Women Empowerment in India, Challenges, Constitutional and Legal Framework

Explore women's empowerment in India, highlighting initiatives, policies, and progress in education, employment, and gender equality for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Table of Contents

Context

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world on 8th March.
Also, the year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Women Empowerment in India

Theme (2025): For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action:
- Adopted at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995).
- It reaffirmed women’s rights as human rights and aimed at achieving gender equality.
- 12 Critical Areas of Concern: Focused on issues like poverty, education, healthcare, violence, economic participation, political representation, and the rights of the girl child.
- Impact: Influenced laws, national gender policies, and international frameworks like SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Constitutional and Legal Framework in India Promoting Gender Equality

Preamble: Affirms the commitment to equality and justice for all citizens.
Fundamental Rights:
- Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all individuals.
- Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
Fundamental Duties:
- Article 51A(e): Encourages citizens to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Directive Principles of State Policy:
- Article 39: Directs the State to ensure that men and women equally have the right to an adequate means of livelihood and that there is equal pay for equal work.
- Article 42: Mandates the State to make provisions for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.

International Commitments

India is a signatory to international treaties such as:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979)
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003)
Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Challenges Faced by Women in India

Gender Disparities in Education

Many girls still lack access to quality education due to societal norms, financial constraints, and inadequate infrastructure.

The preference for male education over female education remains a major issue.
Eg., The literacy gap between men and women remains substantial at 17.2 percentage points (WEF report 2024).

Workplace Inequality

Women face gender bias, unequal pay, limited career growth, and workplace harassment.

Lack of leadership opportunities and inadequate maternity benefits further hinder professional advancement.
Eg., In India, women have been historically marginalised from the workforce and comprise about 35.9% of the worker population ratio.
- The number is starker at the senior and middle management levels, where women account for only 12.7% leadership roles as of 2024.

Violence Against Women

Issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment remain prevalent.

Delayed justice and ineffective law enforcement weaken protection for women.
Eg., the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident.

Child Marriage and Dowry System

Deep-rooted customs continue to deprive young girls of education and autonomy.

Legal measures exist, but societal resistance slows their effective implementation.
Eg., A study found that dowry was paid in 95% of marriages in rural India between 1960 and 2008.

Healthcare Disparities

Women in rural areas face inadequate healthcare facilities, especially in maternal and reproductive health.
Lack of awareness and accessibility to medical services further worsen health outcomes.

Political Underrepresentation

Despite successful women leaders, overall participation in politics remains low.

Gender biases and societal restrictions limit women’s involvement in decision-making roles.
Eg., India’s women’s representation in the Parliament remains well below the global average of 25%.

Cybersecurity Concerns

Rising cases of cyberbullying and online harassment target women disproportionately.

Limited awareness and weak legal enforcement make digital spaces unsafe.
Eg., According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) 2022 report, a total of 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women were registered across India in 2022.

Menstrual Taboos and Lack of Hygiene Facilities

Social stigmas around menstruation restrict women’s mobility, education, and health.
Insufficient hygiene infrastructure in rural and urban areas exacerbates the problem.

