Women empowerment Deepthy P Thomas Ist year MSc nursing CNA DEFINITION The manifestation of redistribution of power that challenges patriarchal ideology and male dominance. Chandra 1997 Process aimed at changing the nature and direction of systematic forces which marginalize women and other disadvantaged sections in a given context. Sharma 1992. Empowerment is probably the totality of the following or similar capabilities: • decision-making power of their own • access to information and resources for taking proper decision • Having a range of options /choices • assertiveness in collective decision making • positive thinking on the ability to make change • Ability to learn skills. • Ability to change others’ perceptions by democratic means. • Involving in the growth process and changes that is never ending and self-initiated • Increasing one’s positive self-image and overcoming stigma CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN 1. Domestic violence Acid Throwing Dowry Female infanticide and sex-selective abortion Rape Sexual harassment Trafficking Justice system Other concerns Social opinions Family planning Sex ratios Sanitation PRE-REQUISITES OF PRE-REQUISITES OF EMPOWERMENT EMPOWERMENT participation in social • Active Active participation in economic social and political spheres. economic and political spheres. of decision making empowerment. • Process Process of decision making Desired self-respect. empowerment. dignity. • Social Desired self-respect. of women in • Involvement Social dignity. • decision Involvement women in decision makingof process making process. LEVELS OF EMPOWERMENT Welfare Access Conscientisation Participation FACILITATING FACTORS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Existence of women's organizations Availability of support systems Availability of women-specific Availability of funds Feminist leadership Networking Favourable media coverage Favourable policy climate. CONSTRAINING FACTORS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Heavy work load of women. Isolation of women from each other. Illiteracy. Traditional views limit participation. No funds. Disagreements/conflicts among women's groups. Structural adjustment policies. Negative and sensational coverage of media ADVANTAGES OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT next generation will be empowered because of her. if woman will be empowered she will not be a burden on anyone. financial burden of man can be shared with her support. family can be more strong because of both working hands. when financial problems will be shared than results of conflict. RIGHTS OF WOMEN the right to work as a human being. The right to the same employment opportunities, including application of the same criteria for selection. The right to free choice of profession and employment, the right to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions of service and right to receive vocational training and retraining. The right to equal remuneration. The right of social security as well as the right to paid leave. The right to protection of health and to safety. EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN Economic Empowerment of women Poverty Eradication by offering them a range of economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities Micro Credit strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and micro-finance institution will be undertaken so that the outreach of credit is enhanced Women and Economy Their contribution to socio-economic development as producers and workers will be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions should be drawn up. Globalization Benefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed leading to wider economic disparities, the feminization of poverty, increased gender inequality through often deteriorating working conditions and unsafe working environment. Women and Agriculture Concentrated efforts should be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in proportion to their numbers. Women and Industry comprehensive support in terms of labour legislation, social security and other support services to participate in various industrial sectors Support Services child care facilities, including creches at work places and educational institutions, homes for the aged and the disabled social empowerment of women Education for women equal access to education as men and boys Healthcare for women Participation of women in development of science and technology Nutrition of women Drinking Water and Sanitation Housing and Shelter Environment political empowerment Recognizing that education and training To acknowledge and accept the glaring gender based bias Empowering women by increasing awareness regarding the rights of an employee. Work on the communication skills of women Encouraging and supporting women entrepreneurs to develop marketable models of enterprise Planning educational and training modules for motivating women to take up self- empowerment programmes. Educating and training women to gainfully engage in markets and institutions. Publicizing the central role of women in the national economies and celebrating the success stories of women entrepreneurship and women professionalism in every field. Gender training and sensitization of the current structures of the society represented by the government, non-governmental bodies and private enterprises. Improving the flow and access of credit and finance for women through financial institutions for female entrepreneurs at the governmental and non-governmental levels. The access of credit to be financed through collateral for loans. Building and strengthening networks where women come together from different nations and regions for common goal economic empowerment of women. Cultural Empowerment of Women There should be a change in the mind set of society on a fundamental level. Cultural empowerment as such can be achieved only when women are treated as human beings first and foremost Women in difficulties Fighting against violence and discrimination Rights of the Girl Child Mass Media LEGISLATIVE ACTS IN INDIA FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN Constitution of India, 1950 : Article 14 -equality . Article 15- prohibits discrimination of sex. Article 16- equality of opportunity for employment. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India provided for reservation of seats Indian Penal Code, 1860 : Section 304(b) -murder of women in connection with demand of dowry. Sections 312 to 318 -miscarriage. . Section 366-A deals -procuration of minor girls for sexual purpose. Section 376 -punishment for rape Section 498-A -women to cruelty by her husband or relatives S. 509- punishment for uttering words and gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 The Factories Act, 1948 The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 : The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 The Chid Marriage Restraint Act, 1976 The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 The National Commission for Women Act, 1992 : The Prenatal Diagnostic Technique Act, 1994 The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 Women's Reservation Bill or the The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 IN KERALA Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation Kerala State Women’s Commission Kerala State Social Welfare Board WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES Goals and objectives : Advancement and development of women in every walk of life. Creating an environment through economic and social policies. enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom Equal access to participation and decision making Equal access to women at all levels Strengthening legal systems active participation and involvement of both men and women. Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process. Care India Assisted Programmes Food Programmes Non-Food Programmes Setting up of Employment-cum income Generation-Production Units Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP Mahila Samriddhi Yojana (MSY) Rashtriya mahila kosh Indira mahila yojana (imy) Balika Samriddhi Yojana (BSY) Rural Women’s Development and Empowerment (SwaShakti) Project Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme NREGS The stated objective of the Act is “to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. national policy for the empowerment of women ,2001 Goals and objectives: (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 (iii) Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation Goals and objectives 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. iv) (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. (viii) Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child; (ix) Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society. Components Educational empowerment. Social empowerment. Women in difficulties Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – ‘Sabla’ Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) The National Mission for Empowerment of Women was launched by the Government of India (GoI) on International Women’s Day in 2010 strengthen the inter-sector convergence; facilitate the process of coordinating all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across ministries and departments. Mission Poorna Shakti Focus Area of the Mission Access to health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for women . Coverage of all girls especially those belonging to vulnerable groups in schools from primary to class 12 . Higher and Professional education for girls/women. Skill development, Micro credit, Vocational Training, Entrepreneurship, SHG development . Gender sensitization and dissemination of information. Taking steps to prevent crime against women and taking steps for a safe environment for women . Key Strategies of the Mission Facilitating inter-sector convergence of schemes. Strengthening institutional framework At policy level commission research, evaluation studies, review schemes, programmes and legislation, do gender audit and outcome assessment Enhance economic empowerment. Evolve with the support of community representatives and groups Convergence Model a project to test a model of delivery for convergent implementation of programmes intended for welfare and development of women. The women centre at the village level, the first point of contact for women will be known as the Poorna Shakti Kendra (PSK). Village coordinators at the Kendras would reach out to the women with the motto "HUM SUNENGE NAARI KI BAAT!"
