• SEKHAR BABU KURAPATI
• R.V. SIVA RAO

Most of the studies reveal that women of India disempowered and they enjoy some lower status than that of men in spite of many efforts undertaken by government. Gender gap exists regarding access to education and employment. Household decision making power and freedom of movement of women vary considerably with their age, education and employment status. It is found that acceptance of unequal gender norms by women are still prevailing in the society. More than half of the women believe wife beating to be justified for one reason or the other. Fewer women have final say on how to spend their earnings. Control over cash earnings increases with age, education and with place of residence. Women’s exposure to media is also less relative to men. Rural women are more prone to domestic violence than that of urban women. A large gender gap exists in political participation too. The study concludes by an observation that access to education and employment are only the enabling factors to empowerment, achievement towards the goal, however, depends largely on the attitude of the people towards gender equality. Empowerment was defined as a process of transformation of power relation by which oppressed persons gain some control over their lives and involved in the matters, which affects them directly the role of women in development is most intimately related to the goal of comprehensive socio-economic development. Empowerment is the re-distribution of power that challenges ideology and male dominance. It is the greater transformation of the structure or institutions that reinforces and perpetuates gender discrimination. Self Help groups have been playing a vital role in employment generation and employment of women. Many self Help groups are using the financial resources availed to fund investments in assets creation and help financially and socially for the downtrodden women in India. Micro -finance is directly helping poor to empower the conditions of women in India. Women from gross roots investing in self help groups and engaging the women in social, economic, and political fields. Women will be able to plan for their livelihood through the self help groups. Marginalized women finds self help groups are rejuvenating sparks in their lives. This paper looks into the impact of Self Help groups in the upliftment of women status through their contribution to the empowered society. Self Help groups helped them to overcome majority of their personal as professional life. This is a new venture in the women empowerment and social development angle. If not full at least this micro-financing is a hope for many women who are downtrodden sections of the society. This will be programme of mass enlightenment and empowerment.

"A PAPER ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.200-202, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812227.pdf

"A PAPER ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp200-202, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812227.pdf