Government Initiatives For Women’s Upliftment

Category	Key Initiatives & Achievements
Education	● Right to Education Act (2009): Ensures free and compulsory education for children. ● Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Improves child sex ratio and promotes girls’ education. ● Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Enhances school infrastructure and girlfriendly facilities. ● National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Prioritizes gender inclusion in education. ● Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Quality education for tribal girls. ● Higher Education: Female GER overtook male GER since 2017-18; female enrollment in higher education reached 2.07 crore (2021-22). ● Women in STEM: 42.57% of total STEM enrolment (41.9 lakh).
STEM & Skill Development	● Vigyan Jyoti (2020): Encourages STEM education for girls. ● Overseas Fellowship Scheme: Supports women scientists in global research. ● National Digital Library, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA: Ensures access to online learning. ● Scholarships: Over 10 lakh girls benefited in STEM fields. ● Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Vocational and technical training for women. ● Women Technology Parks (WTPs): Serve as hubs for skillbuilding.
Health & Nutrition	● Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): ₹17,362 crore disbursed to 3.81 crore women. ● Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): Reduced from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20). ● Life Expectancy: Increased to 71.4 years (2016-20), projected 74.7 years (203136). ● Jal Jeevan Mission: Provided potable tap water to 15.4 crore households. ● Swachh Bharat Mission: Constructed 11.8 crore toilets. ● Poshan Abhiyaan: Strengthens maternal and child nutrition programs. ● Ujjwala Yojana: 10.3 crore LPG connections distributed.
Economic Empowerment & Financial Inclusion	● Women’s role in household decisions: Increased from 84% (2015) to 88.7% (2020). ● PM Jan Dhan Yojana: 30.46 crore accounts opened, 55% owned by women. ● StandUp India Scheme: 84% of loans sanctioned to women entrepreneurs. ● MUDRA Scheme: 69% of microloans given to women-led enterprises. ● SelfHelp Groups (NRLM): 10 crore women connected to 9 million SHGs. ● Bank Sakhis Model: 6,094 women processed $40 million transactions (2020). ● Women in Armed Forces: Allowed in NDA, combat roles, and Sainik Schools. ● Women Pilots: 15% of India’s pilots are women (global average 5%). ● Sakhi Niwas (Working Women’s Hostels): 523 hostels for 26,306 women. ● Women in Startups: 10% of SIDBI funds reserved for women-led startups.
Digital & Technological Empowerment	● PMGDISHA: 60 million rural citizens trained in digital literacy. ● Common Service Centres (CSCs): 67,000 women entrepreneurs managing digital centers. ● Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Expanding healthcare accessibility digitally. ● SANKALP Hubs: Established in 742 districts across 35 States/UTs. ● Fintech & Digital Inclusion: Digital banking, Aadhaarlinked services, e-marketplaces for women entrepreneurs.
Safety & Protection	● Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 (enhanced penalties). ● Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. ● Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. ● POCSO Act, 2012 (child abuse protection). ● Ban on Triple Talaq (2019). ● Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. ● Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. ● Nirbhaya Fund Projects: ₹11,298 crore allocated. ● One Stop Centres (OSCs): 802 centers, assisting 1 million women. ● ERSS (112 Helpline): 38.34 crore calls handled. ● Fast Track Special Courts: 750 operational (408 for POCSO cases). ● Cyber Crime Helpline (1930): Strengthens digital safety. ● Safe City Projects: Implemented in 8 cities. ● Women Help Desks in Police Stations: 14,658 desks, 13,743 led by women.
Institutional & Legislative Reforms	● Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Strengthens gender justice provisions. ● Stronger punishments: Sexual offenses, trafficking, witness protection, digital evidence admissibility. ● Women’s representation in CAPFs: 33% reservation in select forces. ● Nari Adalat: Piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and J&K, now expanding.

Way Forward

Promote Inclusive Education: Implement policies that ensure equal access to quality education for girls, addressing cultural norms and financial constraints.
Foster Inclusive Workplaces: Implement policies to address bias, ensure equal pay, and provide support for women in the workforce.
Strengthen Measures Against Violence: Implementing stringent laws and ensuring their enforcement are vital steps toward protecting women.
- Eg., SHE Teams in Telangana, Gulabi Gang in Uttar Pradesh.
Eradicate Harmful Practices like Child Marriage and Dowry: Community engagement and educational programs are essential in changing societal norms.
- Eg., the Meira Paibi movement in Manipur.
Increase Women’s Political Representation: Implementing reservation policies and leadership training programs can encourage women’s participation in politics.
- Eg., 106 CAA, 2023- Women’s Reservation Bill.
Address Healthcare Disparities: Improve access to healthcare facilities, especially in maternal and reproductive health.