‘’Women perform 66% of world’s work, produce 50% of the food yet earns 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. Whether the issue is improving education in developing world or fighting global climate change or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is critical part of the equation.’’
Former President, Bill Clinton September 2009
‘’In many countries of the world, women are forced to wear burquas and hijabs. They are treated as sub-humans. Men are still their masters. Half of the population is female and oppressed. Their problems must be solved socially and politically. Sweden ranks as one of the world’s most gender-egalitarian countries based on firm belief that men and women should share power equally. Sweden has a feminist party. India also needs a feminist party much more than Sweden.’’ Tasleema Nasreen
INTRODUCTION
Women empowerment is required for hardship reduction, gender equality and capacity building. Most of the women have no source of livelihood, traditionally do not have any decision making power, bearing multiple responsibilities without any recognition and suffer from deprivation and neglect. The economic empowerment of women is pre-requisite for sustainable development, pro-poor growth, gender equality. Empowered women are catalyst for multiplying development efforts. Women usually invest higher proportion of their earnings on their families and communities than men. Increasing the role of women in the economy is a part of the solution to the financial and economic crises and critical for economic growth. Higher financial growth of female translates into greater investment in children education, health, nutrition which will lead to economic growth in the long run. To promote women’s income generating activities from survival level into strong and viable business, women need access to the full range of credit, banking and financial facilities. Social and political factors have a significant influence on women’s financial independence. These include access to family planning, health care services, completion of post primary education, improving literacy rate of adult women and increasing women’s participation in governance structure and political decision - making. Cultural barriers and discriminatory practices and attitudes need to be properly tackled. More equitable access to assets and services- land, water, technology, innovation, credit and financial services will strengthen women’ s right.
Discussion
Women’s financial independence is prerequisite for sustainable development. Women experience barriers in almost every aspect of work. Employment opportunities need to be improved. Women perform bulk of unpaid care work. This is an arena for greater attention by development actors through increased recognition. Innovative approaches and partnership are needed to scale up women’s financial independence .Financial independence increases women’s access to economic resources and opportunities including job, financial services, property and other productive assets, skill development and market information. Women’s economic participation and empowerment are fundamental for strengthening women’s right and enabling women to have control over their lives and exert influence in the society.
One study reports that in India, GDP could rise by 8% if the female/male ratio of workers increases by 10%. Agricultural input could increase to a large extent if women’s access to agricultural inputs is equal to men. About 48.5% of India’s population is female. India has seen a steady growth of women in its workforce, yet gender inequality in pay, post, promotional opportunities are non- existent. Serious salary gaps between men and women working on same jobs, lack of career advancement opportunities for most of women workers and overall mentality of keeping women away from decision making authority are too common in both private and public sector.
There is severe higher education gap in India. Only 1% of total women have university education. Women account for 1/3 of students at college level due to poverty, social and parental preference, inadequate school facilities, shortage of female teachers, and gender bias in the curriculum.
Most women work in the informal sector. In1991 only 23% of total workers were women. According to CESO perspective women comprise 43% of the global agricultural labour force. 58% of all unpaid works are done by women. Women work more than men 12 to 13 hours per week. Up to 45 % of the poorest women have no say in the decision about how their own income is spent. 38% all registered small business worldwide are owned by women. Globally only 17 % elected officials in national parliament and ministry. According to 4th edition of Delloite Report In 2010, only 7 of 150 elected heads of state in the world were women and 11 of 192 heads of the government o 4According tth edition Delloite report on Women in Boardroom: A Global Perspective
The representation of women on Corporate Boards continues to increase but the number of women leading Board is still low globally. Overall, women now hold 12%seats worldwide with only 4% chairing the Boards.
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Barriers to women employment are purdah -system, caste -system, discrimination at work place, lack of employment opportunities.
Women lead different economic lives -
As farmers- Gender division of labour in rural households force women farmers to grow food crops where men grow cash crops.
As entrepreneur- Women are less productive because they cannot take risks.
As income earners – Women are less earners because they can specialize only certain type of jobs.
As holders of assets – They are less likely to be the formal owner of land or property.
As consumers- they are indecisive because it is man who controls the cash within a household.
A woman may have powered India to glory but in the eyes of law she is not good enough to take charge of her children of their fathers or husbands and be equal in every respect. There is no gender equality in law. According to Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, the father is considered the natural guardian of the child. The women only get custody of an offspring under 5 years of age but without natural guardian status. The father precedes the mother as a natural guardian of the child. This is not just unfair , but also reinforce orthodox gender stereotypes. In the eyes of archaic patriarchal laws , women are still treated as adjunct to men and as unequal second class citizen. It is time for women to derive their identity independent.
Women may have been the matriarch of a large family but on their PAN application she never existed. If anyone has ever studied the form for PAN card or any other official document everyone has noticed one thing they all require the women to provide their father’s name. There is no choice of giving other’s name at all WHY? IS THE FATHER ONLY PARENT OF RELEVANCE? In the eyes of some archaic patriarchal law, women are still treated as unequal second class citizens. It is time for women to derive their identity independent of their fathers, husbands and be equal in every respect.
Women’s traditional reproductive role may restrict them from seizing new opportunities created by Globalization. When women do take up new opportunities they may have to experience tension between their productive and reproductive roles.
