International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages (National Conf. On Vol. 6, Sp.

Issue: 3, March: 2018

st
21 Century: Changing Trends in the Role of Women-Impact on Various Fields) (IJRSML) ISSN: 2321 - 2853

Woman Empowerment- The key to Achieve Social and Economic Growth

of the country
PRIYA DESHPANDE
Asst. Professor, Dr. H. R. Gajwani College of Education – Adipur (Kutchh)
Abstracts and Savitribai Phule and many others have worked hard
Empowerment of woman through education in identifying systems that value women and worked on
brings about changes in the society by way of reduced programs based upon value of gender justice and
child mortality, reduced fertility rates and overall equality. Gender oppressive values that are embedded
increased well being of the whole family. It also within family, religion, education, law, community and
automatically helps in environmental and ecological government are addressed by many social reformers
sustainability. If there is gender equality it will achieve from time to time. All of them were touched by the fact
a good level of peace, social justice and ecological that, women in their community were seen as weak, and
balance along with economic participation of whole were always considered to be in need of their husband
potential population of our country leading to targeted to take their care. Thinkers felt for the fact that women
economic growth. were not seen as capable of living their own lives and
Thus, one can say that, as there is a correlation making important decisions about their own lives.
between increased gender equality and social Fortunately with continuous awareness created by some
development with economic growth, we need to great social worker and activists women themselves
empower women by encouraging and acknowledging have made to find out ways by discussions to achieve
them on all levels of society, the family and community. peace and gender justice. They have now started
True are these beautiful words of wisdom by Mahatma moving side by side with men in every walk of life.
Gandhi, Women are the companion of man, gifted They are academically better and socially more active.
with equal mental capacity. The most significant attribute of women is their
Key words – development, economic, education, emphasis on values such as peace, social justice,
empowerment, employment, equality, gender, social, equality, human rights and ecological stability. These
woman. characteristics are near to impossible if we insist on
Introduction patriarchal societies.
Empowerment is the process of becoming Woman empowerment and economic development-
stronger and more confident, especially in controlling The progress of economic reforms in India is
one’s life and claiming one’s rights. Empowerment followed closely and it has progressed towards free
allows people to overcome obstacles in life or work economy. The World Bank suggests that the most
environment and ultimately helps them develop, within important priorities are public sector reforms,
themselves or in the society. infrastructure, agricultural and rural development,
Woman empowerment and Social Development- removal of labour regulations, reforms in lagging states,
Social development implies to the change in and HIV/AIDS.
social institution’s progress towards an inclusive Indian economy is grown at 7.6 and 7.1 in FY
society. For example, it implies that individuals treat 2015 – 2016 and FY 2016-17 respectively. Major
each other fairly in their daily lives whether in the reforms have been taken place like demonetization and
family, workplace or in public to have a good social implementation of GST in FY 2016-17.The economic
cohesion. It also relates the peaceful and safe growth has shown slow down in 2017-18 and it is
environment within neighborhoods and communities. expected to grow/rebound at 7.4% in 2018-19.
Our History suggested that even before To monitor the expected targeted economic growth the
independence Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal government is expected to tackle the major issues like -
Nehru and Dr. Rajendra Prasad had began to think regulations, public sector, and the major problem of
deeply about the urgent need for woman emancipation. corruption.
After independence, social activists like Jyotiba Phule

