PROJECT REPORT

On

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

By

Ms. Stuti & Ms. Ila Sharma

Under the guidance ofPrincipal

Ms. Sangeeta Nistandra

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1) OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

What is women empowerment?

 Women Empowerment refers to strengthening the social, economic and educational powers of women. It refers to an environment where there is no gender bias and have equal rights in community, society and workplaces.

2) INTRODUCTION

What is the meaning of Women Empowerment?

Women Empowerment refers to the creation of an environment for women where they can make decisions of their own for their personal benefits as well as for the society.

Women Empowerment refers to increasing and improving the social, economic, political and legal strength of the women, to ensure equal-right to women, and to make them confident enough to claim their rights, such as:

freely live their life with a sense of self-worth, respect and dignity, have complete control of their life, both within and outside of their

home and workplace, to make their own choices and decisions, have equal rights to participate in social, religious and public

activities, have equal social status in the society, have equal rights for social and economic justice, determine financial and economic choices,

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get equal opportunity for education, get equal employment opportunity without any gender bias, get safe and comfortable working environment,

Women have the rights to get their voices heard.

3) THE NEED OF THE PROJECT

Why Women Empowerment is Important?

1. Under-employed and unemployed: Women population constitutes around 50% of the world population. A large number of women around the world are unemployed. The world economy suffers a lot because of the unequal opportunity for women at workplaces.

2. Equally competent and intelligent: Women are equally competent. Nowadays, women are even ahead of men in many socio-economic activities.

3. Talented: Women are as talented as men. Previously, women were not allowed higher education like men and hence their talents were wasted. But nowadays, they are also allowed to go for higher studies and it encourages women to show their talents which will not only benefit her individually but to the whole world at large.

4. Overall development of society: The main advantage of Women Empowerment is that there will be an overall development of the society. The money that women earn does not only help them and or their family, but it also help develop the society.

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5. Economic Benefits: Women Empowerment also leads to more economic benefits not to the individuals but to the society as well. Unlike earlier days when they stayed at home only and do only kitchen stuffs, nowadays, they roam outside and also earns money like the male members of the society. Women empowerment helps women to stand on their own legs, become independent and also to earn for their family which grows country’s economy.

6. Reduction in domestic violence: Women Empowerment leads to decrease in domestic violence. Uneducated women are at higher risk for domestic violence than an educated women.

7. Reduction in corruption: Women Empowerment is also advantageous in case of corruption. Women empowerment helps women to get educated and know their rights and duties and hence can stop corruption.

8. Reduce Poverty: Women Empowerment also reduces poverty. Sometimes, the money earned by the male member of the family is not sufficient to meet the demands of the family. The added earnings of women helps the family to come out of poverty trap.

9. National Development: Women are increasingly participating in the national development process. They are making the nation proud by their outstanding performances almost every spheres including medical science, social service, engineering, etc.

10. Irreplaceable in some sectors: Women are considered irreplaceable for certain jobs.

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4) HOW TO EMPOWER WOMEN

To “empower women” means to authorize power or increase the overall position, status and condition of women in every spheres of life.

Empowerment of Women would result in better and more developed society. When women contribute equally along with men for the benefit of society, the world would surely become a better place to live.

Today more and more females is studying in schools and colleges and also go abroad for higher studies. Women are increasing commanding better position in the society.

There are several ways to empower women; some of them are discussed below:

1. Create safe workplaces: Women can be empowered through the creation of safe working environment.  The workplaces should be safe for the female members of the society. People will like to send their daughters and wives to work if they are assured of safe environment at workplaces.

2. Women education: By educating women, economy of the country increases. It has been seen from the last few decades that involvement of educated women in various activities help the country to move towards economic and social development.

Female education also contribute towards health and well-being of

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the family.By getting education, women also contribute to the national income of the country.They can afford to offer quality nutrition to their children.Educated women are considered active in politics as well.They know their rights and are able to defend themselves better.

3. Raise voice against gender inequality: Women can be empowered by decreasing the gender inequalities or disparities in all sectors of the society especially in education sectors.

4. Job skills (Vocational training): Proper training should be provided to women’s for better results.

5. Create more part-time job opportunities: There should be greater number of part-time job opportunities. In India, mostly women are housewives so they do not get any opportunity for full-time work. Hence, more part-time and flexible jobs should be created so that more and more women get engaged into commercial activities.

5) IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN OUR SOCIETY

Women who were the most dormant segment of India population have now become active participants in all walks of life. Till now, they were only unit of the family organization. Now, women are becoming not only a significant unit of the society but also influencing the course of social change in society.

Women are an important element of our Society. The modern

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society has started recognizing the individual identity of women. She is believed to have her aspiration, abilities and qualities as a man does have and it is also agreed that she should have the opportunities to develop her faculties and to express them according to her own choice.

Women can help the society in various ways. They can engage in social activities and work for the betterment of the society.

Young educated girls can get engaged in a profession of her choice. We need more doctors, engineers, software developers, and social workers. The world cannot grow at good pace unless women come forward and take initiative for the development works.

They can contribute enormously in the field of health care. Women education will also improve the level of sanitation and hygiene.

As a mother, her role in the development of the emotional psychological aspect of the new born child has been also very significant. She was not only the creator and maintainer of her child but an educator and disciplinarian as well.

The woman is now an important instrument of social change. The extent of woman’s participation in the corporate life is thus the measure of social change in India.

Women’s interest and participation in social life is increasing. This development is also the result of women’s education and secularization of social values. Women are participating in social organizations and are developing taste for leading a life of social

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involvement. Their interest in social and cultural activities is increasing. They have growing interest in travel and literary activities.

There is need for complete abolition of social practices such as dowry, sati, female infanticide, permanent widowhood, child marriage and many more. There are many people and organizations working including the Government that are working for improving the social and economic position of women.

In modern times, many welfare organizations for the women have sprung up. The women are becoming active members of these organizations and contributing their mite to the women’s welfare. Some of the welfare organizations have been formed at the national and state level and most of them are at local level.

6) ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA

The problem of violence and atrocities against women in India is one important problem relating to women who cannot be ignored.

Women in the Indian society have been victims of humiliation, torture and exploitation for as long as we have written records of social organization and family life.

Today, though women are being gradually recognized as important, powerful and meaningful contributors to the life of men; but some of the cruel practices thrive even today.

In spite of the legislative measures adopted in favour of women in our society after Independence, the spread of education and women’s

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gradual economic independence, countless women still continue to be victims of violence and extreme cruelty.

The term ‘atrocities against women’ refers to as “a cruel and wicked act against a woman which causes her emotional or physical injury or both“.

The Police Research Bureau, Delhi has referred to “crime against women” under two categories:

crimes under the Indian Penal Code, andcrimes under the local and special laws.

The Bureau has identified seven crimes in the first category and four crimes in the second category of crimes. The seven crimes under the IPC are: rape, kidnapping and abduction, homicide for dowry, torture (physical and mental), molestation, eve-teasing; and importation of girls up to 21 years of age, while the four crimes under the local and special laws are: commission of sati, dowry prohibition, immoral traffic, and indecent representation of women.

There is a need to raise voice and fight against atrocities against Women. Further, for each reported rape, many unreported rapes and for each reported eve-teasing many unreported eve- teasing cases occurs.

The number of reported cases of atrocities against women in India has increased in recent years. The increase in the number of reported not only indicates  increased reporting but it only indicates an increased awareness about gender parity and women’s rights, the

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confidence of the victims in the new laws for their protection, and because of institutions such as Mahila Courts, Family Courts, and NGOs working for women. But we know that all cases are not reported and recorded for various reasons.

7) STATUS OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Women held high status and position in Ancient times. In later ages, her status deteriorated. Evidently, a majority of the women still do not enjoy equal status.

Women’s position in the family very much depends upon the level of their education. Higher the level of her education, greater equality she enjoys in the family.

It appears that Indian woman is still not treated at par with man in social and family life. The educated women even today though earning, are in acquiescence with the doctrine of the male domination. The education may have made them economically independent, but they still lack the needed self-confidence.

The reason seems to be that they have been brought up under the old cultural atmosphere and they have not been able to shake off its influence even after the acquisition of modern education.

However, in our times, her role has changed. Society has started recognizing her contribution. There is need for complete equality among men and women. She has all the rights to command equal

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statuswith men.

8) PROCESS DESCRIPTION

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MORALS

9) WOMEN EMPOWERMENT INDEX(WEI)

What is WEI?

The Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) is a composite index designed to measure progress in the multi-dimensional aspects of women’s empowerment. It considers empowerment to be a factor of both women’s achievements as well as of gender parity with men.

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WEI measures progress on women’s empowerment by aggregating results across five key areas (or "domains"). Each domain is comprised of a series of metrics (or "indicators") which quantifies performance in this domain.

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GRAPH SHOWS THE VARIATION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN DOMAINS OF EMPOWERMENT.

10) WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN RURAL AREAS

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Women are an important human resource of a nation. Developed country has utilized this human resource completely. A nation may develop if its women are given enough opportunities to make her contribution in national development.

India, the second most populous country in the world is not able to utilize this resource. In India, there are lack of schools and colleges within a village or locality, lack of women teacher, unsafe way to school; it leads the uneduation of women.  Due to lack of training centre related to occupation of women, a big part of human resources left unskilled or semiskilled.

Empowering women in rural areas are a great challenge, but micro enterprise or small scale entrepreneurship may be a tool for the women empowerment in rural India. It is not only to increase national productivity, to generate new employment, but it is also essential to make women economic independence, to improve

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women’s leadership quality and independent in decision making.

Rural women may contribute in national economic development by household based works like knitting, weaving, embroidery, bakery, flour milling, food preparation and its preservation.

Steps Taken by Government to Empower Rural Women:

Government of India has taken many steps to improve the economic status of women in rural area. NABARD was established for counselling and consultancy and to organize training for the development of rural areas. Government of India started a program The Rural and Women Entrepreneurship Development to create a business environment in rural areas especially in women.

11) OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The importance given by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India to this area, with the setting up of the “Women Members Empowerment Committee” for the year 2014-15, assumes significance in the light of this background. Today, we have over 2.25 lakh Chartered Accountants, with women members comprising about 21%. What are the opportunities available to Women Chartered Accountants today? How best can they equip themselves for employment in the current economic environment? How can they take advantage of emerging business practices? This article addresses some of these questions and more ‘to trigger thinking’ on the ways and means for women members to leverage on their capabilities and potential. There are two sides to consider. On the one side we have the woman member, who can be

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proactive and make herself more effective and relevant in the face of emerging business trends. On the other side of the equation, we have the stakeholders in the business communities who need to provide ‘equal opportunity’ to women CAs to survive and succeed at the work place.

“Equality for women is progress for all,” is the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day, 8th March, 2014. As Jacki Zehner, CEO Women Moving Millions, says “this theme invites everyone to embrace that a world that is better for women is better for everyone.”

12) SCHEMES ADOPTED The promotional schemes available in the country in order to develop

women entrepreneurship are as follows.

Mahila udyam nidhi. Mahila vikas Nidhi Priyadarshini yojana . Trade related entrepreneurship assistance and development

(TREAD). Special programs conducted by the SIDO ( small industries

development organization) CWEI ( the consortium of women entrepreneurs of India. WIT ( women India trust).

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SWEA ( self-employed women association) . SHG’s ( self-help group) FTWE ( federation of women entrepreneurs) Income generating schemes by Department of women and child

development. KVIC ( kha di villages industries commission) DIC ( District industrial centers ) Women cell Women industries fund schemes. 

These schemes can financially help the women but she has to take her own decision! Step out motivate each other and let the stars work for you! And of course our government who  is coming up with various schemes to make women socially and economically strong..

This is all about women empowerment a topic which really needs to be known to all the people out there. It is not about just handful but for the 586.47 million which is nearly 48,5% of women in the country.

13) SCHEMES FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Swa-Shakti Swayamsiddha Swawlamban Programme Support to Training and Employment Program (STEP)

Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme For The Children Of Working Mothers Objectives • Working women from the economically weaker sections are provided support services in terms of substitute care through creches for children in the age group of 0-6 years. They are provided day care services, supplementary nutrition, health care services and early childhood education. During the Xth Plan 12600 creches were supported to reach to 3,15,000 children. Vision for the XI Plan • To provide

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training to creche workers for better management of creche centres. • The programme is much in demand and has proved its utility over the years. There is a felt need to set up new creches in uncovered areas. • More than one lakh creches should be set up in the first phase to cater to the needs of working women in the unorganized sector.

13) SHOCKING FACTS

According to 2013, UNDP report on Human Development Indicators, all south Asian countries except Afghanistan were ranked better for women than INDIA.

