Women Empowerment in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Gaining greater control over resources and participation in decision making by women is referred to as empowerment. Self-Help Groups of women provide necessary skills, competencies and an organisational base for achieving social and economic empowerment through micro-finance activities. The women were supported by development programmes of Government organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and financial institutions. Participation of women in elections as voters and occupying positions of leadership in democratic institutions is political empowerment. Women of Thanjavur district achieved the social and economic empowerment through SHGs and employment. The political empowerment was possible in Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies than in Assemblies and Parliaments mainly due to Constitutional provisions.