Dr Pankaj Kamal Shankar Kumbhar Mahila Pratishtha ISSN 2454-7891

Volume:6 Issue:1 July – Sept. 2020

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Women Empowerment in India:

A Situational Analysis
Dr Pankaj Kamal Shankar Kumbhar
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Don Bosco College (Affiliated
to Goa University), Panaji-Goa, India. Email:[email protected]

ABSTRACT
Women play an important role in the family and society, but they were
discriminated in all essential areas of life, whether in terms of education,
income, partner choice, inheritance laws, property rights, decision-making
processes, community organization, or access to leadership positions in
education, business, or politics. And hence women empowerment has become
a major task now-a-days. Women Empowerment is nothing but competence
as person with self-respect, rights and responsibilities the progress of any
nation is inevitably linked with social and economic plight of women in that
particular country. The government has been implementing various
programmes through various departments to bring about women’s
development and their empowerment. But due to lack of coordination and
will power it’s remain disempowerment of women. The present paper has
been planned with a view to discuss the situation of women in India and
various women specific programme related to the Empowerment of Women
and to suggest measures for achieving this end.
Key words: Women Empowerment, Women Welfare Programee, Policies,
Situational Analysis

Introduction
Women constitute 48% of the total population and nearby perform two thirds
of the work and produce 50% food commodities consumed. However they
earn one third of the remuneration and own only 10% of the property or
wealth of the country.
According to the world development report 2012, one fifth of the married
women in India are not involved in spending decisions even from their own
income women’s ownership and control of property is far less than their male
counterparts In the 21st century, the country is witnessing a major Women
Upsurge which is the result of the cumulative and interactive effects of the

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sustained efforts of government, the movement of women’s and the civil

society at various fronts over the last two decades. If properly harnessed this
can be very effective and catalytic agent for transforming the social conditions
of women in the country. There are at least two positive indicators of Upsurge
and a negative one, which is indicative of women’s assertion of their rights for
justice, for equality of status and level of empowerment.

Economic growth must be available both to present and future generations. All
people, women, men must be empowered to participate in the decision and
implementation of key decisions that shaped their lives. Human development
is impossible without gender equality. The Asian and Pacific Centre for
Women and Development (APCWD) define “Empowerment as a Process that
aims at creating the conditions for the Self determination of a particular people
at creating the conditions for the self determination of a particular people or
group.
Empowerment with women is the central issue that has been pervading the
development debate after the 80s. Improving their status and empowering
them would go a long way in accomplishing egalitarian gender relations in the
society. While the country is speaking about economic and inclusive growth,
rural areas and agriculture have largely been by passed and ratio of rural to
urban poverty has increased. Some of the marginalized groups in a society that
is already characterized by high level of inequality in opportunities and
segregation along lines of gender, caste, and social status are widely reckoned
to not have benefited from overall growth.

Women’s equality and empowerment are seen as pillars of holistic approach

towards establishing new patterns and process of development. The World
Bank has suggested that empowerment of women should be a key aspect of all
social development programmes.

Data and Method

Present paper is basically descriptive and analytical in nature. Main aim of this
paper is to focus present situation of Women Empowerment in India and
empowerment schemes, participation of women in decision making and
women specific and women centric budgetary allocation for women
empowerment. The statistical and conceptual data used in it is purely from
secondary sources like various reports of the government and papers according
to the need and in the light of the objectives of the study.

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Constitutional Safeguards of Women

The constitution effects social justice in two ways. Firstly, it confers certain
right to men and women (Article 14 to 32) these are called fundamental rights
and can be enforced by the court, secondly directive principles of state policy.

Constitutional Article Rights of Women

Article 14 Equality before the law and equal protection of law
Article 15(1) No Discrimination on the Ground of Religion, Race,
Caste , Sex and Place of Birth
Article 16(1) , Article Prohibits Discrimination on the basis of Sex in Work
16(2) Side
Article 39 (a) Equal Right of Livelihood for Women and Men
Article 39 (b) Equal Pay for Equal Work for both Gender
Article 39(c) Secure Health equally of Women and Men
Article 51 A (e) Dignity of Women

Gender Equality and Present Situation

India’s projected population is 129.02 Crore with 48.59% female population in
2016.Globally 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of physical or
sexual violence in their lifetime. At national level in Indian context only
65.46% women are literate as compared to 82.14% of Men. Enrollment of
Girls in Primary Education 100% but 74.6% women are not enrolled in
Higher Education. Women hold only 11% seats in Lok Sabha but 46% in
Panchayati Raj Institutions. India has 48.5% population of Women but only
27.4% Women are in workforce.