178 Print, International, UGC Approved, Reviewed & Indexed Monthly Journal (I.F.4.9_2018) www.raijmr.com
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 International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages (National Conf. On Vol. 6, Sp. Issue: 3, March: 2018
st
21 Century: Changing Trends in the Role of Women-Impact on Various Fields) (IJRSML) ISSN: 2321 - 2853
Corruption in many forms has been one of the degradation. Women have the most important attribute
pervasive problems affecting India. For decades the red of being responsible in their duties.
tape bureaucracy and the License Raj had strangled Observations-
private enterprise. The economic reforms of 1991 have Empowering woman to facilitate their
cut some of the worst regulations that had been used in employment has resulted in remarkable changing trends
corruption. Corruption is still large. The TI India study in the overall role of women in 21st Century. The action
estimates the monitory value of petty corruption in 11 plans for violence prevention and gender equality in the
basic services provided by the government, like society in urban areas has resulted in positive impact on
education, health care, judiciary, police, etc. to be our economy too.
around Rs. 211 billion. The social change in this regard has helped
Another important aspect is India’s labour women to prove themselves successful in various areas.
force, which is growing by 2.5% every year, but They have occupied top ranks in all fields such as
employment is growing only at 2.3% a year. Official sports, politics, performing arts, police, administration,
unemployment exceeds 9%. Almost 30% workers are medicine, scientific research as well as space and many
casual workers who work only when they are able to get more. They are driving trains, aeroplanes and fighter
jobs and remain unpaid for the rest of the time. Only planes independently. They have proved to be the best
10% of the work force is in regular environment. administrators who are actively taking efforts to create
From the overall stock of an estimated 458 corruption free working environment which is must for
million workers, 394 million (86%) operate in the our developing economy.
unorganized sector.(of which 63% are self employed) The examples of Indira Nooyi, Chandra Kocher, Kiran
mostly as informal workers. There is a strong Bedi, Saina Nehwal, P.T. Usha, Kalpana Chawla, all
relationship between the quality of employment and inspire us. They are the proof that woman have started
social characteristics. Present government is marching side by side with men in every work of life.
continuously doing an effort to create more job avenues They are definitely proving to be academically better
in manufacturing sector which can deal with the and socially more active most importantly they are
problem of unemployment. successful in proving their worth towards the social
Children under 14 constitute 3.6% of the total transformation and building of the nation. All of them
labour force in the country. Child labour is a complex give credit of this to their upbringing, the environment
problem that is basically rooted in poverty. The Indian around them and of course the continuous support and
government is implementing the world’s largest child motivation of the family. All the above mentioned and
labour elimination program, with primary education many more women have proved that, women are very
targeted for ~250 million. responsible, better at multitasking, sincere and better at
Environmental degradation is another aspect to worry selfless corruption free service. This shows that, if
for. The major concern is ecological imbalance leading women are empowered, they can become a solution
to changes in biodiversity, Energy crises and rapid for the major challenges for both economic as well
increase in water borne diseases. The untreated water is as social development.
used for drinking, bathing and washing because of The serious matter of concern is, although there
partial water treatment facilities. is a change in the way our women are treated, still in
In areas where people cook with fuel wood and some traditional societies and specially in the rural
coal over open fires, more than 4 billion people suffer areas, women are not effectively taking part in the
continuous exposure to smoke. In India, particulate social and economic development of our country. In
concentrations in houses are reported to range from some parts of our country women are still treated as
8300 to 15000 micro gram per mt3. second class citizens. Now also in some families
To tackle with the issue of poverty, Indian women’s role is only to nurture the family. Still people
Government is continuously putting efforts to are not able to understand the fact that in this era of
encourage Women employment. It is strongly believed automation, women are not required to do only the
that, communities where woman have empowered have household jobs. We are just simply wasting a great
a higher social capital. Woman promote corruption free amount of talent pool which would otherwise be
environment and can also solve the problem of child effective in the development of community, society,
labour by increasing the earnings for the family. and economy. We still face many issues of women in
Women are better placed at resource management many parts of the country. Unless we continue to work
which can minimse the problem of environmental
179 Print, International, UGC Approved, Reviewed & Indexed Monthly Journal (I.F.4.9_2018) www.raijmr.com
RET Academy for International Journals of Multidisciplinary Research (RAIJMR)
 International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages (National Conf. On Vol. 6, Sp. Issue: 3, March: 2018
st
21 Century: Changing Trends in the Role of Women-Impact on Various Fields) (IJRSML) ISSN: 2321 - 2853
hard for achieving proper social development we cannot woman empowerment, government needs to work
achieve the targeted economic development. aggressively for-
Suggested Future plan- 1) Better access to educational opportunities in rural
It is important to note that, Sustainable areas as 70% population lives in the rural areas. As both
Development goals target gender equality and the sexes require teachings in the aspect of gender
woman’s empowerment for the global development equality, formal education can specifically change the
agenda. mindset of students at proper age.
The formal institutional reforms have to be Better use and implementation of value education books
consistently helping by way of provisions of enshrined can also prove to be an effective option.
legal rights, better law enforcement or more 2) Better use of e-education, to give equal opportunity
participatory governance. This will bring changes in the for both sexes in an efficient and equitable manner in all
way people relate to people irrespective of gender. We the parts of the country can prove to be helpful.
have to bring changes and encourage the changes This is important as poverty puts the girl child at a
overtime and compare them globally. greater disadvantage, so better educational facilities
Effectiveness of woman empowerment for made accessible in the remote areas may prove to
the families and societies as a whole can be reduce cost on education for economically unprivileged
highlighted and explained to the people as follows - girls which will naturally empower them.
i) Woman empowerment strengthens families --Two Conclusion –
incomes for the family is a lot more robust and better If we can harness these attributes effectively for woman
option to handle problems. If only the man works and empowerment, India’s growth will become more
then he becomes unemployed, it’s a disaster but if inclusive and women will be able to contribute to all
both work and one of them becomes unemployed the sectors of life to the fullest extent of their abilities. Most
situation becomes easier to handle. importantly, this will make us successful in engaging
ii) Woman empowerment ensures that the best our much neglected 50% population to the full capacity.
qualified people can do the jobs irrespective of Think, is it not a step towards better economic
gender--- This can help us to get better performance development.
and thus the predictable result. We need to accept the fact that, woman who makes up
iii) Political empowerment of woman ensures that half of our society are if only relegated to the kitchen
more voices are heard--The society works best when we won’t be able to develop at better and faster rate.
everyone is heard. The best part is, once we educate and empower one
iv) Woman empowerment gives women necessary woman, we set off a chain reaction that transforms the
freedom --If the women are economically self- life of her family and the community she lives in.
sufficient there is increase in the amount they spend on Lastly I would like to conclude that, all successful
purchasing products and services , which is good for woman give credit to education and upbringing which
economy. helped them instill a strong sense of self-belief and a
v) Woman empowerment can free women from “never –say-die” attitude.
torture or victimization---Most important is, it gives By investing in woman and their education we are
woman the power to leave dysfunctional or abusive thus investing in our present and in future so as to
relationships. In the absence of empowerment many achieve our targeted social and economic goals.
woman feel they have no choice but to remain married References
even if the marriage is unhappy or abusive one. 1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_develop
vii) Empowerment of woman makes the society safer ment_in_India?wprov=sfla1
and more peaceful.-- Research has shown that, mixed 2. https://www.ndtv.com/business/gdp-growth-rises-to-
groups of people with reasonable gender representation 7-2-india-regains-fastest-growing-title-
tend to be more harmonious and have less conflicts than from-china-1818229
groups dominated by one gender, most important is it 3. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/quotes-
improves efficiency and thus productivity. on-women-at-work/
Along with the general awareness of the people 4. https://www.importantindia.com/16693/economic-
and changing their attitude in positive direction for growth-and-development-in-india/

180 Print, International, UGC Approved, Reviewed & Indexed Monthly Journal (I.F.4.9_2018) www.raijmr.com
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