Empowerment
Topic: Human Development: Concept, Approaches and Measurement · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Human Development"
Meaning
Empowerment is one of the four pillars of human development. The other three are equity, sustainability and productivity. Empowerment means having the power to make your own choices. This power comes from more freedom and more capability, which is the ability to actually do things. It needs good governance and people-centred policies, with special attention to groups that are socially and economically disadvantaged. Without empowerment, people cannot use the opportunities around them.
Example
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment reserved one-third of panchayat (village council) seats for women. This gave women in villages across India a direct say in local decisions. Self-help groups of rural women and the 2023 women's reservation law work towards the same goal.
Don't confuse with
- Equity: equity means equal access to opportunities. Empowerment means having the actual power to choose and act on those opportunities.