Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Self- Reliance Mechanisms with Special Reference to India– An Empirical Study presented at Newyork

Abstract

Economic empowerment is the pre-requisite for the sustainable development, and this study is possible only by
increasing participation in the economics. The path towards women’s economic empowerment is described as a
process which helps to have control over the factors which affect their lives. In gaining control of financial resources,
activity, savings serve as the reliable way to cushion against economic shocks while providing a way for women to
plan their future. Financial empowerment, provides the variety of benefits, like better-paying returns, wealth and skill
building and conscious individuals, who are politically active, economically productive and independent and can
make intelligent discussion in matters that affect them. Economic empowerment and factors contributing to economic
enhancement are studied by two qualitative (grounded theory) and quantitative (relationship & association between
the variables are considered) in this research. Speaking directly to women is an important aspect of measuring changes
in women’s Economic Empowerment, In-depth interview techniques, and focus group discussions, and participatory
& direct observations are used. This approach helped to have the qualitative data, and further, a questionnaire was
administered to hundred women who are the members of the collective groups for quantitative data collection for
understanding in detail the level of Economic Empowerment. The present paper tries to explain the Economic
Enhancement of women in Indian perspective, through self-sufficient mechanisms for greater leadership by a sample
study believing that the position of women and their status in any society is the index of its civilization. The study
indicates that women with their savings, capable of exercising more bargaining power and decision-making
capabilities within the household and in the larger society with greater potential investing in family & children.