[8] A STUDY ON THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR RURAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

How to Cite the Article: Sowmya K (2026). A Study on the Role and Impact of Women Empowerment and Social Security Schemes for Rural Sustainable Development. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Reviews, 5(s2). 72-80.

Abstract

This research paper explores whether mentoring programs for women can accelerate the process of bridging the gender gap. Although several initiatives have been implemented to promote gender equality in the workplace and society, persistent challenges—such as entrenched social hierarchies and women's own perceptions of their roles—often hinder progress. While women’s empowerment has emerged as a critical concern in the 21st century, its practical realization remains elusive. Women's empowerment encompasses the enhancement of educational, economic, financial, cultural, social, and political status, particularly for those historically marginalized. This study analyzes the need for women’s empowerment in India, with a particular focus on rural areas, and highlights the key challenges and governmental schemes supporting this goal. Empowerment is a vital driver of social development, enabling women to engage meaningfully in economic, political, and community activities. Despite numerous governmental efforts, Indian women—especially in rural regions—remain relatively disempowered and often internalize unequal gender norms. The findings suggest that while central and state governments have introduced various beneficial schemes, sustained progress requires both structural change and a shift in societal attitudes. The paper concludes that structured mentoring and awareness programs can complement policy initiatives to foster holistic development and gender parity. This research paper focuses on exploring whether mentoring programs for women can speed the process of bridging the gender gap. Several measures have been taken in the past to ensure that gender equality in the workplace in the organization and society is practiced at the grass-roots level. However, the barriers and difficulties encountered during such an exercise may be compounded by the women’s own attitudes towards their work place in the social hierarchy and their potential as well as their assessment of other women. Today the empowerment of the women has become one of the most important concerns of 21st century but practically women empowerment is still an illusion of reality. Women Empowerment is essentially the process of upliftment of educational economic, financial, cultural, social and political status of every woman, the traditionally underprivileged ones in the society. This paper focus to analysed the need of Women Empowerment in India and highlights the challenges and schemes of Women Empowerment. Empowerment is the main process of social development which can enable women to participate, in the educational economic, cultural, political and social sustainable development of the rural area communities. Women of India are relatively disempowered and they enjoy somewhat lower status than that of men in spite of many efforts undertaken by Government. It is found that acceptance of unequal gender norms by women are still prevailing in the society. The study concludes by an observation that Central and State Government Providing Basic Facilities and Implementing Various Schemes are enabling factors to Women Empowerment.