Empowerment of Women in New Millennium by Vibhuti Patel

8/7/2019 Empowerment of Women in New Millennium by Vibhuti Patel

1/12

11

Empowerment of WomenEmpowerment of Womenin the New Millenniumin the New Millennium

Dr. Vibhuti PatelDr. Vibhuti Patel

Director, PGSRDirector, PGSRProfessor and Head,Professor and Head,

Post Graduate Department of EconomicsPost Graduate Department of Economics

SNDT Womens University,SNDT Womens University,

1 Nathibai Thakersey Road, Churchgate, Mumbai1 Nathibai Thakersey Road, Churchgate, Mumbai--400020400020

MobileMobile--9321040048 Telephone9321040048 Telephone--26770227 (R),26770227 (R),22052970 (O)22052970 (O)

E mail: [email protected] mail: [email protected]


2/12

22

Breaking the Glass CeilingsBreaking the Glass Ceilings

Women's entry into the decisionWomen's entry into the decision--makingmakingbodies of the industry, financialbodies of the industry, financial

institutions, government and noninstitutions, government and non--

government structures, international aidgovernment structures, international aid--agencies, electoral bodies, internationalagencies, electoral bodies, international

human rights organizations and electronichuman rights organizations and electronicmedia with global coverage has removedmedia with global coverage has removed

several bottlenecks coming in the way ofseveral bottlenecks coming in the way ofempowerment of mass of women.empowerment of mass of women.


3/12

33

Women Friendly EnvironmentWomen Friendly Environment

Women's projects are executed faster, salary scale of womenWomen's projects are executed faster, salary scale of womenin the government and nonin the government and non--government sectors have risen,government sectors have risen,remuneration of women beneficiaries and workers of women'sremuneration of women beneficiaries and workers of women'sprojects has enhanced, complaints of sexual harassment atprojects has enhanced, complaints of sexual harassment at

workwork--place are judiciously examined and the culprits areplace are judiciously examined and the culprits arepunished, global traveling of single women has increasedpunished, global traveling of single women has increasedmultifold, women professionals are ready to work withmultifold, women professionals are ready to work withwomen's groups.women's groups.

Feminist economists who were working on a national plane areFeminist economists who were working on a national plane are

now working globally with membership of 550 economistsnow working globally with membership of 550 economistsworking in 31 countries. In the millennium era womens issuesworking in 31 countries. In the millennium era womens issueshave been integrated in the mainstream discourse.have been integrated in the mainstream discourse.


4/12

44

Women Component PlanWomen Component Plan

Womens Component within the 11th Five Year Plan of GoIWomens Component within the 11th Five Year Plan of GoIassures at least 30% of funds/benefits from allassures at least 30% of funds/benefits from alldevelopment sectorsdevelopment sectors--education, health, skill development,education, health, skill development,social protection, employmentsocial protection, employment-- flow to women.flow to women.

Due to consistent lobbying by the gender economists andDue to consistent lobbying by the gender economists and

womens groups, for the first time, last year, the Ministry ofwomens groups, for the first time, last year, the Ministry ofFinance has given a mandate to all ministries to establish aFinance has given a mandate to all ministries to establish aGender Budgeting Cell and by now 24 ministries andGender Budgeting Cell and by now 24 ministries anddepartments have formed Gender units and have promiseddepartments have formed Gender units and have promisedto submit annual reports and performance budgetsto submit annual reports and performance budgetshighlighting budgetary allocations for women.highlighting budgetary allocations for women.

These budgets are expected to be placed before theThese budgets are expected to be placed before the

parliament along with detailed demand for grants forparliament along with detailed demand for grants forwomen. One third reserved seats for women in thewomen. One third reserved seats for women in thePanchayati Raj Institutions has brought more than 100,Panchayati Raj Institutions has brought more than 100,000 in the public arena since 1992.000 in the public arena since 1992.

As elected representatives in gram, tehsil, district councilsAs elected representatives in gram, tehsil, district councilsand urban local self government bodies they have beenand urban local self government bodies they have beenable to address practical gender needs of poor womenable to address practical gender needs of poor women


5/12

55

Gender BudgetingGender Budgeting

Women specific schemes where 100 %Women specific schemes where 100 %of the allocation is required to be spentof the allocation is required to be spenton women.on women.

ProPro--women schemes where at leastwomen schemes where at least30% of allocation and benefits flow to30% of allocation and benefits flow to

women.women. Gender neutral schemes meant for theGender neutral schemes meant for the

benefit of community as a whole wherebenefit of community as a whole whereboth men and women avail theseboth men and women avail thesebenefits.benefits.

The residual state specific programmesThe residual state specific programmeshaving profound effect on womenshaving profound effect on womensposition/ condition.position/ condition.


6/12

66

Entry of Women in the Development SectorEntry of Women in the Development Sector

Women's organisations have created theirWomen's organisations have created theirconstituency, massconstituency, mass--base, thinkbase, think--tank, pooltank, pool

of professionals, progressive male alliesof professionals, progressive male alliesand selfand self--sustaining financial base.sustaining financial base.

Women entrepreneurs from the upperWomen entrepreneurs from the upperclass, middle class as well as in the selfclass, middle class as well as in the self

help groups of toiling poor are gettinghelp groups of toiling poor are gettingsupport in terms of credit and marketsupport in terms of credit and marketfacilities.facilities.


7/12

77

Science, Technology and WomenScience, Technology and Women

Globalisation has encouraged induction of womenGlobalisation has encouraged induction of womenengineers, architects, pilots, scientists, technicians andengineers, architects, pilots, scientists, technicians andjournalists with superjournalists with super--specialisation into challengingspecialisation into challengingand rewarding assignments.and rewarding assignments.

