CC BY
5
'HOW EMPOWERED ARE WOMEN': A SOCIO-LEGAL STUDY OF THE POSITION AND STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE INDIAN SOCIETY
1KAUSHIKI , DR. SUDHA GARG 2
1Ph. D. Research Scholar, School of Law & Constitutional Studies, Shobhit Institute of Engineering and
Technology Meerut 2Prof. Affiliation of Shobhit (Deemed) University, Meerut
Abstract:
A society functions and flourishes harmoniously when there's balance between the societal norms and the legal structure. Both, the rules set customarily by the society and the codified laws laid by the state, overlap each other, which is not only a logical truth but is also a necessary aspect of consideration before setting up the legal structure of any society. Indian society has historical prevalence of patriarchal dominance, that shapes the social functioning, deciding what men and women should do and specially what the women should not do.
Women revolutionaries and visionary men have tried to ensure upscaling progress of women in all realms of life. The social, political, educational, economic,and cultural rights shape a society. In Indian society, women have majorly been deprived of almost all of these in earlier times, but the facts today are different and definitely relieving. However, a lot yet needs to be done to secure women's empowerment, to uplift the social and economic position, for which education, legal awareness, economic empowerment are some basic factors to work up on. To check up on these, a survey was done through a questionnaire and on the analysis of the data collected, it was found that the need to uplift and empower women through education, legal awareness and especially financially, is extremely vital to achieve equality, freedom from gender bias and similar desired changes in the society.
Keywords: Socio-Legal Study, Gender Sensitization, Women Rights, Gender Inequality, Economic Empowerment, Social Change, Decision Making, Economic Participation, Inclusion and Equality, Access to Rights, Equal Representation.
INTRODUCTION
The phrase "Empowerment of women" is indicative of the social, mental, and financial stability, strength, and advancement of women. Provides with an insight of how developed, prosperous, and aware a society is. A society doesn't only advance when it has multistoried buildings and infrastructures to support the basic institutions. It is certainly the empowered men and women, responsible for the creation of a balanced, progressive, and empowered society. However, it is much difficult being done than said because women in almost every society face different level of challenges and discriminations that lead them to proving themselves either by working extra or delivering more than is generally expected to be able to be accepted! In the Indian society and the cultural set-up, it has; women have been proving themselves, time and again, by outshining the male dominance, critiques and cultural barriers put on them, since ages. There is no doubt that a generation of great men is absolutely incomplete, without empowered women. Having full control over their own lifestyle, freedom to evolve their social, political, economic status and power to take charge over personal decisions like marriage, are some basic and vital aspects that can be interpreted as completeform of empowerment. Unless women are empowered, it would always remain a complex situation to improve their socio-economic and political condition.1 As according to Kabeer, the process to strengthen and provide ability to the ones who have been made to stay aloof and retracted from it, can be understood as the empowerment of women. It is certainly a dynamic procedure, that enables women, in different ways, to gain and achieve an
1Reena Roy, Socio-Legal Empowerment of Women: Issues and Challenges in Indian Perspective, International Journal of Law Management & Humanities, Vol. 4 Iss.-6; 1422, 2021
equal status as the men in general, always enjoy. Attaining outcomes through resources, that are for their own benefit, becomes possible only when different agencies are curated that focus on the progress and welfare of women. Empowerment includes, psychologically empowered mindset, economic empowerment, the power to involve into collective activities, the freedom to movement and all forms of social support.2
Women empowerment can be understood as totality of empowerment in political, social, cultural realms and even other dimension of human life such as physical and moral empowerment. The constitution of India secures right to equality, opportunity and talks about promoting social, political, and economic justiceamong men and women. In the pursuance of constitutional mandate, the govt. has enacted several acts for empowering women of the society. But due to lack of education, poverty, unawareness, and orthodox thinking of society this effort could not get success as desired. Women are still victims of cruelty, harassment, both mental and sexual, slavery etc. since long ages. Not just when women step outside of their house, do they feel insecure, but have same fears and insecurities, even within their houses. This is due to the direct outcome of the ideology of the male dominance. The situation of women remainspathetic as them being treated as a property and objectified more of. This brings us to the conclusion that it would still quite be a dream to see empowered women around us and in our society, until the orthodox tendency and violence against women eradicates and the misogyny is totally converted into respect and value. Empowerment of women is extremely essential as their value systems leads to development of a good family, good society and ultimately a good nation.3
