Are Women Empowering India????

"When women are the advisor, the Lords of creation don't take the advice till they have persuaded themselves that it is just what they intended to do; then they act upon it and if it succeeds, they give the weaker vessel half the credit of it; if fails, they generously give herself the whole"

          - Louisa May Alcott

 India today is at the peak of a progressive change in its growth and its position in the world. We (both men and women) must act accordingly to capture this opportunity. We need to think big and work up rapidly in each and every area, be it education, infrastructure, industry, financial services or equality of both genders. For around two centuries, social reformers and missionaries in India have tried to bring women out of shell in which centuries of traditions had kept them. According to the 2001 Census, the percentage of female literacy in the country is 54% up from 9% 1951.

But we should not forget that history in a witness to the women who have in the past demonstrated unique leadership capabilities. Razia Sultana, Rani of Jhansi, Sarojini Naidu and Indira Gandhi are motivation examples of women empowerment. Earlier, most women were able to captivate the leadership qualities only on their home, as in Indian society has always been patriarchal in nature and the decision regarding the issue of empowering women has always been taken by him. 

God has gifted women with compassion, tender-heartedness, caring nature, concern for others. These are very positive signs which imply that women can be leaders. Though some women have shown their stand yet a large number of them have to sharpen their leadership qualities in various ways. In order to help women to be in growth, they need to be empowered. Therefore, empowerment of women is important to transform a developing country into a developed country.

Most men view themselves as being the superior life-form in society. They justify this belief by saying that they are stronger and more capable; thus, making them more qualified for the more important roles in society. they place themselves on higher level and force women to believe in their own inferiority to men and their incapability to excel educationally, politically, economically and domestically. But the truth is that women have advanced in all those areas.

But what does women empowerment mean?

Women empowerment means women's sense of self worth; right to have the power of control their own lives, both within and outside home; and their ability to influence and bring about social change nationally and globally.

Educational involvement is the key factor in ensuring the empowerment of women. Educational involvement is essential for empowering women in all aspects of society, for without quality education given to boys and men, women will be able to have access to well-paid formal sector jobs and advance with men.  Empowering women enhances their ability to influence changes and to create a better society. It is known that when a boy is educated, only an individual becomes educated and when a girl is educated then other 100 people becomes educated.

Other than education, changes in women's social interaction in household decision-making are necessary. Slight improvement in women's involvement in household decision-making in patriarchal household, on such issues as children's education and family healthcare can be bettered.Traditionally, gender based divisions persisted in household decision-making. Women basically decide on food preparation and men make the financial decision. Women are one of the greatest assets in our society. They equal to men in all aspects.

Today, women are emerging as leaders in growing range of fields. be it aeronautics, medicine, space, engineering, law, politics, education, business...you just name the profession and they are there, all that needed in today's world in their empowerment.

In India, the empowerment process has already begun. We are now witnessing a steady improvement in the enrollment of women in schools, colleges and even in profession institutes.

Women should remember that they are also free, intelligent and thinking human beings. Dependent women are not empowered women. Empowerment means to inspire women with the courage to be free from the chains, patterns and societal or religious conditions that have traditionally kept women suppressed and unable to realize their power.

It is a wake-up call for women to awake and understand the true meaning of their empowerment.

 "Women as the motherhood of the nation should be strong, aware and alert"