1. Walk to equality : Ensuring safety and
empowerment of women
Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of
women, the traditionally underprivileged ones, in the society. It involves the building up of a society wherein
in women can breathe without the fear of oppression, exploitation, apprehension, discrimination and the
general feeling of persecution which goes with being a woman in a traditionally male dominated structure,
this assures the safety of women.
One major therapy prescribed by woman empowerment advocates is empowering women through legislation
for ensuring participation in political decision making.
Why is there still a Need For Women Empowerment ?

2. The fact remains that we still witness dowry deaths, domestic violence and
exploitation of women. The male female ratio though improved over last few years
is still far from satisfactory. It is 940 women per 1000 men for India in some states
it is as much lower as 877. These are the states where female feticide is maximum.
The female literacy rate is also lower than the male literacy rate. The ground
reality is deprivation, degration and exploitation of women specially women from
rural areas and those belonging to deprived sectors of the society.
GENDER EQUALITY
The empowerment of women is located within the discourse and agenda of gender equality and is
increasingly being taken in the agendas of international development organizations, perhaps more
as a means to achieve gender equality than as an end in itself.
Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. A woman is entitled to live in dignity and in
freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an indispensable tool for
advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to health and
productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next
generation. The importance of gender quality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight
Millennium Development Goals. Gender equality is acknowledged as being a key to achieving
the other seven goals.

3. The roles that men and women play in society are not biologically determined
-- they are socially determined, changing and changeable
EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES •POLITICAL INEQUALITIES
• About two thirds of the illiterate
adults in the world are female , which is
to be decreased.
• Encouragement of education in the
field of their interest& awareness of
importance of education for welfare of
girl child .
• Adult education not to be considered
as shame instead a privilege for future
well being
•Social and legal institutions should guarantee
women equality in basic legal and human
rights
• The equality should be in such extent that it
should not have any more reservations for any
kind of elections ,Women should participate in
par with men
• . Laws against domestic violence should be
enforced on behalf of women.

4. ECONOMICAL INEQUALITIES RURAL INEQUALITIES
• Women not knowing education ethics,
more women than men live in poverty
• Even property of a family which
should be equally inherited by men &
women .
• Economic disparities persist partly
because much of the unpaid work
within families and communities falls
on the shoulders of women and
because they face discrimination in the
economic sphere, this even should be
avoided
• Early marriages for girl child
should be stopped and proceed
them further with their education
• Birth of girl child should no more
be considered as a bad omen
•Free education to be provided for
the girl child to persuade for
higher studies.
• . Higher levels of women's
education are strongly associated
with both lower infant mortality
and lower fertility, as well as with
higher levels of education and
economic opportunity for their
children.

5. MEASURES FOR SAFETY OF WOMEN
Year 1972 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2003 2007 2010
No. of
abortio
ns
reporte
d for
girl
child
24300 214197 388405 583704 581215 570914 725149 763126 641786 620472
Abortion of girl child
From the below statics it is observed that the abortion rates of a girl child are
increasing in the consecutive years to a large number.
Giving or taking prenatal tests, including ultrasound scanning, solely to determine the sex of the
foetus was criminalized by Indian law in 1994. From observing the prevailing conditions this law
has the necessity to be made more strict.
Some of the reasons which make women feel unsafe

6. Sexual harassment
o Sexual harassment on women day by day is going on increasing everywhere at
workplace , at home , in public areas
o There are certain measures that can effectively help in dealing with the issues of
safety concern for women. These include-
1. Understanding The Root Cause
Understanding the root cause refers to identifying the psychology behind raping
Rapists have a destructive tendency which forces them to be violent with women.
2. Education
Education is the powerful tool that can prevent the nurturing of such psychology.
Mutual respect and sensitivity should be introduced and developed in children so
that they do not grow up to be rapists or criminals.

7. 3. Public Awareness
Public should be well aware and informed with the help of campaigns and
movements that lead to emancipation of women. They should also be aware
of the correct code of conduct while dealing with female members of the
society.
4. Self Defense Training
Incorporating self defense training in schools and colleges in the curriculum is
an effective way to tackle with self defense skills of women. Though several
workshops are conducted for this yet adding them to compulsory curriculum is
more feasible.
5. Social Services
Social services that work for creating awareness among people should be given
support and help by government authorities as well as the public. These
services are meant for public, so their contribution is must for giving meaning
to the services.

8. 6. Medical And Psychological Help
Medical as well as psychological counseling to the victims of rape and sexual
harassment is required to deal with the harmful effects of the crime. Keeping the
victims fit and healthy both physically and mentally is the prime motive of these
helps.
7. Strict Rules And Adherence To Law
The provision of strict rules should be made in law so that the number of cases can
be reduced before the happening of the crime. No compensation should be made
in this regard.
8. Punishment
Severe punishment to the culprits should be able to teach them a lesson along
with threatening others who think of committing the same crime. Justification
should be done to the victims.
These measures are very important in dealing with safety concerns for women.
These can prove to mark a major change if followed and given importance to.

9. WOMEN ATTITUDE MEN ATTITUDE
REFORMS TO BE MADE
Self confidence is the major
attitudinal change needed to bring
up an empowered woman.
Self respect, self dependent
matter the most for a woman to
prove themselves equal to men.
 Women themselves should
never consider them lower to men
And hence a democratic women of
country are formed


10. CONCLUSION