Perspectives of Women Movement in Development

Contents: 1. Rise in womens consciousness. 2. Changing aspects of development in the world. 3. British era in India. 4. women movement and development approaches after Independence. 5. Women in the National Plan. 6. Scenario of status of the women in India. 7. Micro credit system. 8. SHG as a change agent and experiments. 9. SHG existence and reality.

Women continue to remain invisible and marginalized in decision making bodies leading to lack of a feminist perspective in political decision making. It was only with the setting up of the committee on the Status of Women in India CSWI in September 1971 that the demand for greater representation of women in political institutions in India was taken up in a systematic way. Earlier the focus of the growing womens movement had been on improving womens socio economic position. The CSWI Report Towards Equality 1974 reveals that political parties have tended to see that women voters and citizens as appendages of the males. It also refers to the tokenism involved in having a few women in the Legislature and Executive who are unable to act as spokespersons for women rights on account of their dependent and minority status. Recognising the tokenism inherent in associating women representatives through election co option or nomination in local bodies the report suggests a more meaningful association of women in the structure of local administration.