1) Three studies examined the empowerment of rural women in India through self-help groups, political participation, and a government program called Stree Shakti. 2) The studies found high levels of agreement among women leaders that political participation and development programs help empower women. 3) Self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh were effective at empowering women economically and improving their status through increased savings, loans, and independence. 4) The Stree Shakti program in Tumkur district increased women's awareness, participation in group activities, and financial benefits from cattle rearing, goat rearing, and other small businesses.

1. 1

2. 2
EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN IN
INDIA

3. 3
“If you want to plan for a year plant
wheat,
if you wish to plan for ten years grow
trees but,
if you want to plan for 100 years
empower women”.
INTRODUCTION

4. 4
OBJECTIVES
 To understand the concept of Empowerment
 To understand the areas of Empowerment
 To review some of the programmes related to women
Empowerment
 Research evidence related to empowerment of women

5. 5
DEFINITION OF EMPOWERMENT
Oxford dictionary:
Empower is “Give power to; Make able to”
“Give strength and confidence to”
Acc. to Jaya Indiresan(1999),
Empowerment is a process which helps people gain
control of their lives through raising awareness, taking
action and working in order to exercise greater control.

6. 6
DEFINITION OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
The improvement of status of women in the family,
in the community and in the society as a whole.
Acc. to UN:
“Investigating in women’s capabilities and
empowering them to exercise their choices is not only
valuable in itself but is also the surest way to contribute
the economic growth and overall development.”

7. 7
STATUS OF WOMEN
“Is a barometer of the
democratism of any state,
an indicator of how human
rights are respected in it’’
Mikhail Gorbachev

8. 8
• Total female population is 48.28%
• Lower sex ratio i.e. 933
• Perform nearly 2/3rd of its work hours, receive 1/10th of the world’s
income
• The value of women’s unpaid house work and community work is
estimated as 35 per cent of GDP world wide.
• Own’s less than 1/100th of the world property
• 70% of people living in poverty are women
• Out of world’s 27 million refugees 75-80% are women and children

9. 9
WOMEN LITERACY IN PRE-
INDEPENDENT INDIA
Year % of
literacy
1881 0.2
1901 0.69
1911 1.05
1921 1.81
1931 2.93
1941 6.0

10. 10
WOMEN LITERACY IN POST-
INDEPENDENT INDIA
Year % of literacy
1951 7.93
1961 12.95
1971 18.72
1981 24.82
1991 39.29
2001 54.16
Source: Census of India 2001

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RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN
LITERACY
Rural women
literacy
Urban women
literacy
Year Literacy
rate(%)
Year Literacy
rate(%)
1961 9.10 1961 37.4
1971 13.08 1971 42.05
1981 17.96 1981 47.82
1991 24.6 1991 53.7
2001 31.6 2001 54.01

12. 12
WOMEN-MEN DISPARITY INDEX
Women-men = % literate in women X100
disparity index % literate in men
Year Men Women Women-men
Disparity Index
1951 27.16 8.86 32.62
1961 34.4 13.0 37.95
1971 39.5 18.7 48.19
1981 46.9 24.8 52.83
1991 52.8 32.1 61.27
2001 72.85 54.16 71.3

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GENERAL STATISTICS ABOUT
WOMEN IN KARNATAKA
No. of seats reserved for women:
a) Grama Panchayats - 35922
b) Taluk Panchayats -1375
c) Zilla Panchayats - 339
Total Number of members elected in Karnataka :
Legislative Assembly - 223
Legislative Council - 72
Number of women members elected in Karnataka:
Legislative Assembly - 6
Legislative Council - 8

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Total Number of members elected in Parliament:
Lok Sabha - 28
Rajya Sabha - 12
Number of women members elected from Karnataka:
Lok Sabha - 1
Rajya Sabha - 1

15. 15
WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING POSITION IN PRIs
State % Women IN GP
Chair person
% Women IN TP
Chair person
% Women IN ZP
Chair person
AP - 33.76 30
HP 36.62 31.94 33
Karnataka 33.3 33.71 35
MP 38.66 26.80 38
UP 33.81 41.29 30
West Bengal 4.62 3 0
India 40.10 33.75 32

