Women empowerment and gender equality are critical for the development and well-being of families, communities, and nations. Women have been discriminated against not only in India but throughout the world as a result of patriarchy. According to the United States, violence against women is a component of the system, and one out of every three women is subjected to it. In the Indian context, generalisation of women is difficult because of the vast differences between them, but there are a few points that reflect the dismal situation.
KD Singh, the founder of KD Singh Foundation, talks about women’s empowerment and why it exists in our Indian society. He further introduces his foundation, which is doing its best to help those in need.
Patriarchal structures and ideologies lead to women’s subordination and gender inequalities as they belong to different classes, castes, religions, and communities. They lag behind men in every metric of social and human development. Women’s sex ratios in India are poor in comparison. Their expectancy, health, education and nutritional levels are significantly lower than that of men. Also, their participation in social and political decision-making is abysmally low. And, today’s girls face obstacles, responsibilities such as neglect, discrimination, and concerns of being aborted, sexual abuse to rape.
To address and overcome the situation, there’s an absolute need to empower women and understand their dynamic and political process. “Women empowerment entails altering patriarchal thinking and systems, granting women authority over resources, and allowing them to participate in decision-making processes, among other things. It is a continuous, dynamic, and two-way process – we empower and are empowered, that allows women to acquire greater access to and control over resources, decision-making, and autonomy,” says KD Singh. It is the need of the hour to welcome feminist thinking and ideology. Open discussions about the empowerment of principles like justice, democracy, equality, and sustainability have to be practised.
KD Singh says, “Women empowerment is a multidimensional and integrative process,” he adds, “It can be achieved by identifying women’s contribution to society visible, such as their role as homemakers, mothers, labourers, professionals, etc.” Moreover, women’s education is the most significant factor in their empowerment provided the content and approach of this education must be pro-women. By strengthening and expanding efforts to educate women, we can create a society where they can be masters of their own lives and be the creators of their own fates. Participatory and non-hierarchical methodologies should be used to make women feel good, increase their confidence, and empower them.
Dr KD Singh, a prominent industrialist, distinguished parliamentarian, philanthropist and a mentor, formed a Support Cell for Rape Victims to combat the alarming rise in crimes against women. This initiative attempts to aid survivors in their recovery from heinous acts of abuse. The Support Cell, which was established on March 25, 2013, assists survivors by providing legal, medical, financial, and psychological assistance. The Support Cell for Rape Victims has provided free legal and educational support to more than 100 rape survivors through its staff of social workers, educators, and lawyers. It has also aided many rape victims in receiving medical attention. KD Singh Foundation has also provided educational assistance to 63 survivors and vocational training assistance to 12. The cell has provided 28 rape survivors marriage support in an effort to help them return to normal social life.
Our society needs endeavours such as KD Singh Foundation to support the rape and abuse victims through multifarious efforts at micro and macro levels.