The females form almost half of the globe's population and more than 40% of the global labor force, and yet gender inequality prevails. The earlier commitment of the United Nations and the World Bank to achieve equality for women, is extremely crucial and vital in addressing various challenges of development and poverty. However, surely, there isn't a single part in the world, where inequality between men and women does not exist.4
SOCIO-CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT
Social empowerment refers to the potential of women to alter the social connections and all those customs that exclude them from keeping them in a dependent and weak position, as a group. Empowerment means the power and ability of women and girls to act individually and collectively to raise and alter their social position and the social relationships.All the ideologies, institutions and discourses that exclude them from the general norms of the societal culture, that are vividly discriminatory and even make them remain in poverty. Within their households, their ability to participate in decision making, is seen to be almost negligible and only a few percentages of women are able to decide and choose what should be done.Whetherit'sabout property concern, daily chores, or even decisions related to their own personal selves. The situation is equally, stress oriented and occupying outside their homes. Changing these patterns is exactly what is meant by empowering women socially.When women and girls are able to freely build positive relationships, participate in social activities and decision making, without being restricted by gender norms, that would truly be called the socially empowered society for women.
Moreover, to understand socio-cultural empowerment, it is vital to know the inputs responsible to formulate social and cultural aspects that have kept women powerless since ages and long generations. Aspects like involvement in making decisions about theirhealth,management of their
2Naila Kabeer, Resources, Agency, Achievements: Reflections on the Measurement of Women's Empowerment, Development and ChangeVol. 30, July 1999, pg. 435-464
REENA ROY, Socio-Legal Empowerment of Women: Issues and Challenges in Indian Perspective, International
Journal of Law Management & Humanities [Vol. 4 Iss. 6; 1422], 2021
4Judit Lovas, EXPLORING GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SELECTL'ORÉAL CORPORATE, Master of Gender Studies, October 2017, Available at: https://core.ac.uk/display/2115746477utm source=pdf&utm medium=banner&utm campaign=pdf
own finances/earnings, their movement outside domestic sphere like making family visits, at marketplaces, visiting or staying their friends, that forms their social circle, decisions about investing the earningsthey make, about contraception, menstrual hygiene, childbirth, surrogacy, and abortion. Definitely, the list is not exhaustive, but the above aspects are much needed to be highlighted and talked about.
When thought about at the cultural and the governance level,women empowerment must necessarily include full and complete recognition of marital rape as a crime at the first place; implementation defects and misuse of social laws, for example the Dowry Prohibition Act1961, The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005. There is no distinct definition or classification, expressed for Honor Killing as an offence in India. It is just treated as a murder under Section 300 of the IPC.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
The most important of all forms, women's economic empowerment is the most necessary one and it is the key to liberate women. Not just limited to an area, society or culture, economic empowerment is required all across the globe. To begin with, it is the ability for women to enjoy their right to control and consume benefits from the resources, the assets, the money that they make. Women having control on their own time, as well as the ability to manage risk, are all linked with their economic empowerment and improving this, would directly bring progress to their status at every level, as well as improve their well-being.
About fifty percent of the world's population is represented by women. This is the reason that achieving the political, economic, and social equality of all women, would uplift andbenefit half the globe directly. Bringing in positive impacts on the other half through economic development. However, the reason it is being discussed is that that this is a state that is yet to be achieved, which is why it is important to remove and work on the barriers that women face, right from birth. In India and other parts of the world, that have more inclination towards a male child, girls and women face deeply rooted discrimination. The societal preference for the male child means that girls are less desired, which is a direct outcome of the male dominated thought process.The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in India identifies the child sex ratio of 918 females per 1,000 males (Census 2011). It is certainly a significant fact of concern. Even beyond this, the ratio has gone further down from 927 in 2001 and 945 in 1991. However, the sex ratio at birth has shown a somewhat improved number, that is, from 892 in 2000-02 to 909 in 2011-13.