Table No.01
Male and Female Literacy Gap in India
Census Year Persons Male Female Male Female
Literacy Gap
1951 18.33 27.16 8.86 18.30
1961 28.30 40.40 15.35 25.05
1971 34.45 45.96 21.97 23.98
1981 43.57 56.38 29.76 26.62
1991 52.21 64.13 39.29 24.84
2001 64.83 75.26 53.67 21.59
2011 74.04 82.14 65.46 16.88
Source: Census of India 2011

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Table No.02
Gender Parity Index -All India
Education 1990-91 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Primary 0.76 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.98 1.00 1.00
Education
Secondary 0.60 0.79 0.80 0.82 0.85 0.85 0.88
Education
Tertiary 0.54 0.17 0.69 0.69 0.70 0.70 0.74
Education
Source: Ministry of Human Resource Development

Women Empowerment Schemes and Policies

The government has been taken many initiatives and efforts through various
departments to enhance quality and over all development of women. For lack
of an overreaching policy that would have provided a common understanding
and a unified vision, each department has defined and operationalised
empowerment through its own prism and from its own perspective and
understanding. Table No.03 is giving overview of empowerment programmes
of women through the years.
Table No.03
Overview of Women Empowerment Programme
Year Women Empowerment Objectives
Programme
1953 Central Social Welfare To Promote Social Welfare Programmes for
Board (CSWB) Women and Children
1972- Working Women Hostel To Promote availability of safe
1973 accommodation for working women with day
care centre for their children
Development of Women To improve the socio economic status of the
1982- and Children in Rural Rural poor women.
1983 Areas (DWCRA
1986- Support to training and To provide skills that give employability to
1987 Employment Programme women
for Women (STEP)
1993 Rashtriya Mahila Kosh To caters credits needs of poor and asset less
(RMK) women.
1999 Nari Shakti Puraskar To recognize women who have exceeded
expectations to challenge the status quo and
make a lasting contribution to women’s empowerment
2001 National Policy on To bring about the advancement, development
Empowerment of Women and empowerment of women and to eliminate
all forms of discrimination against women.

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2002 SWADHAR For providing holistic and integrated services

to women in difficult circumstances and
without any family, social and economic support.
2006 Rajiv Gandhi National To provide day-care facilities for children (6
Crèche Scheme for the months to 6 years) of working mothers in the
Children of Working community and improve nutrition and health
Mothers status of children.
2010 National Mission for To strengthen inter-sector convergence and
Empowerment of Women facilitate the process of coordination of all
(NMEW) the women’s welfare and socio-economic
development programmes across ministries
and departments
2015 Beti Bachao Beto Padhao To provide education to girls' and their
welfare and celebrate the birth of a girl child.
2015 One Stop Center Scheme To provide support and assistance to women
affected by violence at private or at any public
place, irrespective of caste, class, religion,
region, sexual orientation or marital status
2015 Women Helpline Scheme To provide 24 hour emergency and non-
emergency response to women affected by
violence including sexual offences and
harassment both in public and private sphere,
including e family, community, workplace, etc.
2016 Mahila E-Haat It will help women to make financial and
economic choices which will enable them to
be a part of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Stand Up
India’ initiatives.
2016 UJJWALA Scheme To Provide Clean fuel for cooking to rural
poor women

Table No.04
Women Specific Programme Budget 2020-2021 (100% and 30% Budget Flow)
Item 2018–19 2019–20 2019-2020 2020-2021
Accrual Budget Revised Budget
Estimate Estimates Estimates
Total budgetary allocation to 24,440.07 27,420.03 29,473.52 28,568.32
women specific schemes or
Part A of the GBS (100%)
Total budgetary allocation to 90,766.54 10,9514.07 1,13,339.78 1,14,893.40
women centric schemes or
Part B of the GBS
Gender budget (PartA+B) 1,15,206.61 1,36,934.10 1,42,813.30 1,43,461.72
Total expenditure 23,15,113 27,86,349 26,98,552 30,42,230
Gender budget as a percentage 4.98 4.91 5.29 4.72
of total budgetary expenditure
Source: Ministry of Finance, Budget 2020– 21.

