Factors affecting empowerment of women in Garhwal Himalaya (A case study of Pauri Garhwal)

The term empower according to lexicon means to make or cause power, to give power or authority to someone, to provide ability or to enable. Hence meaning refer to power as given granted or permitted. The main point behind empowerment is that, it seeks to change society through a rearrangement of power. Empowerment is an active, multidimensional process which enables women to realize their full identity and power in all spheres of life. Power is not a commodity to be translated; nor alms to be given away. Power has to be acquired and once acquired; it needs to be exercised, sustained and preserved. Denmark and Norway are considered the happiest nation of the world is because of the equal status enjoyed by the women and also by improved access and control of resources by women.

The main objective of research study is to know the status of women's empowerment and their socio-economic status in Pauri Garhwal district in the background of various socio-economic and cultural variables. Women empowerment mostly depends upon their education and decision making. Factors affecting the empowerment of women are also shown in this paper. It is observed that women empowerment depends on their present age. Education of women is an important factor which affects the empowerment of women in the society.