Not just the birth rate but the ongoing physical violence and sexual abuseagainst women at home and as well as work reduces women's ability to make choices and it even hampers their basic human rights, including their right to movement, to work etc. It is an undeniable fact that women spend as much as ten times the time that men do on daily chores, that is an unpaid labor. Not just this goes unrecognizes, but it also inhibits the time woman are able to devote to work outside the home.
The years before the covid-19 pandemic, female labor force participation had already been trending downward, and the situation has gone even worse post pandemic. As workers, women are largely employed in jobs that are informal in nature and are mostly related to sectors that are less regulated. This again leaves them without any formal protection. The result of such a cycle shows that women hold less positions of leadership in the workspace. Undoubtedly, the numbers are changing and increasing, in India, women have just accounted for 16.3 per cent of the new board appointments in the year 2020, whereas as, it is about 30 per cent new board women appointees at the global level.
However, time and again, over these long spans of years, the Indian Government has taken many quite the initiatives to improve and increase the participation of women in the workforce. To begin from the notifications, removing restrictions on women's right to work at the nighttimein factories or even in the underground mine work, to making it a rule to have at least one-woman director on boards of the companies that have a turnover of Rs300+ crore. Along with these, importantly, the extensive and comprehensive maternity benefits have been ensured. Furthermore, laws to provide
protection from sexual harassment at the workplace has been supremely vital and has been enabled so that women in the workplace, remain safe and feel safe.
ROLE OF BUSINESS:
A highly critical and exclusive role is played by the Governments, to set up an enabling and functional environment for empowering women, economically. However, it is absolutely undeniable that business has a special and powerful role to bring abundance and economic freedom in life. Impactfully incorporating business mindsets and giving light to the talents women have to become businesswomen, can turn out to be a revolution, not just for them in their personal lives, but for the growth of the nation as a whole. It shall also fulfil the vision of Sustainable Development Goal-5, for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. The policies of the corporate world, have massive potential to create a mighty spur in decent jobs and bringing in an equal prospect for women. For this reason, the SDGs, too, believe and recognize businesses as major players in channelizing and influencing sustainable development with inclusion.
The impacts do not just stop here because along with understanding that it is essential to hand over charge in majority to women, the businesses have realizedthat gender equality is not just the appropriate, just, and right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do. The Boston Consulting Group mentioned that women's market is 'the most important commercial opportunity in our lifetime'. Not just this, there is ample evidence supporting that the business surely care for promoting gender equality.A McKinsey study shows that the companies that have diversity in gender, amongst their working groups, are 21 per cent more likely to outperform their competitors in terms of profitability. A study of the UN Women India study has indicated that women are the fastest growing consumer economy of today's time and by 2028, women will control about 75 per cent of the discretionary spending all across the world.5
POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT
Mentioning about Political empowerment is so important because it has been witnessed and the society at different times as seen the powerful contribution of women in the political realm as well. Political empowerment is thus vital and refers to the mechanisms through which different elements of power, like, resources, capabilities, and positions, are provided to the ones who do not have it. It is only through the proper women representation that the unempowered and weaker voices and be heard loud and clear by the higher authorities. Political empowerment needs inclusion in democratic decision-making methods. Women should and also need to actively participate in policy making, setting up governments and the ongoing political activities, for better balance and maintenance of democracy.
ECOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT:
As it truly well known that the nature or Earth is compared and understood with the status of 'Mother'. The expression "Eco-feminism", used for the first time by Francoise D"Eaubonne in the year1980, gained fame in various protests and actions against the ongoing and continuing ecological disaster. Basically, it is an amalgamation of environmental, feministic, and the spiritual concerns of women.The consciousness of women raised towards the decay of the earth,and it was realized that it was also a parallel scenario with what was and what is continuing to happen with women. The devaluation was unignorable and much linked, just as the nature of the woman are so comparable
5 Susan Ferguson, (UN Women Representative for India), Women's economic empowerment, March 3oth, 2022, Business India, Available at: https://businessindia.co/magazine/womens-economic-empowerment
and similar. Therefore, came the term, Ecofeminism, that caught introduction and its highlight, due to its supreme convergence between nature and women.6
HOW EMPOWERED ARE INDIAN WOMEN:
Today's modern era, stands in need of a woman, to have equal opportunities, just as a man, but the foremost challengeof balancing work and home, remains same. In India, the amount of Gender bias, inequality in paying for equal work, the physical and mental abuse, insufficient freedom to work and express, are some of the key issues of woman. Both groups, the women who wish to work and the women who're out there, working, suffer from the phenomena of Glass ceiling, which means, there's an unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a professional life. Whether its gender bias, unequal representation, less inclusion, women of the Indian society still have a long way to go and conquer.
