Women Empowerment
in India

1. Definition of
Women Empowerment

Women Empowerment is the process of enabling
women to overcome social, economic, and political inequalities.
Objective: Ensure women can make independent
decisions regarding education, health, career, lifestyle, and
participate equally in society.
Focus: Achieving rights, status, and power on
par with men to promote inclusivity.

2. Types of Women
Empowerment

a) Social
Empowerment

Challenges: Patriarchal norms, caste discrimination,
oppressive practices (sati, polygamy, restrictions).
Goal: Enable women to make independent
decisions regarding health, marriage, childbirth, and lifestyle.

b) Educational
Empowerment

Cornerstone of empowerment: Education improves
personal and professional capacities.
Example: Kerala shows high literacy → greater social
participation.
Initiatives: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, mid-day
meal schemes, scholarships.

c) Economic
Empowerment

Goal: Financial independence → decision-making
power.
Challenges: Societal bias, limited access to
employment/entrepreneurship.
Importance: Boost workforce participation, economic
growth, and development.

d) Political
Empowerment

Importance: Women’s representation ensures concerns
are addressed in policymaking.
Measures: Reservation in Panchayati Raj
Institutions (33%), municipal bodies.
Need: Women’s Reservation Bill to enhance
national-level political voice.

3. Challenges /
Difficulties

Demographic Imbalance
Sex ratio at birth: 937 females per 1000 males
(2021).
Cultural preference for male children → female
infanticide, sex-selective abortions.

Health Problems
70% adolescent girls anemic.
Maternal mortality rate: 113 (2016-18).
Neglected reproductive and menstrual health.

Neglect of Female Education
Female literacy: 70.3% (India, 2022) vs. 84.7% male
literacy.
Education gap → lack of awareness of rights,
vulnerability to exploitation.

Violence Against Women
Domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, human
trafficking, honor killings, child marriage.
NCRB: 15.3% increase in crimes against women
(2021).

4. Major Women
Empowerment Schemes in India

Scheme	Year	Objectives / Highlights
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)	2015	Prevent sex-selective abortion, protect girl child, promote education.
One Stop Center (OSC)	2016	Provide integrated support to women affected by violence: medical, legal, counseling.
Women Helpline Scheme	2016	24×7 toll-free support, information on services and schemes for women in distress.
UJJAWALA Scheme	2016	Prevent trafficking, rescue & rehabilitate victims of sexual exploitation.
Sakhi Niwas	1972	Safe hostels for working women and accompanying children.
SWADHAR Greh	2015	Support women in distress: legal aid, rehabilitation, emotional support.
Nari Shakti Puraskar	2016	Annual award on International Women’s Day for outstanding contribution to women empowerment.
Mission Shakti	2016	Umbrella scheme: safety, security, empowerment; includes BBBP, OSC, WHL, UJJAWALA, Swadhar, Nari Adalat, etc.
Nirbhaya Fund	2013	Safety and security of women; technology-driven solutions; monitoring and privacy protection.

5. Key Takeaways

Women empowerment is multi-dimensional: social,
educational, economic, political.
Despite progress, challenges like gender bias,
health neglect, low education, and violence persist.
Government schemes provide a holistic framework to
protect, educate, and empower women.
Mission Shakti acts as an umbrella program,
integrating safety, rehabilitation, economic, and legal support.