The concept of Women Empowerment reached momentum in the second half
of the 1990s. The Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Empowerment
Measure (GEM) put forward by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP
1995) measure some aspects of women empowerment and found that both are
sufficient to measure women empowerment at the individual level. Women are the
victims of social, political, religious, and economic subordination and deprivation in
Indian society. Also, they are treated unequally and cannot participate in democratic
activities equally with men. Women throughout the world have been struggling to
break away the shackles of bondage, subjugation, oppression and all kinds of ill
treatment both within and outside of their families. Without bringing them into the
corridors of power where they can formulate policies and programs and implement
them, the survival of women is very difficult.
In our society, women's political participation as well as representation is very
low. Women are also considered second-rate people throughout the world. The low
representation of women is a consequence of many factors. Traditional cultural
values, obligations to families and children to raise their children, lack of awareness
and education, lack of political socialization etc. The constitutional, legal as well as
administrative arrangements have led to many changes in women's lives in our
society. Women's political empowerment implies the decentralization of power and
authority in the deprived, oppressed and powerless people who have not been able to
participate in the decision-making processes and implementation of policies and
programs of both government organizations as well as familial and societal matters.
The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment also created significant steps
towards women's political participation. Today, women receive 'easy tickets' for
elections by booking. This challenge lets women come back from the public sphere
by present male rule and by other factors. But the quality of her performance is
essential to inspect their quantity representation. Other women as a "proxy or rubber
stamp" should increase their ability to make decisions and to perform in other
important areas. For women who first enter the deep sea called politics, there should
be many challenges. It is essential to ensure and improve one's participation in all
those obstacles that are needed, particularly in the early stages of representation and
the development of the support system.