The process of women empowerment in India has had a long
and rich history. Women have faced a lot of challenges during the
medieval era but this was changed overtime by vigorous campaigns from reformers
and activities, which lead to the promotion of equal rights and reduction of
violence against women in India. It is said that the position of women in a
society is the society’s index of cultural and spiritual attainment. Today,
women struggle to pursue respectable careers and work to survive like their
male counterparts. However, women still have challenges that have led to the emergence
of numerous women empowerment groups to fight social injustices that inhibit
women prosperity. These campaigns mainly focus on fighting illiteracy, sexual
harassment etc. lately, there has been a more focused violence against women
campaign aimed at educating women to know more about their rights.
The women
organizations in India today are not free agents or autonomous; they inherited
a particular area or field and its accompanying social relation then preside
over it and within it. Women in India have held some of the top jobs in the
land including that of presidency. Even then, they still continue to face
atrocities and violence cases such as like rape, forced prostitution, dowry
killings and brutality. According to a report by Thomas Reuters, India is
ranked fourth among the most dangerous countries for women among the G20. This
is the reason why violence against women in India is becoming one of the
government’s major goals.
INDIAN
WOMEN DURING THE BRITISH RULE
Jhansi Ki Rani
Early European
scholars discovered that the Indian woman of the 19th century had a natural
glamour and was more vigorous than the rest. It is during this period that many
women empowerment groups and reformers such as Ram Mohan Roy emerged and fought
for the rights of women. Peary Charan Sarkar set up the first free school for
female students in India in 1847 in Barasat. She was a former student of Hindu
collage called Calcutta. Even though one could argue that there was little
support from the British Administration during the Raj era, the contrary was
the case. British missionaries’ wives deserve that respect they enjoy to date
for they pioneered the education and training of girls in India. Their
intervention was received with fierce resistance from the locals in the early
stages as it was seen to defy their traditions.
Later, reforms, which
touched on marriage and politics among the women, began to take effect. Women
in India played a major role towards the attainment of its independence. Women
such as Kittur Chennamma, queen of the state of Kittur Karnataka led armed
rebellions against the British rule. The queen of Jhansi named Rani Lakshmi is
widely considered a national hero for leading the 1857 rebellion against the
British. In 1929, the Child marriage Restraint Act was passed that enforced
fourteen as the minimal marriage age for a girl. Finally, Sarojini Naidu,
Indian poet, became the first Indian woman to be the president of the Indian
National Congress and governor of Uttar Pradesh state. Her birthday is
celebrated as Women’s Day in the entire India today.
INDIAN
WOMAN IN MODERN INDIAN
Women in Indian today
fully participate in all areas like education, politics, science and technology
and many more. The violence against them is reducing and more women are
beginning to realize their rights in the society. In short, it is no longer a
man’s world. The Indian constitution guarantees all Indian women equality with
no discrimination by the state. It stipulates equal opportunities and equal pay
for work. It further advocates for affirmative action that provides special
provision for women and children by the state. The law renounces cultural
practices, which are derogatory to the status of the female figure by ensuring
a humane environment for work and maternity relief.
THE
PROCESS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Women in India are
still facing obstacles due to a male dominated culture despite efforts made by
different organizations to reverse the norm. However, they are gradually
getting empowered in areas like education, politics, professional and eventual
in their households. It is agreed that women need to gain more power to equal
their male counterparts in this contemporary world. The value of social
development and civilization can be entire arbitrated by the role of women in a
society.
Today, women take
active roles in politics and management positions in world-class companies.
India has come of age in enhancing the position of women through laws that
protect their rights. They majorly focused on eliminating women suffrage,
feminism, improving their property rights and advocating for equality in terms
of opportunities.
The result has been
loud with increased reports showing the girl child competing vigorously in
academics and other areas. It means that the girl child is now confident and
can get well-paying jobs as their male counterparts. This development is a
complete reversal of how the situation was in the olden days.
However, the single
but more worrying problem that continues to thrive in India is the negative
sexual attention attached to the Indian Women. Women are hassled, stalked,
raped and trafficked for sexual immorality. Furthermore, the heinous practice
of female feticide and infanticide, where over 10 million infants have been
killed in the last two decades. It is now the responsibility of law enforcing
bodies to avert crime against women.
HOW
TO ACHIEVE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
A report by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) evaluation came up with four main areas
to enhance women empowerment:
IMPROVED
WOMEN MOBILITY AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
When women are given
the opportunity to interact freely and frequently with people in top ranks like
international organization CEOs and government officials, they develop a sense
of self-realization and motivation to desire achievement.
IMPROVED
LABOR PATTERN
Women should have
equal access to all job opportunities and receive equal pay as their male
counterparts.
ACCESS
AND CONTROL OF RESOURCE
Opportunity to manage
country’s’ national resource and the right to own property should not be left
to the males alone. Women too should feel a sense of ownership and power over
property.
INVOLVEMENT
IN DECISION-MAKING
Women should be
allowed to participate fully in the decision making process right from their
households to the national government.
LATEST
REPORT ON VIOLATION OF WOMEN RIGHTS IN INDIA
Violence against women in India is on the rise. Despite the
incredible social changes achieved by the country, the girl child has to remain
brave and vigilant to overcome sexual defilement. A recent study by the
India’s’ Ministry of National Crime Record Bureau concluded that a woman is molested every 26
minutes and raped in every 34 in India. The report further showed that a woman
is kidnapped every 43 minutes in Indian
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