In a candid and exclusive interview to Chief Editor Yojana, Smt Sheyphali. B. Sharan, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent Charge), Smt Renuka Chowdhury spelt out her views on Women's Empowerment.
Madam, you are seen as a powerful champion of the cause of Women’s empowerment. What in your view is empowerment of women? Is it economic, political betterment or simply a state of mind?
Smt Renuka Chowdhury: Empowerment to me means self esteem - self reliance – self confidence. Sometimes one thinks if this was there, if that was there, this could
have been done. But you don’t need any of that – if a woman is aware of her rights, of herself, if her selfesteem is high, then she is empowered!!
You have been in political arena for more than two decades – how has the issue of women’s empowerment evolved over this period? How different is the situation compared to when you first entered public life?
Smt Renuka Chowdhury: Sometimes we see decline in Parliamentary norms and conduct and the recent business of giving money to Parliamentarians is abysmally low. This collectively shames all of us no matter what. But the brilliance of a dynamic democracy constantly challenges us to redefine who and what we are about. Though this is the evolution process. That’s on the political front – but there are scores
of women who are leading active lives otherwise too. What about their empowerment?
Smt Renuka Chowdhury: On the one hand while it appears that not much been done and that there are still miles to go, which we do have to go, but there is a silent revolution happening because of the initiatives that government has taken.