Approaches to Women’s Development

Session 3

DEFINITIONThe manifestation of redistribution of power

that challenges patriarchal ideology and male dominance.

Chandra 1997Process aimed at changing the nature and

direction of systematic forces which marginalize women and other disadvantaged sections in a given context.

Sharma 1992.

Empowerment is probably the totality of the following or similar capabilities:

• Decision-making power of their own• Access to information and resources for

taking proper decision• Having a range of options /choices• Assertiveness in collective decision

making• Positive thinking on the ability to make

change• Ability to learn skills.• Ability to change others’ perceptions by

democratic means.• Involving in the growth process and

changes that is never ending and self-initiated

• Increasing one’s positive self-image and overcoming stigma

PRE-REQUISITES OF EMPOWERMENT

Active participation in social economic and political spheres.

Process of decision making empowerment.

Desired self-respect.Social dignity.Involvement of women in decision making process

LEVELS OF EMPOWERMENTWelfare

Access

Participation

FACILITATING FACTORS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Existence of women's organizations Availability of support systems Availability of women-specific Availability of funds Feminist leadership Networking Favourable media coverage Favourable policy climate.

CONSTRAINING FACTORS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Heavy work load of women.Isolation of women from each other.Illiteracy.Traditional views limit participation.No funds.Disagreements/conflicts among women's

groups.Structural adjustment policies.Negative and sensational coverage of media

ADVANTAGES OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Next generation will be empowered because of her.

If woman will be empowered she will not be a burden on anyone.

Financial burden of man can be shared with her support.

Family can be more strong because of both working hands.

When financial problems will be shared.

RIGHTS OF WOMENThe right to work as a human being.The right to the same employment

opportunities, including application of the same criteria for selection.

The right to free choice of profession and employment, the right to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions of service and right to receive vocational training and retraining.

The right to equal remuneration.The right of social security as well as the

right to paid leave.The right to protection of health and to

safety.

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMENEconomic Empowerment of women

Poverty Eradication by offering them a range of economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities

Micro Credit

Strengthening of existing micro-credit mechanisms and micro-finance institution will be undertaken so that the outreach of credit is enhanced

Women and Economy Their contribution to socio-economic development as producers and workers will be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions should be drawn up.

GlobalizationBenefits of the growing global economy have been unevenly distributed leading to wider economic disparities, increased gender inequality through often deteriorating working conditions and unsafe working environment.

Women and AgricultureConcentrated efforts should be made to ensure that benefits of training, extension and various programmes will reach them in proportion to their numbers.

Women and IndustryComprehensive support in terms

of labour legislation, social security and other support services to participate in various industrial sectors

Support Services Child care facilities for working women, homes for the aged and the disabled women

Social Empowerment of Women Education for womenEqual access to education as men and boys

Healthcare for women

Participation of women in development of science and technology

Nutrition of women

Drinking Water and Sanitation

Housing and Shelter

Environment

Political Empowerment

Recognizing that education and training to acknowledge and accept the glaring gender based bias

Empowering women by increasing awareness regarding the rights of an employee.

Work on the communication skills of womenEncouraging and supporting women

entrepreneurs to develop marketable models of enterprise

Planning educational and training modules for motivating women to take up self- empowerment programmes.

Educating and training women to gainfully engage in markets and institutions.

Publicizing the central role of women in the national economies and celebrating the success stories of women entrepreneurship and women professionalism in every field.

Gender training and sensitization of the current structures of the society represented by the government, non-governmental bodies and private enterprises.

Improving the flow and access of credit and finance for women through financial institutions for female entrepreneurs at the governmental and non-governmental levels.

The access of credit to be financed through collateral for loans.

Building and strengthening networks where women come together from different nations and regions for common goal economic empowerment of women.

Cultural Empowerment of Women There should be a change in the mind set of

society on a fundamental level. Cultural empowerment as such can be achieved only when women are treated as human beings first and foremost

Women in difficultiesFighting against violence and

discrimination

Rights of the Girl Child

Mass Media

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

Goals and objectives:

Advancement and development of women in every walk of life.

Creating an environment through economic and social policies.

Enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom

Equal access to participation and decision making Equal access to women at all levelsStrengthening legal systemsActive participation and involvement of both men

and women. Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the

development process.

Goals and objectives

• Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc.

• Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

• Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of both men and women.

• Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process.

• Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child;

• Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society.

Components Educational empowerment.

Social empowerment.

Women in difficulties

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – ‘Sabla’

Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)The National Mission for Empowerment

of Women Was launched by the Government of India

(GoI) on International Women’s Day in 2010Strengthen the inter-sector convergence;

facilitate the process of coordinating all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across ministries and departments.

Mission Poorna Shakti

Focus Area of the Mission

Access to health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for women .

Coverage of all girls especially those belonging to vulnerable groups in schools from primary to class 12 .

Higher and Professional education for girls/women. Skill development, Micro credit, Vocational

Training, Entrepreneurship, SHG development .Gender sensitization and dissemination of

information. Taking steps to prevent crime against women and

taking steps for a safe environment for women .

Key Strategies of the Mission

Facilitating inter-sector convergence of schemes.

Strengthening institutional framework At policy level commission research, evaluation studies, review schemes, programmes and legislation, and do outcome assessment

Enhance economic empowerment.Evolve with the support of community representatives and groups

Convergence ModelA project to test a model of delivery for

convergent implementation of programmes intended for welfare and development of women.

The women centre at the village level, the first point of contact for women will be known as the Poorna Shakti Kendra (PSK).

Village coordinators at the Kendras would reach out to the women with the motto

"HUM SUNENGE NAARI KI BAAT!"