It predicts an Indian girl child aged 1-5 Years is 75% more likely to die than the boy child.

A woman is raped once in every 20 minutes. Women form 28% of India’s Population.

14) GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN INDIA

Attaining gender justice is not an easy task in India. From time immemorial, a girl child has been considered as an unwanted entity and a burden whom the parents would not mind doing away with. Discrimination against women begins even before her birth. The gruesome evils of female feticide and infanticide prove how brutal the world could be to women.

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Though the Indian constitution provides equal rights and privileges for men and women and makes equal provision to improve the status of women in society, majority of women are still unable to enjoy the rights and opportunities guaranteed to them.

Traditional value system, low level of literacy, more house hold responsibilities lack of awareness, non-availability of proper guidance, low mobility, lack of self confidence family discouragement and advanced science and technology are some of the factors responsible to create gender disparity in our society. The most important causes of gender disparity such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, social customs, belief and anti-female attitude are discussed here.

1. Poverty:In India of the total 30 percent people who are below poverty line, 70 percent are women. Women’s poverty in India is directly related to the absence of economic opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic resources including credit , land ownership and inheritance, lack of access to education and support services and their minimal participation in the decision making process. The situation of women on economic front is no better and men still enjoy a larger share of the cake. Thus poverty stands at the root of gender discrimination in our patriarchal society and this economic dependence on the male counterpart is itself a cause of gender disparity.

2. Illiteracy:

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Despite the notable efforts by the countries around the globe that have expanded for the basic education , there are approximately 960 million illiterate adults of whom two thirds are women .Educational backwardness of the girls has been the resultant cause of gender discrimination.

The disparities become more visible between male and female literacy rate, during 2001. The literacy rates for males increased from 56% in 1981 to nearly 76% in 2001. The corresponding change in female literacy rate from 30 to 54%. On the whole the decline on gender gap peaked in 1981 at 26.6% and was 21.7% in 2001 is less impressive. The interstate variation in literacy rate for males was much lower in comparison to females. At the state level female literacy rate varies from 35% in Bihar to 88% in Kerala In states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, the female literacy rate is below 50%.

The progress towards education by girls is very slow and gender disparities persist at primary, upper primary and secondary stage of education. Girl’s account for only 43.7% of enrolment at primary level, 40 .9 % at upper primary level, 38.6% at secondary level and 36.9% at degree and above level. More over girl’s participation in education is still below 50% Gender differences in enrolment are prevalent in all the state at all levels. They are not able to realize full identity and power in all spheres of life only due to illiteracy.

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3. Lack of Employment Facilities:Women are not able to resolve the conflict between new economic and old domestic roles. In both rural and urban India, women spend a large proportion of time on unpaid home sustaining work. Women are not able to respond to new opportunities and shift to new occupations because their mobility tends to be low due to intra-house hold allocation of responsibilities.

Rights and obligations within a house hold are not distributed evenly. Male ownership of assets and conventional division of labour reduce incentives for women to undertake new activities. In addition child bearing has clear implications for labour force participation by women. Time spent in bearing and rearing of children often results in de-Skilling, termination of long term labour contacts. Thus women are not being able to be economically self sufficient due to unemployment and their economic dependence on the male counterpart is itself a cause of gender disparity.

4. Social Customs, Beliefs and PracticeWomen are not free from social customs, beliefs and practices. The traditional patrilineal joint family system confines women’s roles mostly to the domestic sphere, allocating them to a subordinate status, authority and power compared to men. Men are perceived as the major providers and protectors of a family while women are perceived as playing only a supportive role, attending to the hearth. Boys and girls are accordingly drained for different adult roles, status and authority. In Indian culture

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since very early periods, men have dominated women as a group and their status has been low in the family and society.

The preference for sons and disfavour towards daughter is complex phenomenon that still persists in many places. Sons especially in the business communities are considered to be economic, political and ritual assets where as daughters are considered to be liabilities. Thus anti female social bias is the main cause of gender disparity in our society.

The boy receives a ceremonial welcome on his birth where as everyone is sad at the birth of a girl child. The preference for male child is due to lower female labour participation, prevalence of social evils like dowry and many others causes. The typical orthodox mentality is present even in this modern era leading to sex determination tests and abortion in an illegal way.