16. INDICATORS Of WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
Qualitative indicators
• Self-confidence
• Awareness about policies and programmes
• Physical mobility
• Member of organization
• Attitude towards participation in politics
• Access to resources
• Access to information

17. Quantitative indicators
• Improvement in literacy
• Increase in age at marriage
• Becoming benificiaries of development programmes
• Becoming member of political party
• Visible changes in nutritional status

18. 18
Educational
Empowerment
Empowering women with the knowledge, skills and
confidence necessary to participate fully in the development
process.
When you educate a man, You educate an individual but when you educate a
women, You educate a whole family.
Melver (1994)

19. 19
IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN
EDUCATION
• Creates self confidence and awareness
• Helps in modernization
• Reduce inequality in society
• Improves social status
• Helps to lead desired quality of life
• Helps to develop knowledge, skills, values and attitudes.
• Helps in understanding their social responsibilities and
participate in mainstream of national life.

20. 20
Educational empowerment is ensured
through
• Mahila Samakya
• Sarva shiksha abhiyan
• Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas
• Mid day meal Scheme
• Kasturba Gandhi Swatantrata Vidyalaya

21. 21
Social
Empowerment
Equality of treatment, equality of respect,
equality of opportunity, equality of
recognition and above all equality of status.

22. 22
Social empowerment has been
theoretically provided by,
• The family courts Act, 1954
• Widow remarriage Act, 1956
• The Hindu Succession Act,1956
• The maternity benefits Act, 1961
• Dowry prohibition Act, 1961

23. 23
Cont…
• The equal remuneration act, 1976
• The child marriage restraint act, 1979
• The indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act,
1986
• The commission of Sati (prevention) Act 1988
• The domestic violence Act,2005

24. 24
ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT
Empowering women with economically productive work
will enhance their contribution to Agriculture
development.

25. 25
Economic empowerment is ensured
through
• Women’s Economic programme (WEP)1982-83
• Socio-Economic programme
• The rural women’s development and empower project.
(SWA-SHAKTI),1998
• National Rural employment guarantee act, (2005)

26. 26
Technological
Empowerment

27. 27
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGIES FOR
FARM WOMEN: SAMANTA(1995)
1. Improving farm women’s productivity/work
efficiency
2. Increasing their income generating capabilities
3. Increasing their employment opportunities
4. Reducing the drudgery and health hazards in
working for farm women.

28. 28
Technological Empowerment is ensured
through
• Capacity Building
• Exposure to mass media
• Appropriate training programme
• Appropriate technology for women

29. 29
Political
Empowerment
Political empowerment of women is basically to
create more consciousness, among women and to strike
a greater gender balance in the decision making.

30. 30
Political empowerment is ensured
through ……
• Quota system to women in the legislative bodies
• 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment
• 81stconstitutional amendment
• 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies

31. 31
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
• Article 14; - All Indian women equality before law
• Article 15(1); - No discrimination by the state
• Article 15(3); - Special provision for women
• Article 16; Equality of opportunity
• Article 39(a); policy to be diverted to securing for men and
women equally.
• Article 39(d); Equal pay for equal work
• Article 243D(3), 243D(4), 243T(3), 243T(4)

32. 32
FIVE YEAR PLANS IMPLEMENTED BY
GOVERNMENT:
5th Five Year Plan(1974-79):
• Women’s productivity role
• Contribution & efforts in economy was recognized
6th Five Year Plan(1980-85):
• Emphasis on health, education & employment
7th Five Year Plan(1985-1990):
• Equality & empowerment
• Awareness about rights & privileges for National development

33. 33
Cont….
8th Five Year Plan(1992-1997):
• Participation in local Govt. & decision making
• Eliminate discrimination
• Emphasized women to function as equal partners in development
process
9th Five Year Plan(1997-2002):
• Empowerment of Women
• Preparation of component plan in every sector of development
10th Five Year Plan(2002-07):
• Funds for women
• Mandatory registration of assets in joint names of husband & wife

