empowerment

1. Empowerment
Contemporary Development
(Role of Family, Society and Government)
Submitted To-
Prof.Shalini Agrawal
Prof.Sharmila Khwairakpam
Submitted by-
Ritu Singh
LL.M HUMAN RIGHTS
FIRST SEM

2. Introduction
Empowerment means “developing critical consciousness,” which
makes it possible for the oppressed to move from understanding
to acting,
The many origins and sources of inspiration of the notion of
empowerment can be traced back to such varied domains as
feminism, the Black Power movement, and
Gandhism.Empowerment refers to principles, such as the ability
of individuals and groups to act in order to ensure their own well-
being or their right to participate in decision-making that concerns
them, that have guided research on and social intervention
among poor and marginalized populations

3. The term empowerment refers to a range of activities from individual self-assertion
to collective resistance, protest and mobilization that challenge basic power
relations, a more proactive acknowledgment of gender power relations”
Empowerment is a process that involves individual discovery and change. Most
discus-sions of empowerment speak about it as a gradual forward-moving process.
The Gradual assimilaton of the term from “ Women’s empowerment” to “ The
empowerment of poor” is key tool of contemporary development policies.
It is basically relating to the strengthening of power as -:political
representation and participation, education, employment,reproductive and
sexual health, equality in the justice system, property rights, income
inequality, and the distribution of work.

4. How it can be achieved?
• Establishing mechanisms for women's equal participation and equitable representation at all levels
of the political process and public life in each community and society and enabling women to
articulate their concerns and needs;
• Eliminating all practices that discriminate against women;
• Adopting appropriate measures to improve women's ability to earn income beyond traditional
occupations
• Eliminating violence against women;
• Promoting the fulfilment of women's potential through education, skill development and
employment

5. Role of Family,Society
And Government

6. Role of Family
• Families remain the intrinsic unit within which to effect change, and protect and
empower girls and women.
• Family relationships can either encourage or constrain a girl’s or a woman’s
ability to take advantage of opportunities that are provided through local,
national or international initiatives.
• In many societal contexts around the world, fathers, brothers and husbands
determine the life choices that girls and women are allowed to make.
• Thus, targeting boys and men and educating them about the worth of girls and
women, and encouraging them to promote gender equality in their families, is
critreduc.

7. • Targeting families through educational and economic initiatives, the
social position of girlsand women can be strengthened, and their
vulnerability to discrimination, violence and other harmful practices
can be reduced .

8. Society and Empowerment
• In the past periods, women survived under pressure of society and live life
with discrimination.
• In developing countries or in developing status, dominating male society
offered limited boundary to female for living and their thoughts affected
female image such as weak, less capable.
• But the changing behavior of society encourage woman to prove their image
and potential to discover. the obstacles on girls to getting higher education.
• The process of women empowerment refers to powerful change in society
that creates awareness in society toward the development of them. Society
offer growth path to women to improve their lives in different manner such
as providing education facilities, freedom for mobility etc.

9. • Education is important factor which develop the female skills to go forward.
Developing nature of woman changes scenario of economy and create
competitive environment to prove their self.

10. Role of Government
• The progressive contemporary society is profoundly backed by
the government.
• Both central and state governments of India, vehemently
aspires for a society which is forward-looking, biasfree and
radical thinking.
• Every authority yearns to have a reformist vision.
• A revolutionary enterprise is expected with a tolerant
perspective. Thus different programs and schemes are
lunched by the government to pacify the society from the fiery
discord that recoil the progress towards any unexpected social
catastrophe.

11. The government operating both in pre independence and post independent
phases has also taken necessary steps to introduce new regulations that
reduce the social hostilities towards women. Social issues like inequality in sex
ratio and lower literacy rate are prioritised. These inequalities have compelled
the government to recognise the issue related to women and introduced
different schemes and acts to fight with the atrocities against the women and
uplift their spirit greater opportunity for contribution in country’s economy and
development.

12. Acts in colonial age
Some of the important laws enacted during the British rule includes: -
• Prohibition the Practice of Sati Act, 1850
• Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856
• Female Infanticide Act, 1870
• The Married Women Property Act, 1874
• The Legal Practitioners (Women) Act, 1923
• The Indian Succession Act, 1925
• The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929

13. Post Independence acts
• The Special Marriage Act, 1954
• The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
• The Hindu Succession Act, 1956
• The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• National Commission for Women Act, 1990
• Prohibition of Child marriage Act, 2006
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
• (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

14. Conclusion
India’s journey on women empowerment and gender equality started when
it became a sovereign state in 1947. India where women are identified as
mother goddess indeed shows a paradoxical nature about how a woman is
socially treated. Owing to the references of beliefs and practices from
ancient scriptures, a default patriarchal social system has literally suffocated
the women liberty. However the government andauthorities of modern times
do understand the necessity of alteration of the age old practices. The
ancient beliefs advocating inequality are now literally featured as social
dogmas and prejudice that bars the socio-economical progress.

15. • There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of
women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing, said
Swami Vivekananda. But through centuries, societies in the world over have
been trying to fly on only one wing, denying women their rightful place.