The Current Picture of Women’s Empowerment in India: Progress and Challenges

India's journey towards women's empowerment has been marked by both significant progress and persistent challenges. In recent years, initiatives and government policies have been instrumental in promoting gender equality, but issues like gender discrimination and economic vulnerability still pose significant obstacles. This article explores the current landscape of women's empowerment in India by examining progress, challenges, and ongoing efforts.

Case Study of Bribery Charges

In a shocking incident that brought women's empowerment into the spotlight, the Lokayukta team caught Assistant Engineer Nidhi Mishra taking a bribe of 50 thousand in Ujjain PHE Rural Office. This case is one of many that highlight the challenges women face in a male-dominated workplace, despite laws and policies aimed at protecting their rights.

Women's Achievements and Recognition

Despite the challenges, women in India continue to make significant strides. Ishita Kishore, Garima Lohia, and Uma Harathi N secured the top three positions in a recent academic or professional competition. These achievements serve as a powerful testament to women's capabilities and resilience.

Economic Impact and Gender Disparities

The global crisis has highlighted the precarious situation of many women in India. Women's jobs, companies' earnings, and overall living standards may be more vulnerable to the economic impact due to persisting gender disparities. Many women live alone on low salaries, making them more susceptible to economic instability. This underscores the need for continued support and empowerment measures to ensure women's economic resilience.

Legislative and Constitutional Framework

The Indian Constitution enshrines the principle of gender equality in its Preamble and other Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favor of women. Since the Fifth Five-Year Plan in 1974-78, there has been a marked shift from welfare to development in addressing women's issues.

The National Commission for Women was established in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments of 1993 have provided for the reservation of seats in local bodies, ensuring women's participation in decision-making at the local levels. India has ratified various international conventions, including the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993, to secure equal rights for women.

Governance and Budgetary Allocations

The Government of India has made efforts to gender sensitize the budget through the Women's Component Plan and Gender Responsive Budgeting. The Gender Budget Statement has been published every year since 2005-2006, highlighting allocations for 100 percent women-specific programs and those with at least 30 percent flows to women. This highlights the committed support for women's empowerment across various sectors.

Empowerment Initiatives

A series of government initiatives have been launched to promote women's empowerment in various sectors. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services for the girl child. The Mahila-E-Haat is an online marketing platform that helps women entrepreneurs showcase their products and services. The Mahila Shakti Kendra provides rural women opportunities for skill development, employment, digital literacy, health, and nutrition.

The Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) scheme offers skills training to women for gainful employment and entrepreneurship. It provides training in sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handlooms, tailoring, embroidery, gems and jewellery, travel and tourism, and hospitality. The program aims to empower women with the right competencies through institutional grants.

Conclusion

The journey towards women's empowerment in India is a complex one, involving both significant progress and ongoing challenges. While laws and policies play a crucial role in promoting gender equality, the empowerment of women requires sustained efforts and support across various sectors. By understanding the current landscape, we can better appreciate the journey ahead and the inspiring strides women like Nidhi Mishra, Ishita Kishore, Garima Lohia, and Uma Harathi N have made.