Empowering Women

India is the world’s largest democracy, and the second most populous country. India is home to a wide variety of different linguistic, cultural, religious and ethnic groups. India is growing rapidly; however at the same time, social and economic inequality is becoming more entrenched! Women is an integral part of the society and have an equal bidding in all the activities that are taken up culturally, socially, economically and politically. But women are found to be the most marginalized and the most vulnerable category when studied on the context of poverty, availing opportunities, literacy rate and health.

As soon as a child is born families and society begin the process of gendering. The birth of the son is celebrated, the birth of a daughter filled with fear of responsibility and sometimes with pain!! Boys are encouraged to be tough and outgoing; girls are encouraged to be home-bound and shy.

Gender inequality has many drawback, it not only taking back our country in stone era but also there is adverse impact on development goals of economic growth. Blocking women from participation in social, political and economic activities can adversely affect the whole society. In India there is a vast display of gender inequality in education, employment and health. It is common to find girls and women suffering from high mortality rates. The differences in education level is more! The percentage of higher education among women in 7% only. India has witnessed gender inequality from its early history due to its socio-economic and religious practices that resulted in a wide gap between the position of men and women in the society.

The origin of the Indian idea of appropriate female behavior can be traced to the rules laid down by Manu Sanhita in 200 B.C.: "by a young girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house". And this is just an Idea, the whole picture is horrid! "In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, and in late ages to her sons; a woman must never be independent."

Women's lives are shaped by customs that are centuries old. "May you be the mother of a hundred sons" is a common wedding blessing. Statistics reveal that in males significantly outnumber females and this imbalance has increased over time. The sex ratio according to census report stands at 833 females per 1000 males.

There are many laws and fundamental rights established for women but where we talk about mentality, nothing works at all! UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has stated, "Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."

There is a need for new kinds of institutions, incorporating new norms and rules that support women equally.. I m not demanding for quota cause I know if women do something they can do better! There is no need of quota but all we want a chance! An equal chance!! There are 3 things which according to me is necessary for "us":

Health

Education

Proper Mind Set