International Women’s Day 2019

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.”

Women of this century are making huge name & fame as leaders, teachers & innovators.
In fact, we women are breaking ground in every field!

There is a great deal to celebrate this International Women’s Day, today, March 8th, and there’s no doubt that we still have a long way to go. Instead of making not so valid assumptions about disparities between men and women, let’s take the opportunity to pinpoint the places where there’s room for improvement this International Women’s Day. A lot of women suffer harassment, gender bias, female infanticide, eve teasing, abuse, dowry & domestic violence etc. The list is never ending. But still, Think of these observations—in the realms of education, business, culture, and politics, We have been inspiring to many.

Governments all over India and the world are taking initiative to empower the women of today.
Empowered Women, Empower Women!

Provisions in Indian constitution for women empowerment :-
Article 14 – Equality before law – Provides equal legal protection for women.
Article 15(3) – Special provisions for women.
Article 16 – Equal opportunities for all citizens in public employment irrespective of caste, sex, religion.
Article 23 – Prohibits traffic in human beings & forced labour.
Article 39 – The citizen, men & women equally have the right to an adequate means of livelihood.
Article 40 – 1/3 rd of seats in panchayats shall be reserved for women.
Article 42 – State shall make provisions for just and humane working conditions & maternity relief.
Article 44 – Uniform civil code for the citizens throughout the territory of India to safeguard women from laws of religion.
Article 51 A (e) – One of the duties of every citizen is to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of woman.

Government Acts for women empowerment :-
Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act 1956 – Property of a female Hindu to be her absolute property.
Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005 – Women get equal share in the ancestral property.
Dowry prohibition Act, 1961.
Contract Labor Act, 1970 & Factories Act, 1948 – Women can’t be employed in the night between 9pm to 6am. – Women cannot be required to work for more than 9hrs.
Equal remuneration Act, 1976.
The indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act, 1986.
Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987.
Protection of women from domestic violence Act, 2005.
Maternity Benefits Act, 1961.
Child marriage (prohibition) Act, 1929.
Hindu marriage Act, 1955 – This act was passed to stop polygamy and bigamy.
Government Schemes and Programs to empower women :-
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao :- To eliminate female foeticide and to promote education for girl children.
STEP (Support to training cum Employment for women) – To increase the self-reliance and autonomy of women by enhancing their productivity & enabling them to take up income generation activity.
SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) – For girl child education. It lead to increase in the Gender Parity Index (GPI).
The National literacy Mission or Saakshar Bharat – Literacy of women. Literacy is the critical instrument of women’s empowerment.
National Rural Health Mission – Educating women on health care. It has resulted in the decline in fertility rates, Maternal mortality rates (MMR), Infant mortality rates (IMR).
SHG (Self Help Groups) – For economic development in women by giving micro finances.
GB (Gender budgeting) – Identifying the felt needs of women and re-prioritizing and increasing expenditure to meet these needs.
NMEW (National Mission for Empowerment of Women) – To ensure economic & social empowerment of women.
Swayamsidha scheme – To ensures total development of women.
Swadhar scheme – Basic necessities to marginalized women & girls.
Kishori Shakti Yojana – Empowerment of adolscent girls.
Mahila Samridhi Yojana – For women empowerment.
Maternity Benefit Scheme – Payment of Rs.500/- to pregnant women for the first two births only if the woman belongs to BPL (Below Poverty Line) category.
Rastriya Mahila Kosh – To provide micro loans for women.
Scheme for working women hostel – To promote availability of safe & conveniently located accommodation fro working women.
Development of women & children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)– Creation of groups of women for income generating activities on self sustaining basis.
SABLA – Empowerment of adolescent girls.

International efforts for women empowerment :-
Year ‘2001’ was declared as the “Women empowerment year“.
‘Promoting gender equality and empowering women’ is one of the eight ‘Millennium Development Goals‘ (MDGs).

We have come so far; Many women are working in diverse fields and are financially independent. But still we have a long way to go in the years to come. We need to eliminate gender inequality. The Government and we, the people have responsibility towards women empowerment. And we can achieve this Goal if we all work together. Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. We are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength. Happy Women’s Day!

“There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.“– Swami Vivekananda.