Women
According to the Census, 2011, the population of women is around 48 % which signifies the importance of empowering women.
Issues faced by Women
- Patriarchal norms and values: It often lead to unequal treatment of women in many areas including education, employment, and access to resources.
- Restricted Mobility: In some areas, women face restrictions on their ability to move freely, which can limit their access to education, healthcare, and employment.
- Economic Dependency: Due to societal norms, many women are dependent on their husbands or families for economic support.
- Inheritance Rights: Despite legal provisions, many women do not have equal inheritance rights as their male counterparts due to deeply rooted social customs.
- Gender inequality: Women often face discrimination and unequal treatment in various aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and political participation.
- Violence against women: Violence against women is a grave concern worldwide that includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, domestic violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage.
- Reproductive health and rights: Issues such as lack of access to reproductive healthcare, inadequate family planning services, maternal mortality, and restrictions on reproductive choices and autonomy pose significant challenges to women's well-being.
- Political underrepresentation: The gender gap in political representation limits women's influence in shaping policies and agendas that affect their lives and rights.
- Social and cultural norms: Practices such as child marriage, dowry, honour killings, and gender-based discrimination reinforce gender roles and limit women's opportunities for personal development and self-expression.
- Health disparities: Women may face specific health challenges and disparities, including reproductive health issues, maternal mortality, limited access to healthcare services, and gender-based violence.
- Intersectionality: Women from marginalized and disadvantaged groups, such as women of colour, indigenous women, LGBTQ+ women, women with disabilities, and migrant women, face additional layers of discrimination and unique challenges due to the intersection of gender with other forms of identity-based discrimination.
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Case Study: Women's Representation in Nagaland: This case study explores women's representation in Nagaland, highlighting achievements in education and empowerment, as well as challenges in political participation. Key Findings:
Women's Political Representation:
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Steps taken by Government for Women Empowerment
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Initiatives and Programs |
Year |
Objective |
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Working Women Hostel |
1972-73 |
Provide safe accommodation and day-care facilities for working women |
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Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women |
1986-87 |
Empower women with skills for gainful employment |
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National Commission of Women |
1992 |
Review constitutional safeguards, recommend measures, assist with grievance redressal, advise on policy matters |
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National health programs |
2005 |
Address maternal healthcare needs through programs like NRHM and Family Welfare Programme |
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National Mission for Empowerment of Women |
2011-12 |
Convergence of schemes and programs to holistically empower women |
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Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Programme |
2012 |
Address anaemia among adolescent girls and boys |
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Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana |
2015 |
Create awareness, improve welfare services, and address declining Child Sex Ratio |
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Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana |
2015 |
Savings scheme specifically for the girl child |
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Mahila-E-Haat |
2016 |
Online marketing platform for women entrepreneurs, SHGs, and NGOs |
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Mahila Shakti Kendra |
2017 |
Empower rural women with skill development, digital literacy, employment, health, and nutrition |
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Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna |
2017 |
Maternity Benefit Programme implemented in sync with the National Food Security Act |
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SWADHAR Greh |
2018 |
Provide basic needs for women in distress |
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Project Stree Swabhiman |
2018 |
Sustainable model for providing affordable sanitary products in rural areas |
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Nari Portal |
2018 |
Mission Mode Project for women empowerment |
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Universalisation of Women Helpline (Dial 181) |
2019 |
Provide 24x7 emergency/non-emergency response to women affected by violence |
Conclusion:
Addressing the issues related to women requires a comprehensive approach involving legal and policy reforms, gender-responsive programming, awareness campaigns, education and empowerment initiatives, and efforts to challenge and change harmful social norms and stereotypes. It is crucial to promote gender equality, women's rights, and ensure equal opportunities for all women to thrive and contribute to society.