The cultural setup in India is such that, working women handle their professional life while dealing with challenges at work place as well as in their personnel lives. Managing the household work, caring for children, family members, cooking meals, taking care of and fulfilling social responsibilities and similar other works, are still considered as the duty of women only. It has been reported that on an average woman have lost two hours of sleep per day, causing anxiety and many related health concerns for women. The negative thought process and the rigid belief that men are superior in the society, creates several hurdles and undue challenges for women. Women discover and feel that they must be twice as much as better than their male colleagues, in order to perform and excel better in all ways of life and to achieve the financial, mental and socialfreedom. However, these kind of troubles demotivate women and make them less eager to progress in their career.7
SPECIAL INITIATIVES TAKEN TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER INDIAN WOMEN:
There are many steps taken by the ruling authorities and governments taken, in response to the discrimination, inequality, violence and devaluation against women. Below mentioned are a few to understand the evolution of the journey of empowering women.
• National Commission for women: In the year 1992, the central government of India had set up this statutory body with a core mandate to understand and monitor all matters that relate to the constitutional and legal safeguards for women and even reviewing the already existing legislations. The commission was also given the responsibility to suggest necessary amendments, whenever needed.
• Reservation for women in local self-government: In 1992, under the 74 constitutional amendment acts, that were passed by the parliament, ensured that one-third of the total seats shall be reserved for women, in the all elected offices in local bodies, both in the rural areas or urban areas.
• The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child (1991-2000): The plan of action and objective was the survival, protection and development of the girl child with the ultimate aim tobuild up better future for the girl child.
• National Policy for the empowerment of women, 2001: passed in the year 2001, the department of women and child development in the ministry of human resource development passed a 'National Policy of the Empowerment of Women", to bring about the advancement, development
6B. T. GATES, A Root of Ecofeminism: Eco-féminisme. Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, 3(1), 7-16, 1996. Available at:http://www.jstor.org/stable/44085413
7
Dr. Rafi Ramzan Dar, Women Empowerment: An In-Depth Understanding of the Challenges Faced by Indian Women, Steps Taken by Government and Way, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064, 2019, Available at: https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v10i2/SR21211200140.pdf
and empowerment of women. For example Women who are abandoned, widow and divorcee, get a special reservation in public employment, public service commission.8
CONSTITUTIONAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN:
• Right to Equality: The state shall not deny to any person equality before law and the equal protection of the laws within the territory of the nation.9
• It prohibits any form of inequality and discrimination simply on the basis of religion, cast, gender, race or their place of birth.10
• Equality of opportunity in all matters related to employment in the public sector.11
• The constitution guarantees the right to life as well as personal liberty to every person.12
• It safeguards and protects against humantrafficking and any forced labour.13
• It is on the state to ensure equal right for both men and women, when it comes to matters of livelihood.14
• There should be no injustice while making pays for equal work amongst men and women.15
• Constitution also provides that there no act that affects the health and strength of women or any abuse shall be tolerated.16
• There shall be equality when the issue is to serves justice and free legal aid for both men and
17
women.1'
Along with the recognition of constitutional and fundamental rights, the constitution also provides for the following, some special provisions related to women:
• Article 15 of the constitution, puts a stop on any form of discrimination, on grounds of religion, race, cast, sex, or place of birth, but particularly, the sub-clause (3) of article 15, mentions that "nothing in this article shall prevent the state from making any special provision for women and children".
• Similarly, Article 16 of constitution ensures equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and discards any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, sex or place of birth. However, the state has the power, to make any law which is seen to be encouraging in the advancement of women. Government can even reserve posts in favour of women, whenever necessary.
