Author: Ritesh Aggrawal, II year of B.B.A.,LL.B. from Geeta Institutions of Law
Women have demonstrated their value by taking on many tasks in families; nevertheless, despite this, they continue to face societal and economic disadvantages that force them to live miserable lives in many areas of the world. In such a situation, it is necessary to take prompt action to empower them and establish an environment that is favourable for their social and economic upliftment.Women Empowerment is Urgent for Integrated Development.
As they balance managing their families while also trying to make enough money to help provide for their families' material necessities, women must be empowered for the future improvement of any nation. Nobody can ever discount the value of having a mother, sister, or daughter in their family. Women have also established themselves as equal partners in handling the household's financial needs at the same time. Women have successfully established their unchallengeable positions on a global scale as well, but they are few in number compared to their less fortunate counterparts.
Remarkable Performance in sports: The just-completed RIO Olympics is evidence that women have successfully demonstrated on a number of international stages that, given the chance, they can compete on par with their male counterparts in performance. Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu, and Dipa Karmakar are RIO stars whose names will live in infamy for successfully breaking down gender barriers to raise India's flag high in front of the entire globe. There is no denying the reality that it would have been extremely difficult for them to overcome the numerous prevailing taboos and succeed in such positions of eminence in a male-dominated nation like India.
Victims of Discrimination
Women have been suppressed in their families and society at large due to long-standing gender inequality and male supremacy in Indian society. Even in their own families, the male members have a history of using violence and other forms of prejudice against them. Numerous other nations around the world experience similar circumstances. Most of the rest of the globe, with the exception of several European countries, is prone to severe gender discrimination, similar to India.
A Long Way to Go: Women's conditions are appalling in rural places, and they make very little of an economic contribution. Despite making up approximately 50% of the population, they do not have the capacity to obtain equitable opportunities for reaching their full potential. Given these circumstances, it is safe to claim that unless we give women actual empowerment, our nation cannot become a developed one. It is crucial to give them equal opportunity in all spheres of human activity in order to properly attend to their growth.
Winds of Change
Even though women are given a special place in every faith, there are still numerous harmful acts that are commonplace against women. However, progress has been made, and the patriarchal structure of society is now clearly crumbling. Nowadays, women are asserting their own sociopolitical rights (such as the right to work, the right to education, the freedom to make decisions, etc.)
To support women in leading meaningful lives, successive governments have adopted several constitutional and legal rights. The rise of numerous NGOs and self-help groups demonstrates the growing awareness of women's rights. Women are now breaking free from oppression on a personal level as well, speaking out for their rights.
The Indian Parliament has also approved a number of laws to protect women from different types of injustice and discrimination. Here are a few of these laws for women's empowerment: The Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act-1994, the Equal Remuneration Act-1976, the Dowry Prohibition Act-1961, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act-1956, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act-1971, the Maternity Benefit Act-1961, the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act-1987, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006, and the Sexual Harassment
The government recently approved the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 in response to the Nirbhaya tragedy, which involved the rape and horrific killing of a paramedical student in Delhi. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 was replaced by this Act, which significantly changes it by lowering the juvenile offender age from 18 to 16 years.
Conclusion
It is urgently necessary to eradicate male superiority and the patriarchal attitude if we are to achieve true women's empowerment. Additionally, without any form of discrimination, women must be provided equal opportunity in both education and employment. Women will not be adequately protected by legal and constitutional rights if society's attitudes toward them don't change.