“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
| Gender equality | Gender equity | Women empowerment |
| 1. refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of all genders 2. Men, women and other genders enjoy the same rights across all sectors of society including economic participation, and decision-making. 3. Focus is on Equal treatment and access for all genders without bias or discrimination. 4. Genders are equally valued, respected, and favored. 5. Example: Equal pay for equal work. | 1. recognizes that different genders may require different resources and support to achieve equality. 2. Focuses on fairness and justice and Recognizes the historical and social disadvantages faced by women. 3. It employs targeted measures to achieve the desired outcomes. 4. Focus is on Addressing systemic inequalities by providing resources based on specific needs to achieve fairness. 5. Example: 1/3rd reservation of seats for women in panchayatraj. | 1. Enhancing women’s agency, autonomy, and control over decisions that impact their lives. 2. It enables women to recognise- self worth, access to opportunities & resources, ability to influence direction of social change. 3. Focus is on empowering women to make their own choices and assert their rights in all areas of life. 4. Example: Self-help groups like SEWA in Gujarat. |
Importance of taking gender concerns into account in program design and implementation
Program Design:
- Addressing Inequality: Designing programs that explicitly target gender-based disparities ensures that women and other marginalized groups have equal access to resources. Eg: In PM Awas Yojana (Housing for All), houses are registered in the names of women or jointly with men.
- Ensuring Inclusivity: to consider the different needs of men, women, and non-binary individuals, ensuring equal opportunities and access. Eg: The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) focuses on empowering rural women through self-help groups (SHGs).
- Meeting Legal and Policy Mandates: Eg: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aims to improve the gender ratio and ensure equal opportunities for girls in education to achieve targets under RTE.
- Better Resource Allocation: Gender mainstreaming ensures that resources are distributed equitably based on the specific needs of men and women. Eg- In PM Ujjwala Yojana, directly improving women’s health and reducing indoor air pollution.
- Promoting Sustainable Development by addressing long-term societal needs and promoting balanced growth. Eg: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission promotes women’s roles in agriculture, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and gender equality in rural economies.
- Aligning with human rights principles such as non-discrimination and equality. By doing so, programmes can work towards fulfilling the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender.
Program Implementation:
- Better Outcomes such as improved health, education, and economic growth for all. Eg: Kudumbashree scheme of Kerala.
- Empowering Women and Marginalized Groups: Implementation strategies that prioritize women’s participation and decision-making empower them economically and socially. Eg: The MUDRA Yojana
- Enhancing Social Cohesion: Eg: Mission Shakti in Odisha works towards creating a network of women’s self-help groups, fostering social cohesion through collective action and community participation.
- Prevents Reinforcement of Gender Stereotypes: Gender-focused implementation helps adjust and correct strategies to avoid reinforcing harmful gender norms or adding burdens on specific groups.
- Adapting to Ground Realities: Eg: National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) adapted water schemes to reduce the burden on women, who traditionally fetched water, by bringing water sources closer to rural homes.
| Best Practices Sweden – Gender Budgeting – Improved access to social services and accountability in government spending related to gender equality.Rwanda – gender quota ensuring over 60% female representation in parliament.Canada – Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+): to assess the impact of policies on gender and other factors like race. |
Gender mainstreaming is imperative for achieving SDG – 5 and upholding human rights globally.
