inPanchayat elections after 73rd and 74th Constitution amendment, in many Panchayats the male

Chauvinisms does not allow them to function independently.

Sabrina Fernandes, Associate Floor Manager in one of the leading multinational company says,

I have been working in this company since 8 years. I have been working since 13 years. It was

not easy to be a career woman, especially when it is a multinational company. Majority of my

colleagues and competitors are male. It was difficult to compete. Now we have a lot of policies

to protect interests of female candidates but back then we faced a lot of problems. They were not

ready to accept a woman as a competitor. We were welcomed with comments like

HOUSEHOLD IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. Sexual harassment was also a major concern for us.It still prevails but I think there are now policies now. I believe the benefits of this economy have

been unevenly distributed

One of the NGOs working for women development and improvement on women empowerment

said, The problem in the country is serious about the women belonging to disadvantaged

groups. They are the most exploited lot. There is a continuous legal battle for obtaining justice.

Women are victims of domestic violence, are deserted, those engaged in sex professions.

7/28/2019 Women Empowerment Concept Paper

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Source: Women Empowerment: A Challenge of 21stCenturyThis is an edited version and is used strictly for academic purpose by Prodigy, Kohinoor.

Discrimination against the girl child and her rights are common practice. Although country

provides protection to girls but in practice the scenario is different. Female foeticide, child abuse

and child prostitution are still on the rise.

The Empowerment of women has become one of the most important Concerns of 21st

century

not only at national level but also at the international level. Efforts by the Govt. are on to ensureGender equality but Government initiatives alone would not be sufficient to achieve this goal.

Society must take initiative to create a climate in which there is no gender discrimination.

Women get full opportunities of Self decision making and participating in the Social, Political

and Economic life of the Country with a sense of equality. Then only the Vedic verse

(Wherever Women is respected, God resides

there) would come true.