Facilities of safe transport, flexi time, variety of freshFacilities of safe transport, flexi time, variety of freshand durable food available in the market, absence ofand durable food available in the market, absence of

policing, place for nightpolicing, place for night--halt, separate toilets and resthalt, separate toilets and rest--rooms for women and enlightened management whichrooms for women and enlightened management whichdoes not see women employees as burden havedoes not see women employees as burden haveprovided conducive atmosphere for women to join theprovided conducive atmosphere for women to join thefields which are highly demanding.fields which are highly demanding.

The state has provided tax relief to women from theThe state has provided tax relief to women from theupper crust of society.upper crust of society. Even the R&D Department of the corporate world, multinationalEven the R&D Department of the corporate world, multinational

companies, government institutions and autonomous researchcompanies, government institutions and autonomous researchinstitutions are providing congenial atmosphere to womeninstitutions are providing congenial atmosphere to womenprofessionals and employees.professionals and employees.


8/12

88

Women in Development discourseWomen in Development discourse

During 1970s and 1980s, the women's movement highlightedDuring 1970s and 1980s, the women's movement highlightedmarginalisation of women from the economy.marginalisation of women from the economy.

The efforts of women activists were directed in terms ofThe efforts of women activists were directed in terms ofagitation and propaganda for women's rights, street fightingagitation and propaganda for women's rights, street fightingagainst escalating violence against assertive women and teamagainst escalating violence against assertive women and teambuilding to counter sexual harassment at work place.building to counter sexual harassment at work place.

In the 1990, the women's movement is demanding itsIn the 1990, the women's movement is demanding itslegitimate place within the mainstream with its own agenda oflegitimate place within the mainstream with its own agenda ofempowerment of women with partnership with men.empowerment of women with partnership with men.

It has been able to identify its allies in all sections of society.It has been able to identify its allies in all sections of society. Its horizontal and vertical networking has created congenialIts horizontal and vertical networking has created congenial

atmosphere to execute development agenda with the help ofatmosphere to execute development agenda with the help of

effective use of information technology, communicationeffective use of information technology, communicationchannels, modern managerial practices and efficient law andchannels, modern managerial practices and efficient law andorder machinery.order machinery.


9/12

99

Challenges before Poor Women in IndiaChallenges before Poor Women in India

The most difficult areas have been providingThe most difficult areas have been providingeducational and decent employmenteducational and decent employmentopportunities for the poverty groups, lowopportunities for the poverty groups, low--costcosthousing and trade centers, environmental andhousing and trade centers, environmental and

occupational safety and human rightsoccupational safety and human rightsconcerns.concerns. Development thinkers and workers needDevelopment thinkers and workers need

safety nets to operate without pressure fromsafety nets to operate without pressure fromthe local bullies and vested interests.the local bullies and vested interests.

Bullies of each and every communities areBullies of each and every communities areincreasingly taking advantage of developmentincreasingly taking advantage of developmentworkers/teachers/ academicians because theyworkers/teachers/ academicians because theyare nonare non--hierarchical in their functioning andhierarchical in their functioning andalso because they are not very commercialalso because they are not very commercialminded in their dayminded in their day--toto--day affairs.day affairs.


10/12

1010

Duty of the StateDuty of the State

The state, political parties and beneficiaries ofThe state, political parties and beneficiaries ofwomen's groups too have duty to ensurewomen's groups too have duty to ensuredemocratic and multicultural atmosphere withindemocratic and multicultural atmosphere withinwhich the women activists can take judicious andwhich the women activists can take judicious andgendergender--just decisions about allocation ofjust decisions about allocation ofdevelopmental resources and developmentdevelopmental resources and developmentfunding for construction of schools, shelterfunding for construction of schools, shelterhomes for women in difficult circumstances,homes for women in difficult circumstances,community centres, sportscommunity centres, sports--clubs, libraries andclubs, libraries and

reading rooms, low cost hospitals and low costreading rooms, low cost hospitals and low costhousing for the poverty groups leading settledhousing for the poverty groups leading settledlife.life.


11/12

1111

Decision Making for the Global GovernanceDecision Making for the Global Governance

Gender parity through distributive justice has been one of theGender parity through distributive justice has been one of themilestones of the UN Millennium Development Goals officiallymilestones of the UN Millennium Development Goals officiallyaccepted by GoI.accepted by GoI.

Women decisionWomen decision--makers across the globe must strivemakers across the globe must strivecollectively and see to it that resources and fruits ofcollectively and see to it that resources and fruits ofdevelopment and economic prosperity are distributed justlydevelopment and economic prosperity are distributed justly

among countries, within countries and among all humanamong countries, within countries and among all humanbeings thereby eliminating poverty.beings thereby eliminating poverty. This will ensure everyone access to food and nutrition,This will ensure everyone access to food and nutrition,

shelter, health services, safe transportation, right toshelter, health services, safe transportation, right toinformation, education, justice, culturally rich leisureinformation, education, justice, culturally rich leisure--timetimeactivities.activities.

To deal with this crucial task force, we will have to evolveTo deal with this crucial task force, we will have to evolvehigh levels of participatory democracy in governance so thathigh levels of participatory democracy in governance so thatwe can improve lives and freedoms of peoples in all parts ofwe can improve lives and freedoms of peoples in all parts ofthe globethe globe..


12/12

1212

Thank YouThank You

Empowerment of Women in New Millennium by Vibhuti Patel

Documents