34. 34
PROGRAMMES MEANT FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN
1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
2. Women and Youth Training Extension Project (WYTEP)
3. Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)
4. Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
5. Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture (TANWA)
6. Stree Shakti
7. Stree Seva Samiti (SSS)

35. 35
IRDP: 1978-79
• Eradication of poverty from rural areas
• Removal of unemployment
• Eradication of inequality
• Utilization of local resources
• Integration & establishing of linkages b/w departments
• Creation of durable community assets
• Improving of living condition

36. 36
WYTEP: 1982
• To promote growth rate in Agriculture & to
strengthen farm women’s position
• To secure full utilization of women’s potential in
Agriculture

37. 37
DWCRA: 1982
• To improve the quality of life of women and children
• To involve them in hygienic environment, clean drinking
water
• To provide opportunity for income generating activities
• Self-sustenance

38. 38
TANWA: 1986
• Increase agricultural productivity, improve economic & food
security
• Enable women farmer to choose & adopt agricultural
technology & practices
• Disseminate agricultural knowledge & skill
• Improve women’s access & ability to use existing agricultural
services.

39. 39
SGSY: 1999
• To bring the assisted poor families above poverty
line
• Focus on 40% women, 50% SC ST & 3% disabled.
STREE SHAKTI: 2000-01
• Strengthening the process to achieve financial
progress & social status of women
• Forming 1 lakh SHG’s to build self confidence
• Increasing the income of poor women
• Channelizing various departments in one direction

40. 40
Stree Seva Samiti (SSS)
• Provide employment to rural women
• Empower the rural women
• Provide skills training for alternate employment
• Encourage the target population

41. 41
Non Government Organizations (NGOs)
in rural women development
• Bihar Rural Livelihood promotion project (BRLP)
• National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (NAYE)
• World Assembly of Small And Medium Entrepreneurs (WASME)
• Xavier Institute Of Social Studies (XISS)
• Self Employment Womens’ Association (SEWA) of Ahmedabad
• Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka (AWAKE)
• Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute
(RUDSETIs)

42. 42
Financial institutions supporting rural
women
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)
• National Agriculture Bank for Rural Development
(NABARD)
• Small Industries Development of India (SIDBI)
• Council for Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural
Technology (CAPART)
• Development banks for women entrepreneurs in small
scale and tiny sector

43. 43
RESEARCH
EVIDENCES

44. 44
Case 1:
Opinion of Women leaders towards Political
participation and development programmes
(Govinda gowda and Lakshmi Narayan, 2000)
Objective:
To elicit the opinion of women leaders of Panchayat Raj Institutions
towards political participation of women and developmental
programmes.
Area selected:
Bangalore Rural District- Doddaballapura
Kanakapura
Nelamangala

45. 45
OPINION OF WOMEN LEADERS ON
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
Statements
Women leaders
agree disagree
No. % No. %
Political participation helps women to come
out of age old barriers.
250 100 - -
Women in politics can know more about the
world around them.
250 100 - -
Women in politics can know better the
problems of other women in society
250 100 - -
Politically active women can strive better for
overcoming women problems
250 100 - -
Reservation for women in politics is a must
for their equality status
250 100 - -

46. 46
OPINION OF WOMEN LEADERS ON
DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES
Statements
Women leaders
agree disagree
No. % No. %
Adoption of family planning is not a sin 250 100 - -
Development assistance makes people self-reliant 250 100 - -
Special programmes for women and children
promote equality
250 100 - -
Development programmes based on local needs
yield better results
250 100 - -
Women with good exposure to development
programmes contribute better for social progress
250 100 - -

47. 47
Empowerment of rural women in self help
groups in Prakasam district of Andhra
Pradesh – An analysis
0.Sarada (2001)
Case 2

