Shrashtant Patara 
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Susan B Anthony said it more than a century ago and we still have not absorbed it in our system and practice.

Susan Brownell Anthony (1820 - 1906) was a prominent, independent and well-educated American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women’s rights movement to secure women’s suffrage in United States. It is not just America which needed to respect and accept women in an empowered form but the whole world needs to think about it.

The money, even if earned by a woman, is used by man, he decides where and why and how that money needs to be spent. After 100 years we have still not recognized and acknowledged the capability and capacity of a woman.

The traditional approach to gender-roles has  asserted that the primary tasks of women are to take care of the household, carry out the domestic chores and be available in the kitchen, backyard and dinning table only.

The purse of a woman is only a symbolic expression and representation of empowerment, independence and ownership and is not just limited to the money a woman keeps in her purse. The security, confidence and self assurance associated with the purse are the goals to be attained even in this era.

As far as India is concerned, the principle of gender-equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination for the benefit of womenfolk. The Government of India has adopted five different modes for the upliftment of womenfolk. These are namely: the welfare mode, the equity mode, the anti-poverty mode, the efficiency mode and finally the empowerment mode.

The fact of the matter is that even the constitution has not changed the mindsets of the people.

This is not a simple task. On one hand, it involves the process of making women aware of their abilities and encouraging them to take an active part in community development, thus contributing to nation- building. On the other hand, empowerment of women requires an attitudinal change in favor of women on the part of these women’s families, friends and community members and society as a whole. The struggle for gender- equality and gender- justice in the society is the ground stone for women’s empowerment. The struggle has to be carried out within class, caste, race, and region and everywhere where man - women relations matter.

The issues of women thus cannot be separated, compartmentalized or ignored and isolated as secondary issues.

We don’t have to make women realize the power and inner strength they can command, they have it and they know it. It’s the men and social structure which needs to be re-conditioned. Women need not be perceived as beneficiaries but as the equal stake holder in the process of development of society and be part of a sustainable approach towards greater social and economic stability for themselves, their family and country. . Even after sixty years of Independence, Indian women are still struggling for an equal status as men.

The future of society lies in the equal development of its population, which consists of both men and women. Empowerment of women and HRD must go together for achievement of sustainable development.

Civil society in India has realized it and is trying to emphasize more on skill development for women at all levels; as a result the Planning Commission in India has sought recommendations from various sources on following:

n What are the most crucial issues that need to be addressed on gender and vocational education?

n Prioritization of issues related to women workforce development.

n Are quotas and concessions necessary to encourage industries to hire more women?  Are there other effective means?

It is a good beginning, however, we must not forget that rules and laws do not change the mindsets of people, we need to work hard on the issue and push it forward more proactively to provide individual rights to women.

The approach should not be to protect them but to support them in the fulfillment of their dreams and aspirations.

This issue of newsletter is dedicated to the empowered woman, women power to be recognized and acknowledged by one and all.  q

Vijay Chaturvedi

Development Alternatives

vchaturvedi@devalt.org

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