View of EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal (International Journal) ISSN-2456-1037

Vol. 05,Special Issue 03, (IC-WESD-2020) March 2020, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

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EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Dr. Shilpa Bagdare, Assistant Professor

International Institute of Professional Studies, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore Abstract:- As we progress and develop, the reflections should also be visible on the basic elements of our social structure. Women, being a primary element of any society and the development process, need to be empowered in the true sense. Their empowerment is closely linked to attainment of all the seventeen goals of the sustainable development. This requires an understanding of the major issues confronted by women in their lives, suitable social and policy interventions and other remedial actions to provide an equal status and empower them in all possible dimensions. The present paper explores the concept of women empowerment and its association with sustainable development goals. It also describes the role of UN, Governments and other NGOs in dealing with such issues. The paper brings about import insights for the scholars and policy makers.

Keywords:- Women Empowerment, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, United Nations.

1. INTRODUCTION

Women is a major force in the family, society, nation and the world. They play a vital role in human development as well as sustainable development, yet many of them still struggle for their rights, respect and survival. The need for enabling a mechanism to addresses their fundamental issues is increasingly felt since long.Women empowerment is an important cause of global concern for providing a brighter future for women of present and future generations. The present paper deals with the explaining the vital links between women empowerment and sustainable development goals.

2. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Women empowerment relates to supporting, strengthening and developing women for self- esteem, decision making, social status, economic dependence, employment opportunities and fundamental rights towards living a fulfilling life of her choices. Desai 92010) explained that women empowerment refers to control over resources (physical, human, intellectual, financial) and ideology (values, beliefs, and attitudes); women‟s agency described as having a right to make choices that make most sense for them and their families; a process involving move from being without power to having power; and an outcome, such as improvement in education, health, and economic and political participation.

Further, Warth and Koparanova (2012) described that “Empowering women is a process that encompasses both the creation of an enabling environment for women which is free of discrimination, and strengthening women‟s ability to take control over their own lives and fully contribute to bringing about the needed changes in our societies.”

3. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The sustainable development goals represent a holistic phenomenon which reflects the concerns for consumption of resources by present generation and sustaining them for future generations. Every individual irrespective of the age, gender, caste, creed, nationality, or other characteristics, contribute to sustainability. Duflo, E. (2012), opines that women empowerment and economic development are closely linked to each other. The studies have distinctly shown the role played by women in achieving sustainable development goals.

Principle 20 of Rio Declaration mentions that “Women have a vital role in environmental management and development.

Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development”.

Lohani, and Aburaida (2017) argue that it is particularly important not to consider gender equality as a socio-cultural issue alone but to give it due consideration in the economic and environmental realms as well – treating gender equality as a cross-cutting objective to attain sustainable development. Many studies carried by different agencies of United Nations have found that women are major beneficiary as well as a contributor to all the goals of sustainable development.

SDG 5, which relates to Gender Equality, cover major areas of concern like violence and discrimination against women, child marriage, reproductive and sexual health of

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women, effective participation of women at workplace, political role from parliament to local bodies and also in public life, ownership over land, and laws and policies to ensure their effective implementation (Draft National Policy on Women, 2016).

4. ROLE OF UNITED NATIONS, GOVERNMENTS AND NGOS

The UN acknowledges the role of empowering women for sustainable development and explains: "Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large." The seventeen goals of SDG 2030 are –

1. No Poverty;

2. Zero Hunger;

3. Good Health and Well-being;

4. Quality Education; GOAL 5. Gender Equality;

6. Clean Water and Sanitation;

7. Affordable and Clean Energy;

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth;

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;

10. Reduced Inequality;

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities;

12. Responsible Consumption and Production;

13. Climate Action;

14. Life Below Water;

15. Life on Land;

16. Peace and Justice Strong Institutions; and 17. Partnerships to achieve the Goal.

The study on Eastern and Southern Africa shows that women are affected by each of the seventeen proposed SDGs, as well as women and girls can and will be key to achieving each of these goals. Goal 5 of SDG particularly aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women in the public and private spheres and to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership of property. Mokta (2014) explains that the Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles.

Government of India has taken many initiatives for empowering women in India. It has taken ample measures to ensure developing an enabling environment for women empowerment by bringing a large number of initiatives ranging from Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao; Scholarships and fellowships for girl child and women; One Stop Centre Scheme;

Women Helpline Scheme; Ujjawala for clean energy; A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation; Working Women Hostel;Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana; Swadhar Greh (A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances), Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme, Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK), Nirbhaya Fund, Mahila police Volunteers, Mahila E-Haat and many more.

All these initiatives are aimed at strengthening the social, economic, political and environmental support to women of India for empowering them. Draft National Policy on Women (2016) also suggest that - Women‟s empowerment is a pre-condition to achieve the targets of several Sustainable Development Goals like poverty eradication, inequality, good health and well-being for all, decent work and economic growth among others. India is also home to thousands of NGOs which are tirelessly working for the empowerment and welfare of women in the area of health, sanitation, education, skilling, shelter, counseling, micro financing and other related areas.

5. CHALLENGES

In spite of the best efforts by international and national agencies and governments at all the levels, the problems of gender inequality still persist. Stevens (2010) observes that although

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the female presence in the workplace is growing, women do not yet share in economic and political leadership. There is also rampant incidents of violence and discrimination against women in India. Women are still struggling on many fronts, particularly in rural and backward areas, to find a suitable status in the society.

6. THE WAY AHEAD

With the emergence of growing awareness and initiatives towards women empowerment, it is hoped that women of tomorrow will be better empowered and make much more significant contribution to achievement of sustainable goals by their conscious and impactful efforts. Stevens (2010) suggests that gender-sensitive development assistance can be a powerful force for empowering women to compete in land, labor and product markets enabling them to make economic, social and environmental contributions to sustainable development.

Warth and Koparanova (2012) also opine that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the full and equal participation of women, therefore, women‟s contribution to sustainable development, and their knowledge and skills, must be recognized. Greater efforts on the part of government and non-government agencies are required to create an appropriate ecosystem and make suitable interventions at all areas to foster the empowerment of women in India.

There is a need to undertake scholarly studies on exploring the real life issues of women related to their personal, social, occupational and psychological dimensions and their association with each of the sustainable development goals. This may be supported by social action research and impact studies to ascertain the outcomes of policy interventions and other initiatives undertaken by various government, local and non-government bodies.

REFERENCES

1. Desai, M. (2010), “Hope in Hard Times: Women‟s Empowerment and Human Development”, Human Development Research Paper, United Nations Development Programme, 2010/14, July, 1-75.

2. Duflo, E. (2012), “Women‟s Empowerment and Economic Development”, NBER Working Paper No. 17702, December.

3. Lohani, M. and Aburaida, L. (2017), “Women Empowerment: A Key To Sustainable Development” The Social Ion, 6(2) July-December, 26-29.

4. Mokta, M. (2014), “Empowerment Of Women In India: A Critical Analysis”, Indian Journal Of Public Administration, 60 (3), July-September, 473-488.

5. National Consultation on SDG 5 – Gender Equality, „Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls‟, Draft National Policy on Women, May 2016, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

6. Stevens, C. (2010), “Are Women the Key to Sustainable Development?”, Sustainable Development Insights, 3 ( April), 1 – 8.

7. UN Women Analysis (2015), Women And Sustainable Development Goals, UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 1-32.

8. Warth, L. and Koparanova, M. (2012) “Empowering women for sustainable development”, UNECE Discussion Paper Series, No. 2012.1 January, 1-26.