48. 48
Distribution of women in self-help groups
based on their level of empowerment
Class Category Percentage
I. Process
empowerment
Low
Medium
High
30.00
31.70
38.30
II. Product
empowerment
Low
Medium
High
35.00
29.20
35.80
III. Overall
empowerment
Low
Medium
High
33.30
29.20
37.50

49. 49
Distribution of self help groups
according to the motives to form into groups
Sl.N
o
Reason Frequency %
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
For future savings
For getting loan at cheaper interests
To become economically independent
To overcome financial problems
To solve the problems collectively
For improving skills
To avoid the conflicts among neighbours
23
17
13
12
7
6
2
95.8
70.8
54.2
50.00
29.2
25
8.3
n=24

50. 50
Case-3
Impact of Stree Shakti Programme on
Farm Women in Tumkur District
Chetana 2005

51. 51
AWARENESS LEVEL OF BENEFICIARIES OF
STREE SHAKTI PROGRAMME
Awareness
level
Category No. %
Partially
aware
Reasonably
aware
Fully aware
<71.37
71.37-79.99
>79.99
36
41
43
30.00
34.17
35.83

52. 52
Participation of beneficiaries in group
activities and various programmes conducted for
benefit of stree shakti group members
Extent of
participation
Category No. %
Low <63.38 40 33.33
Medium 63.38-72.86 45 37.50
High >72.86 35 29.17

53. 53
Benefits derived by the beneficiaries
of stree shakti group
Category No. %
Improvement in financial
condition
118 98.33
Betterment in social status 118 98.33

54. 54
Subsidiary occupation of beneficiaries
of stree shakti groups
Activities Frequency %
Cattle rearing
Goat rearing
Piggery
Agarbathi making
Papad making
Leaf plate making
62
38
7
5
4
4
51.67
31.67
5.83
4.17
3.33
3.33

55. 55
Improvement in financial position of
stree shakti group till march 2005
Activity
undertaken
Avg
loan
availed
Avg net
income
generated
Cattle rearing
Goat rearing
Piggery
Agarbathi
making
Papad making
8160
2100
8500
1800
1600
1250
12698
4200
18000
2000
2300
1650

56. 56
Extent of saving generated by members
till march 2005
Saving amount No. %
Rs. 500-1000
Rs.1000-1500
Rs.1500-2000
Total.
50
60
10
120
41.67
50.00
8.33
100.00

57. 57
Nature of betterment in social status
of stree shakti group members
Category No. %
1.Developed courage to communicate
with men
2.Learnt to perform bank transactions
3.Involved in decision making at home
4.Self-confidence to travel outside the
village
5.Learn to sign
6.Got house repaired
7.Motivated self to continue education
115
89
82
65
15
45
30
95.63
74.16
68.33
54.16
12.50
37.50
25.00

58. 58
Study on extent of farm women
empowerment in Chitradurga District of
Karnataka
Pushpa . P (2009)
Case 4

59. 59
The extent of farm women empowerment in
different taluks of Karnataka state
Taluks Mean
Chitradurga 58.30
challakere 48.52
Hosadurga 47.16
Overall 51.33

60. 60
Case 5
Impact of Stree Shakthi Programme (SSP)
In Chitradurga district of Karnataka- A Study
Dhananjaya, N.P.
(2009)

61. 61
Sl.No Activity Number Percent Average
income (Rs)
1 Dairy 110 91.67 10,000
2 Agriculture 100 83.34 11,285
3 NREGA
works
60 50.00 7,000
4 Agril. Wages 40 33.34 5,000
Impact of income generation and utilization
pattern of SSP on SSG beneficiaries

62. 62
New things learnt after becoming member
of SSG
Sl.
No
Channels Number Percent
1 Accounting 110 91.67
2 Book keeping 105 87.50
3 Leadership development 100 83.34
4 Decision making ability 85 70.84

63. 63
Conclusion
Empowering women is a prerequisite
for creating a good nation , when women
are empowered, society with stability is
assured and it lead the development of a
good Family, good society and ultimately a
good nation
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

64. 64
CONCLUSION
Thank you