• The Clause (2) of Article 29, which is related to the admission into the educational institutions, that are maintained or aided by state funds. The law provides that no citizen shall be denied admission in such institution simply on the of religion, race, caste, language or any of them. But the word "sex" has been omitted from the clause, as then, the right of women to admission in education institutions is a matter within the regulation of college authorities. 18
8
Dr. S. Akhilesh, Women Empowerment in Indian Society at P. 125-126 in 'Contemporary Indian Society and Culture ed. 2014). ISBN - 978-81-87364-60-3
9
Article 14 of Indian Constitution
110Article 15 of constitution: which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, cast, sex and place of birth
11Article 16 of constitution
12Article 21 of constitution
13Article 23 of constitution
14Article 39 (a) of constitution
15Article 39 (d) of constitution
16Article 39 (e) of constitution
17Article 39-A : This article inserted by the constitution 42nd(Amendment) Act. 1976, Sec 8 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) 28
See also University of Madra V. Shantha Bai, AIR 1954 Mad. 67. For a critique see P.K. Tripathi someinsights
into Fundamental Rights 1992.
18
University of Madra V. Shantha Bai, AIR 1954 Mad. 67
Along with the above ones, as under Article 243-D(4), the offices of chairpersons in a panchayats, whether at village or any other level shall be reserved for the schedule castes, the schedule tribe and for women. This shall be done in such way as the legislature of a state may, by law provided. The rule of Horizontal Reservation in favour ofwomen: States have set up a horizontal reservation policy in favour of women, which provides 30% seats in every institution, public offices, in cases of public employment etc. This reservation shall be applicable in every category of women for their inclusion.19
9
BASED ON SURVEY QUESTIONS:
A survey consisting of 15 questions related to the condition of women in India, socially, economically, and culturally was done and a total of 100 responses were collected. The survey collected was open and random and no particular strata of group of individuals were picked. The people who appeared for the survey belonged to different age groups, had different educational backgrounds and were from both genders, i.e., both men and women, participated. For instance, and to incorporate the actual data collection, the questions included opinions of people, on issues like gender discrimination, legal awareness of women, opinions on working women and whether they should be commended and guided, in order to protect them.An important aspect that was covered while taking the survey, through goggle forms, was whether or not people think that there is existence of misogyny against women, and up to what extent. Also, can all such concerning and sensitive issues be dealt with bringing in more legal awareness amongst women and can the incorporation of education bring a wholesome change in the quality of lives of women of the Indian society.
Out of the 100 responses, people who participated in the survey are divided into the following categories, namely:
■ Gender
A good number of females, that is, about 54%, participated in answering the survey questions, 46% of the people were males, while the rest preferred not to disclose their genders.
■ Age:
40% of the people fall under the age group of 25-35 years, while 39% belonged to the age group of 15-25 years of age. 12% of the people were of the age 45 and above.
■ Education
According to the survey statistics, 35% of the people who participated were graduates, 31% of them were postgraduates, 14% Doctorates, 17% had passed 10+2, while a very few in number never went to school or had never received any formal nature of education. Gender Discrimination:
The survey showed that about 60% of the people, including men and women, have faced discrimination related to gender at least once on their lives. While 10% of the people have only witnesses it happening. This clearly shows the prevalence of gender discrimination, gender bias and presence of insensitivity in the society, which hampers the growth and progress of people and community as a whole. Women in particular are clear and easy victims of discrimination done merely on the basis of the fact that they're women.
19J.N.Pandey, Constitutional Law of India, 2019
Have you witnessed/faced gender discrimination once in your life?
100 responses
20% .........^..............J
^58%
Ï f
• YES
• NO
• NEVER WITNESSED/FACED
• FACED OFTEN
• WITNESSED OFTEN
Furthermore, based out of the 100 responses, when asked, what is that aspect that is making it difficult for women to become fully empowered, 42% of the people placed their vote on the "social and cultural set-up of India". 24% of the people said that it the lack of financial independence that makes it tough for women to be empowered. While a good number of people, around 40% answered that reasons include, political structure of the society, women being considered nothing more than a responsibility to their families, lack of education and legal awareness and the social and cultural structure of the Indian society. All of these downgrades, instead of promoting women from being in their full power and abstains them from the equality that each person deserves, especially the freedom and dominance that men of the society enjoy.
What according to you is making it tough for women to be fully empowered7
100 responses
Social and Cultural set-up of In...
Political structure of the society! Women being considered nothi...
No Financial Independence! Lack of education and Legal a...
