Women and change
Name of the book: Women’s Empowerment: Present and the Way Forward
Publisher: Purbanchal Prakash
Editor: Deepali Bora
Pages: 280
Price: Rs 500
Women’s empowerment is an issue that has been grabbing headlines for quite sometime now. But when it comes to Assam, the demographic and social diversity poses a challenge to those implementing women-specific programmes.
The book, Women Empowerment: Present and the Way Forward, is a compilation that can guide the implementing agencies in finding the perfect balance when it comes to empowering women in a multi-community, multi-cultural society like that of Assam.
The book is a compilation of papers presented in a national seminar organised by the Prateeti Women’s Forum at Debraj Roy College, Golaghat, in August 2009.
Though most of the papers are interesting and introspective case studies of marginalised women groups in the Northeast and their problems, a few like Education: A way to Women’s Empowerment, Women Empowerment: Issues, Strategies and Challenges, Education: A Tool for Empowerment of Rural Women and Women Empowerment and Education are just rehashed statistics.
Other papers shed light on the Misings and the tea tribe population of Assam vis-à-vis the condition of their women, their position in society and also on other little known facts like why and how the ex-tea garden labourers came into being in Assam and how they subsist.
Out of the total of 31 papers presented in the seminar, four are novel studies on women’s status and progress through the media of cinema and literature.
The first traces the empowerment of Assamese women through cinema is aptly described in the paper, Women in Assamese Cinema: A Saga of Women’s Liberation by Kritanjali Konwar, Kakoli Sonowal, Plabita Das.
Another paper, Phelani: A Portrayal of Women’s Empowerment by Mayuri Sarma Baruah deals with the novel by Assamese author Arupa Patangia Kalita.
A paper by Deepali Bora and Mousumi Baruah upholds Pitambardev Goswami as a torchbearer in the field of women’s empowerment in 20th century Assam.
Though most of the data and statistics may have been relevant to the period when the research was carried out, this book stands as an invaluable record of our times — the inferior status of women in our country, the yet-to-be-addressed issues which will remove the hurdles in empowering women in the 21st century, legislative support for women in India, government initiatives, the Panchayati Raj institution and other development programmes for women.
The government should pay heed to the slew of suggestions by experts who had worked in the field to understand the problems plaguing implementation of development programmes for women and to find solutions to these problems, which are as much a reality today as they were a few years ago.
SMITA BHATTACHARYYA
Published on December 09, 2011
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111209/jsp/northeast/story_14850981.jsp
Women empowerment is a pressing global issue, and NGOs for women's empowerment are playing a vital role in driving positive change. These organizations serve as catalysts, providing essential support, resources, and advocacy to women. They offer training, education, and economic opportunities, helping women gain the skills and confidence to assert themselves in a traditionally male-dominated world.
ReplyDeleteThese NGOs, through their unwavering commitment to gender equality, work to break down the barriers that hold women back. Women's empowerment is not only about individual growth but about building more equitable societies. The work of these organizations is a beacon of hope for a future where every woman can realize her full potential.
This article from 2011 holds timeless relevance. Women's empowerment remains a critical subject, and the path toward empowerment has evolved considerably over the years. It's inspiring to see how far we've come in terms of gender equality and women's rights, but there's still work to be done.
ReplyDeleteReflecting on the progress made and the challenges ahead is crucial. Today, we continue to strive for equality in various aspects of life, from education and career opportunities to decision-making and leadership roles. The efforts to empower women are not just for women but for society as a whole.
It's encouraging to know that this topic continues to be a subject of discussion, and it's a reminder that the journey towards women's empowerment is ongoing. As we move forward, let's remember the achievements and challenges of the past and work together to build a more inclusive and equitable future.