IndexThe Position of Women in IndiaCurrent Scenario on Women EmpowermentMajor Steps Taken for Women EmpowermentVarious Government Policies and ProgramsChallengesConclusionWomen Empowerment means emancipation of women from the vicious clutches of social, economic and political factors, caste and gender-based discrimination. It means guaranteeing women the freedom to make life choices. Women's empowerment does not mean “deifying women,” but rather it means replacing patriarchy with equality. In this regard, there are various aspects of women empowerment, such as those given below: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Individual Empowerment A woman is a being with senses, imagination and thoughts; should be able to express them freely. Individual empowerment means having the confidence to articulate and assert the power to negotiate and decide. Social empowerment of women A critical aspect of social empowerment of women is the promotion of gender equality. Gender equality implies a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights and obligations in all spheres of life. Women's educational empowerment means empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence needed to participate fully in the development process. . It means making women aware of their rights and developing the confidence necessary to claim them. Economic and professional empowerment Implies improved quality of material life through sustainable livelihoods owned and managed by women. It means reducing their financial dependence on male counterparts by making them a significant part of human resources. Women's Legal Empowerment It suggests the provision of an effective legal framework that supports women's empowerment. It means addressing the gap between what the law prescribes and what actually happens. Women's political empowerment Means the existence of a political system that favors women's participation and control in political decision-making and governance. The Position of Women in IndiaThe position enjoyed by women in the Rigvedic period deteriorated in the subsequent Vedic civilization. Women were denied the right to education and widows to remarry. They were denied the right to inheritance and ownership of property. Many social evils like child marriage and dowry system have emerged and started engulfing women. During the Gupta period, the condition of women worsened enormously. Dowry became an institution and Sati Pratha became prominent. Current Scenario on Women Empowerment Based on the ideas advocated by our founding fathers for women empowerment, many social, economic and political provisions were incorporated into the Constitution of India. Women in India now participate in sectors such as education, sports, politics, media, arts and culture, service sector, science and technology. But due to the patriarchal mentality deeply rooted in Indian society, women are still victimized, humiliated, tortured and exploited. Major strides made for the empowerment of women Provisions made under the Constitution of India such as: Right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution of India The Constitution guarantees equality before the law to all Indian women; Equal pay for equal work under Article 39(d) protects the economic rights of women by ensuring equal payfor the same job; and maternity benefit under Article 42, allows the State to take measures to ensure fair and humane working conditions and maternity benefit for women. Acts such as the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 prohibit the request, payment, or acceptance of a dowry. Asking for or donating a dowry can be punished with both imprisonment and a fine; The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 provides for more effective protection of the rights of women victims of domestic violence. Violation of this law is punishable by both fine and imprisonment; The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 helps in creating a conducive workplace environment for women where they are not subjected to any kind of sexual harassment. Panchayati Raj Institutions According to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts, all local elected bodies reserve one-third of their seats for women. This measure was adopted to increase the effective participation of women in politics. Various Government Policies and Programs The Government of India is carrying out various welfare programs and policies, both at the state and central levels, for the empowerment of women. Some of the major programs and measures include Swadhar (1995), Swayam Siddha (2001), Training and Employment Support Program for Women (STEP-2003), Sabla Scheme (2010), National Mission for Women Empowerment (2010) etc. All these policies and programs focus on the social, economic and educational empowerment of women of various age groups. The challenges The most widespread and dehumanizing discrimination against women is based on a distorted perspective. Discrimination against girls starts from birth. Boys are preferred to girls; thus, female infanticide is a common practice in India. The ordeal an Indian girl faces at birth is just the beginning of a lifelong struggle to be seen and heard. Gaps in the legal framework: Although numerous laws exist to protect women from all types of violence, there has however been a significant increase in incidents of rape, extortion, acid, assault etc. This is due to the delay in legal procedures and the presence of numerous gaps in the functioning of the judicial system. Lack of political will: The still pending women's reservation bill highlights the significant lack of political will to empower women politically. Male dominance prevails in Indian politics and women are forced to remain silent spectators. Replacing “patriarchy” with equality: A strong patriarchal society with deeply rooted sociocultural values ​​continues to influence women's empowerment. The need of the hour is an egalitarian society, where there is no place for superiority. The government should identify and eliminate those forces that work to keep alive the tradition of male domination over female counterparts by issuing inhumane and illegal diktats. Political will: Women should have access to resources, rights and prerogatives. They should have decision-making powers and an appropriate position in governance. Therefore, the Women's Reservation Bill should be passed as soon as possible to increase the effective participation of women in the politics of India. Closing implementation gaps: Government or community bodies must be established to monitor programs designed for the well-being of women. society. Due importance should be given to their correct implementation and their monitoring and evaluation through social audits. Justice delayed means justice denied. They should be.