Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: In Respect of Millennium Development Goals

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. While the term ‘Empowerment’ has turned out to be a popular buzzword over the last decade and a half, at times, one really becomes puzzled about the ral meaning of the term. The meaning can range from ‘give power to’ and give capacity to perform some mental or physical activity to delegate authority, to give legal rights. The concept of empoerment is invoked in many contexts like human rights, basic needs, capacity building, skill acquisitions etc. However many hold the view that of all the ingredients, capacity building, skill acquisitions etc. However many hold the view thatt of all the ingredients, capacity building is the most relevant meaning of empowerment in the present context. The term Women Empowerment as a concept was introduced at the Internattional Women's conference at Nairobi in 1985. Empowerment means to empower or enable women undertake initiative to do certain things. The concept of empowerment of women, which is based on equality between sexes, is a long drawn, conscious and continuous process comprising enhancement of skills, capacity building leading to greater participation in decision making and control and to transform to action. Ensuring gender equality by removing gender discrimination is the key to real empowerment.