Development and Democracy — Political Science STD 12 Arts — Question

• Empowerment is the act of keeping others to protect one's rights and interests and making oneself self-reliant.
• "Women's Empowerment is the demand for women's participation in all political decision-making bodies, from the Panchayat to Parliament, as well as in the cooperative structure, by making women partners in the formulation and implementation of the decision-making process.
• This empowerment should be done at all levels like social, economic, political, cultural, paramilitary.
• Women empowerment is a process.
• Which prepares women to face their own problems through their own rights.
• Various governments are taking effective measures in the field of women empowerment. In which,

1. Establishment of National Women's Commission: In 1990, Parliament established the "National Women's Commission".
2. Women's Commission: The Women's Commission, established in 1992, gives suggestions to the government for the development and protection of women.

• Under Constitutional Amendments 73 and 74, women were given 33% seats and positions in local government.
• The Gujarat government has increased these seats to 50% in 2015.

3. Announcement of Women Empowerment Policy: In 2001, the Central Government announced this policy for the holistic development of women.

• Emphasis was placed on creating socio-economic environment for women, human rights, health-care-protection, effective justice system.
• The year "Women Empowerment" was celebrated in 2002.
• The government is constantly striving for the upliftment of women.
• However, according to 2011 data, there is a big difference in the number of women and men (only 919 women per 1000 men) and the literacy rate.
• The female literacy rate is 65.46% as against 82.14% for males.
• The above shows that the process of women empowerment needs to be made more intimate.