Parents often think that teaching a girl child to manage the kitchen is more important than sending her to school. Many feel that it is an unnecessary financial burden to send a girl child to school as subsequently she will be married off and shifted to some other family. This orthodox belief of parents is responsible for gender disparity.

5. Social Altitude:Though many social activists and reformers carried their crusade against all social odds to restore honor and dignity to women, attitudinal disparities still hunt our rural masses. Despite pronounced social

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development and technological advancement, women in our society still continue to be victims of exploitation, superstition, illiteracy and social atrocities.

The social stigma that women are housekeepers and should be confined to the four walls of the house is perhaps a viable cause of gender disparity. They should not raise their voice regarding their fortune for the sake of the prestige of the family. In patriarchal society a lot of weight age is given to men.

In the health and nutritional field, male members of family are supposed to take fresh and nutritious food in comparison to women because either they are earning members or head of the family or they are supposed to be more important than female members. This type of social attitude is conducive to create the problem of gender discrimination.

6. Lack of Awareness of Women:Most of the women are unaware of their basic rights and capabilities. They even do not have the understanding as to how the socio-economic and political forces affect them. They accept all types of discriminatory practices that persist in our family and society largely due to their ignorance and unawareness.

Article 15 of the Indian constitution states that the state shall not discriminate any citizen on the grounds of only sex. The irony is that there still is widespread discrimination which is a form of injustice to

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women. Hence at the onset of the new millennium let this generation be a historic example by putting an end to the gender – based discriminations by unfurling the flag of gender justice in all our action and dealings.

As Desai has stated, if women get equal opportunities like men, they can work in every field like men. Today if she lags behind a little, it is not her fault but the fault of traditions which have suppressed them for centuries , owing to this, her own thoughts like also hang around only familial life and her nearest environment also does not provide favorable conditions for her devotion in the outside work. In order to change the situation along with economic growth social progress is also greatly required. Hence the need of the hour is to effectively combat gender disparity as to promote gender equality by sufficiently empowering the women.

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15) WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN PUNJAB

Women empowerment has become a buzzword, which has different meanings for different persons. To know its real meaning and its implications, the present study is conducted in the Malwa region of Punjab by selecting the Municipal Council of Mansa as a unit of analysis. After defining the meaning and definitions of women empowerment, discussing the significance of the study and transverse the relevant literature, the views of seven women councilors of Mansa Municipal Council and thirty women on the random sampling basis are presented in the three tables. The study, by and large, found that lack of awareness, (40.54%), demotivating attitude of family members, illiteracy (32.43%) and lack of political awareness (37.84%) are some of the impediments confronting the motive of women empowerment. The faulty education system devoid of logical reasoning and independence perpetuate the vestiges of barbarism against women. Besides, parochial mindset and sexual prejudice are the reasons behind exploitation atrocity and injustice of the women.

Punjab Govt. Schemes for women & child:

Also special assistance is given to the women and child belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe(ST), Other Backward Classes(OBC), Socially and Educationally Backward Classes(SEBC) Minority Category and below poverty line(BPL).

It gives assistance in the form of:

1. Subsidy on the loans2. Education, Training

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3. Financial assistance/Cash4. Scholarship5. Nutrition6. Self employment7. And others much more etc.

The schemes has been initiated in order to :

1. To encourage Women Empowerment2. To promote development and empowerment, gender equality and

gender justice of women3. To ensure women’s social, economic and political empowerment,

fulfillment of their rights, promoting their participation and leadership

4. To protect Women from Domestic Violence5. For child development, empowerment and protection6. To the Child Sex Ratio, Child Care

Women and Child Schemes of Punjab Government are listed below:

Financial Assistance to dependent children Financial Assistance to the Widows and Destitute Women Home For Widows & Destitute Women, And Training-Cum

Production Centre Hostel Facility for SC in schools and colleges JanaShree Bima Yojana Mahila Jagriti Yojana

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16) IN SUMMARY

Just like all fingers are needed for the hand to function efficiently, organizations can benefit from having a diverse set of persons associated with them in different roles. Each finger, the thumb, index, middle, ring and little finger, has a role to play; together the hand is strong. Similarly, having a diverse set of people at work; youth, experienced professionals, across religions, communities and states, will make for a more inclusive, robust and strong India. With the initiatives taken to empower women members and youth and by becoming more inclusive, ICAI can play a much larger role in contributing towards a vibrant and energized Indian the years to come. Jai Hind.

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