Introduction:
In the Stone Age period, women had equal status and power with men. But then they started facing societal difficulties during the post-Vedic ages. It was observed that right from the early 20th twenty (national movement), the status of women had been changing gradually and the credit goes to the pioneering efforts of none other than Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Before highlighting Dr. Ambedkar’s role in woman empowerment, let us define woman empowerment.
Definition of Woman empowerment
Women’s empowerment is all about giving women the power to make their own choices and control their lives. It’s about:
- Feeling good about themselves: This includes self-confidence and believing they are valuable.
- Having choices: This means being able to decide things about their education, work, relationships, and health.
- Having a voice: Being able to speak up for themselves and be heard.
- Having equal opportunities: This means having the same chances as men to succeed in life.
Contributions of Dr. Ambedkar for Woman empowerment
Dr. Ambedkar’s efforts for social justice, particularly for women empowerment make him stand alone and next to the God for underprivileged. Dr. Ambedkar was a brilliant thinker and a strong advocate for justice.
Dr. Ambedkar began his fight for equality in 1920. He spoke out against the unfair social system, especially for women and lower castes through his magazines (“Mook Nayak” and “Bahiskrit Bharat”).Some of the important contributions of Dr. Ambedkar for women empowerments can be listed as:
- Dr. Ambedkar advocated family planning strongly for women. He wanted this because large families often led to poor health for womenand many died during childbirth.
- He worked to ensure that women were also protected under labour laws. He was instrumental in reducing the number of working hours and improving the working conditions.
- He supported a Bill granting paid maternity leave for women working in factories.
- Ambedkar also believed that women have the right over their own body. He argued for reproductive rights for women.
- He supported equal wages, pension and equal representation of women on the welfare funds.
- Dr. Ambedkar was given a task of drafting the Hindu Code Bill. Dr. Ambedkar used this as an opportunity to ensure women had full access to rights within the system such as half share of properties for daughters, principle of monogamy and other issues.
- Movements headed by Ambedkar always had women walking side-by-side with the men. During the Mahad Satyagraha 10,000 men and women walked together to break the law on not allowing the Mahars to drink water. This was in contrast to otherSatyagrah, during which there were limited no women who were allowed to participate.
- In the Kalaram temple-entry movement he inspired women to come out of their social arenas and speak with courage.
Summary
He was strong believer that empowering women benefits everyone! When women have more opportunities, societies are healthier, more peaceful, and more prosperous. Women empowerment is must for strong and healthy society.
Today, it is overwhelming to see that a good proportion of women in India are in respectable positions in all walks of the field. For this, we must thank Dr. Ambedkar for his timely act of support of woman empowerment.
By – Aadhya Paul
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