None of these! All of thesel Can't Say I Indian cultural set-up} Women being considered a res...
|-42 (42%)
-6 (6%)
-1 (1%) -1 (1%)
10
-19(19%)
24 (24%)
|—32 (32%) 31 (31%)
| 40(40%)
20
30
40
50
PREVALENCE OF MISOGYNY:
The survey made people to choose whether or not there is a misogynistic thought process towards women of the Indian society. Surprisingly, 41% of the people agreed that there is clearly a dislike and misogyny that exists towards women. While 31% of the people responded in a "maybe". Which also indicates that there is high possibility according to them that a prejudice does exist,but they weren't very sure about it. The general hate towards women is quite a matter of concern and should be dealt with the inculcation of respect, understanding and a broad perspective to think. A sense of acceptance is required to be able to make more sensitized and awake society, that is not entirely driven by men.
Do you think most people are Misogynistic towards women?
100 responses
• YES
• NO
• MAYBE
• SOMETIMES
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE:
In 1997, Amartya Sen laid stress on how important empowerment of women is, that has the power to bring about change for all those who previously have exercised almost little control over their own livesand the decisions they make in their lives. This includes, two main components of change, the first is control over resources (whether its, financial, physical,or human) and the second and a very impactful one is the control over ideology, belief, values, and attitudes. Some comprehensive parameters of empowerment of women are as follows-
• Enhancement ofself-esteem and self confidence in women in every household.
• Building a position image of women and recognizing what they contribute to the economy and the society.
• Developing their ability to critical thinking.
• Enabling women to make very well-informed choices in fields like education, employment, and health and most importantly reproductive health.
•Giving them the opportunity to participate equally in development process.
•Encourage and provide them with valuable information, knowledge, and right skill sets for their Economic Independence.
•Ensuring that they get access to legal literacy and all the required information, related to their rights and entitlements, so that they can actively participate in the society and in all different area of it.20
The survey through the questionnaire conducted, shows that 45% of the people clearly believe that Financial Independence of women is the most effective and best way to empower women in toto. While 32% had answered as "maybe", showing that they do not have an opinion totally opposite to the spirit of the question. A very vital goal that can be achieved by ensuring economic empowerment of women is that they can incredibly become the reason of a raised economy of the nation.
20Baleshwar Prasad, Women Empowerment in India: Social and Economic Upliftment, International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, Volume 6, Issue 2 April 2018, Available at:https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1807028.pdf
When asked about this, 97% of the people agreed that financially empowered women can increase the state's economy and can be essential and crucial contributors in the same.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
Empowerment of women, is presently a burning issue and truly has been one, since a long time now, in the minds of the Nation's policy makers. It is not just an issue limited to Indian nation, but of course has a global spread and need. Which is the reason, it commands a lot of media attention as well as the international focus. The country report of the Government of India, it has been found that Empowerment means to move from a weaker position to a position where you have the strength to execute action and have the valid power to do so. A fact is that, the status, the rate of employment and the work that is performed by the women in society, are fine indicators ofthe overall progress of a nation. Women being the better half of any society, still need to be given a better status, freedom, power and encouragement to uplift their condition, to form a well
balanced society. There is still, the existence of misogyny, gender discrimination, inequality, social barriers and indifferences, that continue to keep the society as male dominated. Whether its outside the four walls of the house, or within it, women are in a state of constant denial of their rights and are consistently fighting to match what men get handy and freely. Although, a shift has been witnessed in the Indian society in terms of the shiftin the policy making approaches, that focus fairly onthe welfare and development of women, right since the nineties.Women empowerment means an increase in the spiritual, political, social, educational, legal and economical strength of women of the society. Their ability to choose and decide for themselves, is understood to be empowerment. In India, it is a concept that exists since pre-independence. A lot of work has been done and goals have been achieved to a big extent through law making and policies, but a lot needs to be done, even today. The crimes against women, the violations against them, have not reduced much and the ideology of the society is male dominated. Traditionally, it would be a difficult task to push and change the deep-rooted belief system of the Indian society, that perceives women as inferior, dependent and dispensable. However, it isn't an impossible change to execute. The right amount of efforts, dedicated amount of time, and the right implementation of existing laws, women in the Indian society can become much more confident, fearless and uplifted. To liberate women means to raise the conscious of the society as a whole. The constitution of India and other several laws, all the various provisions enacted in such laws, work in favour of women empowerment. Government has introduced many more policies and programmes for welfare of women and girls, which gradually aim at their development.An undeniable fact is that despite all the efforts, the position of women in India is becoming worsened, and is degrading day by day. Undoubtedly, equality before law is a fundamental right as laid down by the constitution in the land of India, however, its administration has become impossible. Women are still being deprived of their right to education,they're subject to malnutrition, female foeticide, kidnapping, rapes and sexual harassment, human trafficking, begging, forced and bounded labour,tampering, and eve-teasing, mental torture etc. Young and minor women, being disrespected, considered to be burden, stripped, beaten and objectified in street sand even in schools and colleges.