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In financial year 2020202I government allocated Rs. 1, 43,461.72crore for

empowerment of women. Out of which 28,568.32 cores have been allocated to
100% women specific programme as part A of Gender Budget Schemes which
includes Rural Housing (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana), National Widow
Pension Scheme under National Social Assistance Programme, Beti Bachao
Beti Padhao Scheme , UJJWALA Scheme etc. In Part B of Gender Budget
Scheme government allocated Rs. 1,14,893.40 Crore for 30% to less than
100% women specific programme, which includes National Rural Livelihood
Mission-Ajeevika, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme. In spite of this Gender Budget large numbers of women are not
aware about such types of budget made by the government under various
departments for their empowerment and well being. There is urgent need to
make aware about such 100 % budget flow of women specific programme and
30% budgetary flow of Women Centric Programme at gram panchayat level
through special women gram sabhas.

Women’s Participation in Decision Making

Table No.05
Straus of Women in Local Self Government
States/UTs District Block Village Total Total %of
Level Level Level Women Women
Andaman & NI 03 09 70 858 302 35.20
Andhra Pradesh 13 660 12918 156050 78025 50.00
Arunachal 22 177 1785 9383 3658 38.99
Pradesh
Assam 26 191 2201 26820 13410 50.00
Bihar 38 534 8386 127391 57887 45.44
Chandigarh 01 01 1 169 58 34.32
Chhattisgarh 27 146 10978 170285 93287 54.78
Dadar Nagar 01 NA 20 136 47 34.56
Haveli
Daman & Diu 02 NA 15 172 92 53.49
Goa 02 NA 191 1564 516 32.99
Gujarat 33 248 14292 144016 71988 49.99
Haryana 21 126 6197 70035 29499 42.12
Himachal 12 78 3226 28723 14389 50.13
Pradesh
Jammu 22 306 4482 33847 11169 33.00
&Kashmir
Jharkhand 24 263 4370 60782 30757 50.60

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Karnataka 30 176 6021 104967 50892 48.48

Kerala 14 152 941 18372 9630 52.42
Lakshadweep 1 NA 10 110 41 37.27
Madhya 51 313 22817 392981 196490 50.00
Pradesh
Maharashtra 34 351 27870 240122 121490 50.60
Manipur 06 NA 161 1723 868 50.38
Odisha 30 314 6798 3502 828 23.64
Pondicherry NA 1 1098 NA NA
Rajasthan 33 295 9892 124854 70527 56.49
Sikkim 04 NA 185 1096 548 50.00
Tamil Nadu 31 385 12523 117599 39975 33.99
Telangana 09 438 13057 103468 51735 50.00
Tripura 08 35 591 6646 3006 45.23
Uttar Pradesh 75 822 58791 826458 272733 33.00
Uttarakhand 13 95 7762 64606 35957 55.66
West Bengal 22 342 3340 59402 30157 50.77
Total 630 6614 253268 3100804 1375914 44.37
Source: Panachayati Raj Ministry 2018

About one million women entered in panchayats after 73rd constitutional

amendment Act. There are many instances where women have been self
motivated to fight an election. As with most matters of empowerment mere,
political will and articulation of policies will alone not translate in to benefits
for women. As data shows that still majority of the states have not
implemented 50 % reservation policy in local self government accept of West
Bengal, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Manipur, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Daman & Diu,
Chhattisgarh ,Assam and Andhra Pradesh this states have been given equal
representations for women in Panchayati Raj Institution. National average of
representations of women in Panchayat Raj Institution is about 44.37% i.e.
still 5.63% lagging behind.
Table No.06
State Wise Women Participation in State Assemblies:
States/UTs Assembly Term Election Male Female %of
Year Year Women
Andhra Pradesh 1955 14 2019 161 14 08
Arunachal 1978 08 2019 57 03 05
Pradesh
Assam 19371951 14 2016 118 08 06

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Bihar 1937/1951 15 2015 209 34 14