Political and economic aspects of globalization affected the rural economy in the following way
More general trends affecting rural women’s livelihoods are the changing nature of specialization brought about by globalization entails that certain economic activities become more attractive and others less so, the effects of these changes on rural women are mediated by gender ethnicity, race and class. Majority of women in rural areas of developing countries are unpaid workers on small land holdings, in animal husbandry and in non-farm enterprises. Contrary to popular perception, rural women are not just involved in the subsistence and non-monetised sector of the economy; they contribute to subsistence as well as to market-oriented production. Yet their diverse roles and contributions often go unrecognized and unmeasured.
Bringing women into the mainstream of the development is a major concern of the government of India. Therefore, year 2001 was declared as’ The Year of Women Empowerment’. Indian Constitution in its Fundamental Rights has provision for equality, social justice and protection of women .These goals are yet to be realized.
In India according to Census 2001, the female labour force participation rated in their population is 25.7%. It is also estimated that invisible housewives’ contribute 1/3 of India’s GNP. Government has launched many Programmes like
Sabala – To help girls of 10-19 years to become self-reliant through vocational training.
Swa shakti-for socio-economic development n empowerment of women through SHGs.
Swayam Siddha—Through formation of SHG
Swawlamban- Women training programme for self-employment.
Swadhar – For relief and rehabilitation of women
In a move towards financial independence of women from Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) and Lower Income Groups(LIG) Government has made a mandatory provision of making the mother or wife to either be sole or co–owner of flats along with beneficiary under the affordable housing scheme. Their names have to be included during registration under the scheme. This provision will be introduced in the Government’s flagship ’Housing for All’ scheme which is being named as Pradhanmantri Awas Yojna PMAY. The provision of ownership of a flat to woman has been included so that they have greater say in domestic affairs. Several states have taken initiative such as reduction in Stamp Duty and electricity bill if house is registered in the name of a woman.
Year 1990 proved landmark year with the start of women SHGS across India, large step towards financial independence and thereby empowerment of women. Why SELF HELF GROUPS because empowering women through financial independence is the aim of self-help group programme. SHG is the brainchild of Grameen Bank of Bangldesh founded by Prof. Mohammad Yunus.
SHGs are small voluntary association of 10-20 rural women from same socio-economic background who work together for the purpose of solving their problems through self help and mutual help. The women organize at the grass root level to find innovative solutions to the specific problems which develop self- esteem, self- reliance and self- confidence among them. The members of the group coming together to save a small amount regularly which are deposited in a common fund to meet members’ emergency needs, to provide collateral free loans decided by the group. SHGs work as an alternative mechanism to meet urgent credit needs of poor. It is a media for developing savings habits among women. It enhances equality of women as participant, decision makers and beneficiaries in the democratic, economic, social and cultural spheres of life.Exet local bodies like NGOS, Government, resource agency and banks are artnered with to ensure long term sustainability of SHGS.
The main activity of SHG is thrift and credit. The SHGs are trained in different vocations and linked with banks to start micro enterprises either in group or individually based on their interest or viability of vocation. SHGs have been engaged in enterprises like mushroom cultivation, poultry, puffed rice processing, goatry, leaf late processing etc. The SHGs promote small savings with a bank among members. The common fund is in the name of SHG. The SHG members have different financial needs which are met through interloaning in the group .the participative process makes the group a responsible borrower. The group uses collective wisdom and peer pressure to ensure proper end use of credit and timely repayment. Micro credit system through SHGs has been particularly targeted to poor women who are often discriminated by both by financial institutions and their own households. Therefore, the provision for loan to women may then serve the dual goal of increasing household wealth and empowering females.The key focus of this programme is to develop the capacity of women collectively and empower them to deal with socio economic aspect of their lives.
SHGs have made lasting impacts on rural women. They developed their skills & abilities in various productive activities. Their income ,savings, consumption increased .Their self- reliance i.e. financial independence increased their self confidence. They become bold and frank. They can carry out any type of official work without fear. Their social horizons broadened. The illiterate and semi –illiterate women got satisfaction by becoming productive and decision taking member of the family. There has been significant decline in gender based problems. Some of them are motivating others to form SHGs. Two way process of women empowered and get empowered are going side by side. The SHGs have achieved success in bringing women to the main stream of decision making.
CONCLUSION
Women are taught to lean on male’s resources. The male in traditional patriarchal household is considered the head of the house. He is considered the breadwinner .He is the provider . Aslong as women remain financial decedent no amount of lobbying and legislating will result in their empowerment
Women may hold up half the sky. No doubt, women are more assertive in today’s modern world. They are successfully earning livelihood and becoming financially independent. Man cannot exploit a financially independent woman. Modern lifestyles, inflation have necessitated women to supplement the family income. In order to assert themselves vis-à-vis men, women have to be economically independent. They cannot continue to live subservient to men.
I conclude with the statement of our former President of India Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil’s lines-
‘Education is the first tool of empowerment. It is only women education that can challenge the traditions such as child- marriage, dowry system, social -injustice and other sorts of discrimination. The participation of women in all spheres of activity is imperative if human race is to realize full potential Just as a bird flies with two wings and a chariot moves on two wheels, a society needs to have men and women who are equally strong and capable’
References-
1. Yadav,C.P.(2000) ‘Empowerment of Women’ ISBN-8126106603,Publisher –Lakshmi Shikshan Sansthan.
2. Uadhyay,H.C. (1991) ‘ Status of Women in India’, Anmol Publication PP35-45
3. Ganesamurthy, V.S.(2007) ‘ India: Economic Empowerment of Women’, New Century Publications- Business and Economics- ISBN- 8177081446, pp81-84
4. Reddy,A.Ranga(2002) , ‘Empowerment of Women and Ecological Development’, Serials Publications, ISBN- 8186771018