Therefore, it is certainly not an easy goal to achieve but it is like a continuous effort that society together needs to keep putting in, for strengthening the females and hence bringing in perfect balance in the world. It is entirely undeniable thatwomen empowerment in India is quiteimpossible until the time violence against women in completely eradicated. With more awareness, access and equality, can the path of empowerment be made possible and would even become more relevant. Not just theoretically, but women need to be made empowered at the ground level, so that it is possible to create a better society, with better informed and minded men and women.Inculcating gender sensitization and respect towards them would benefit the well-being of individuals and families, simultaneously. When the crime rates against women would decrease, and the cultural values would be reflected in every citizen of the nation, that would be a time where true form of women liberation could be materialized. Rigorous punishments to offenders and a boost of self-worth in women, is what highly required.
Hence, to create and formulate a better world, ensure to make the position and condition of women, more empowered, more free and absolutely equal.
REFERENCES
[1] Reena Roy, Socio-Legal Empowerment of Women: Issues and Challenges in Indian Perspective, International Journal of Law Management & Humanities, Vol. 4 Iss.-6; 1422, 2021
[2] Naila Kabeer, Resources, Agency, Achievements: Reflections on the Measurement of Women's Empowerment, Development and Change Vol. 30, July 1999, pg. 435-464
[3] REENA ROY, Socio-Legal Empowerment of Women: Issues and Challenges in Indian Perspective, International Journal of Law Management & Humanities [Vol. 4 Iss. 6; 1422], 2021
[4] Judit Lovas, Exploring Gender Equality And Women's Empowerment: A Critical Examinationof Select L'ORÉAL Corporate, Master of Gender Studies, October 2017, Available at:
https://core.ac.uk/display/211574647?utm source=pdf&utm medium=banner&utm campaig n=pdf
[5] Susan Ferguson, (UN Women Representative for India), Women's economic empowerment, March 3oth, 2022, Business India, Available at: https://businessindia.co/magazine/womens-economic-empowerment
[6] B.T. GATES, A Root of Ecofeminism: Eco-féminisme. Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, 3(1), 7-16, 1996. Available at: http://www. jstor.org/stable/44085413
[7] Dr. Rafi Ramzan Dar, Women Empowerment: An In-Depth Understanding of the Challenges Faced by Indian Women, Steps Taken by Government and Way, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064, 2019, Available at: https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v10i2/SR21211200140.pdf
[8] Dr. S. Akhilesh, Women Empowerment in Indian Society at P. 125-126 in 'Contemporary Indian Society and Culture ed. 2014). ISBN - 978-81-87364-60-3
[9] Article 14 of Indian Constitution
[ 10] Article 15 of constitution: which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, cast, sex and place of birth
[11] Article 16 of constitution
[12] Article 21 of constitution
[13] Article 23 of constitution
[14] Article 39 (a) of constitution
[ 15] Article 39 (d) of constitution
[ 16] Article 39 (e) of constitution
[17] Article 39-A : This article inserted by the constitution 42nd(Amendment) Act. 1976, Sec 8 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977) 28 See also University of Madra V. Shantha Bai, AIR 1954 Mad. 67. For a critique see P.K. Tripathi some insights into Fundamental Rights 1992.
[18] University of Madra V. Shantha Bai, AIR 1954 Mad. 67
[19] J.N.Pandey, Constitutional Law of India, 2019
[20] Baleshwar Prasad, Women Empowerment in India: Social and Economic Upliftment, International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, Volume 6, Issue 2 April 2018, Available at: https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1807028.pdf