Chandigarh 2000/2003 04 2018 77 13 14
Chhattisgarh 1992/1993 05 2015 64 06 09
Goa 1987/1967 06 2017 38 02 05
Gujarat 1960/1962 12 2017 160 22 12
Haryana 1966/1967 12 2019 81 09 10
Himachal 1971/1951 12 2017 65 03 04
Pradesh
Jammu & 1934/1962 09 2014 85 02 02
Kashmir
Jharkhand 2000/2005 03 2019 71 10 12
Karnataka 1956/1957 13 2018 216 07 03
Kerala 1957 15 2016 132 08 06
Madhya 1957 14 2018 209 21 09
Pradesh
Maharashtra 1960/1962 11 2019 264 24 08
Manipur 1967/1972 11 2017 58 02 03
Meghalaya 1972 10 2018 56 03 05
Mizoram 1987/1972 11 2018 40 00 00
Nagaland 1963/1964 12 2018 59 00 00
Odisha 1937 15 2019 133 13 09
Punjab 1937 14 2017 111 06 05
Pondicherry 1963 13 2016 30 14 00
Rajasthan 1956 14 2018 176 24 12
Sikkim 1975 08 2019 29 03 09
Tamil Nadu 1937 12 2016 218 16 07
Telangana 2014 01 2018 113 06 05
Tripura 1972 11 2018 57 03 05
Uttar Pradesh 1937 16 2017 362 42 10
Uttarakhand 2000 03 2017 66 04 06
West Bengal 1937 16 2016 255 39 13
Total 3759 476 11
Source: Election Commission of India
Still all states are lagging to give equal opportunity for women’s in State
Assemblies. Overall average of women representations of women in State
Assembly is about 11% which is not achieving gender equality goal in
decision making at all.
Table No.07
Women Representation in 17th Lok Sabha
States/UTs Women MPs Total Seats %of Women
Andaman & NI 00 01 00

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Andhra Pradesh 04 25 16
Arunachal Pradesh 00 01 00
Assam 01 14 07
Bihar 03 40 08
Chandigarh 01 01 100
Chhattisgarh 03 11 27
Dadar Nagar Haveli 00 01 00
Daman & Diu 00 01 00
Delhi 01 07 14
Goa 00 02 00
Gujarat 06 26 23
Haryana 01 10 10
Himachal Pradesh 00 04 00
Jammu & Kashmir 00 06 00
Jharkhand 02 14 14
Karnataka 02 28 07
Kerala 1 20 5% 01 20 05
Lakshadweep 00 01 00
Madhya Pradesh 04 29 14
Maharashtra 08 48 17
Manipur 00 02 00
Meghalaya 01 02 50
Mizoram 00 01 00
Nagaland 00 01 00
Odisha 07 21 33
Pondicherry 01 01 00
Punjab 02 13 15
Rajasthan 03 25 12
Sikkim 00 01 00
Tamil Nadu 03 39 08
Telangana 01 17 06
Tripura 01 02 50
Uttar Pradesh 11 80 14
Uttarakhand 01 05 20
West Bengal 11 42 26
Total 78 542 78
Source: Lok Sabha Secretariat As on 3rd January, 2020
Political Participation and Decision Making is one of the core aspect of
Women Empowerment in which women has to take part in decision making
form Panchayat to Parliament. It’s nothing but promote gender equality and
equal opportunity for both gender in decision making process. As we seen
statistical data its clearly shows that out of 36 states only few states have given

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equal opportunity of both gender in political process states includes

Chandigarh, Megalaya and Tripura has given 50 % reservation for the Women
in Lok Sabha. Chandigarh has given 100%. But rests of states have not given
full equal opportunities for Female. Few states even not given at all
representation for the women. One side we are saying that there is need to give
equal opportunity and promote gender equality but other side in practical
especially in decision making process women are neglected. When overall
national level average of women represents in politics 100% then and then
only we can say it is gender equality.

Suggestive Mechanism
 Everyone has to develop Constructive attitude towards women
 Priority should be given to Educational Empowerment of Women
which can be lead social and economic empowerment of women
 Positive Discrimination
 Need to strengthen Capabilities of women through sensitization and
capacity building programme.
 Holistic and Integrated approach has to develop about women
development
 Priority should be given to do situational analysis of women issues and
problems at local level and accordingly need to plan activities for
overall development of the women.
 Need to Enhance Voice of Women in the PRIs
 Need to empower Women Gram Sabhas and raise the voices of women
against the odds.
 Reducing gender gap in Human Capital Development
 Disparities between women and men in earning and productivity to be
narrowed down
 Need to implement Proper Gender Responsive Budgeting for
empowerment of women.
Conclusion
The effective implementation of programmes for women on the lines of
development oriented strategy, consideration of the issues affecting women is
inevitable. Now the government has seriously started thinking about inclusive
development of women and all the development programmes embrace
requirements and concerns of women, so that they do not fall behind in the
race of development. Thus holistic development of women, an inter-sectoral

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approach has to be adopted which will end exploitation and discrimination

against women enabling them to develop their full potential to women lead
development. Women are integral part of the society and play crucial role in
National Progress. Therefore everyone have to give importance to their
outstanding and restless efforts and come forward to achieve Gender Equality
and empower all women’s and Girls in all spheres of their life.

“Although women represent only 50% of the total population, they contribute
75 % to the development of our society while men contribute only 25%”
- Late. Dr. Manibhai Desai

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