Women Empowerment: Need of the time and Challenges

Good morning, honorable principal sir, Academic Head sir, Respected teachers, and my dear friends. I am Riddhi Tibrewal of class 8A . As we are celebrating "International Women's day" on 8th March, making this day more fruitful, today I am going to speak on the topic of "women empowerment: need of the time and challenges".

Women empowerment is the process of enhancing the social, economic, and political status of women in the society. It is the recognition of women's rights and abilities, and the promotion of their participation and leadership in all spheres of life. Women empowerment is not only beneficial for women themselves, but also for the development and progress of the nation and the world.

As Swami Vivekananda says: "There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing."

Women empowerment is the need of the time because women constitute almost half of the population and have immense potential to contribute to the growth and well-being of the society. It is also essential for achieving gender equality, which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Gender equality means that women and men have equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities in all aspects of life.

However, women empowerment is not an easy task. It faces many challenges and obstacles, such as discrimination, violence, poverty, illiteracy, lack of access to resources and opportunities, and patriarchal norms and stereotypes. These challenges hinder women from realizing their full potential and dignity, and prevent them from enjoying their human rights and freedoms.

According to the latest report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, only 18.6% of women in India are employed, compared to 55.6% of men. Only 14.4% of women hold seats in parliament, compared to 85.6% of men. 

India ranks 127 th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2023 by world Economic Forum, which measures the gaps between women and men across four key areas: health, education, economy and politics.

According to the World Health Organization, 37.7% of ever-married women in India have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, which is higher than the global average of 30%. And according to the National Crime Records Bureau, a crime against women is reported every 1.7 minutes in India.

One of the most heinous forms of violence against women in India is dowry death, which is the killing of a woman by her husband or his family over a dispute related to dowry. Despite being illegal, dowry is still widely practiced and demanded in many parts of India.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 6,450 dowry deaths were registered in 2022, which means that on average, 18 women died every day due to dowry-related issues. The highest number of dowry deaths in 2022 happened in Uttar Pradesh with 2,218 Uttar Pradesh and Bihar together accounted for nearly half (48%) of the total dowry deaths in the country.

These shocking statistics reveal the extent of the problem and the urgency of the solution. Dowry deaths are not only a violation of women's right to life, but also a reflection of the low status and value of women in the society. Dowry deaths are a result of the deep-rooted patriarchal mindset that treats women as commodities and burdens, rather than as equal and dignified human beings.

Therefore, we need to take collective and individual actions to overcome these challenges and empower women in every possible way. We need to create a supportive and enabling environment for women to thrive and excel. We need to educate and sensitize ourselves and others about the importance and benefits of women empowerment. We need to respect and celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in various fields. We need to support and encourage the women around us to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

As the famous poet and activist Maya Angelou said, "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." We must not give up on our quest for women empowerment, but rather, we must continue to strive for it with courage and determination. We must remember that women empowerment is not a favor or a privilege, but a right and a duty.

I would like to end my speech with a quote from Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a champion of girls' education. She said, "I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."

Let us all raise our voices for women empowerment and gender equality. Let us all work together to ensure that no woman is left behind. Let us all make this world a better place for everyone.

I am leaving you with a Sanskrit shloka taken from Manusmriti

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः

It means: Gods reside where women are respected .

Thank you. Jay Hind!