Patil Pooja Gorakha

LA4000

Women Empowerment refers to empowering women with education, employment, decision making and better health in an equal & just society. When women are empowered they contribute to their family’s income and become active change leaders in their communities. If you build a woman, you build a community. When she is empowered, her generation and her family is empowered. From my engagement with women at Purushwadi (a small village in Maharashtra), I have figured out two key areas that will lead to their sustainable development and empowerment. •Income generating activities •Social activities  These small steps if executed methodically, will give rise to women living confidently, independently and unleashing their full potentials in the society.  The women of Purushwadi can be empowered through hands-on skills, entrepreneurship, and micro business expansions. Based on the resource availability in that area, Briquette making, Handicrafts, Food Processing Units and hospitable areas etc. can be the one of the potential small scale initiatives women might wish to pursue one of it. For some of the activities the women may also require vocational skills training or business idea expansion opportunities or basic tools to start, operate, build and expand their businesses. Women in a supportive group of like minds in their community gets encouraged to have open discussion about the challenges and leads to personal and group growth. Building a community/physical training center can create such platforms which will empower women, be confident, powerful and resourceful.