1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

From ancient to modern period, with time the condition of women has changed economically, socially and politically. In ancient - India women enjoyed equal status with men; in early Vedic period they were educated and there are references of women sage such as Maitreyi in our ancient texts. But with the coming of favourite treatise of Manu i.e. Manusmriti the status of women was relegated to a subordinate position to men.

Their right to education, work and to decide for themselves were taken away. During the medieval period the condition of women got worsened with advent of Muslim rulers in India. During the British period, need for making women favouring laws arose due to centuries of domination and discrimination done by men over women. They are target of various types of discrimination and violent practices done by men all over the world. India is no different due to this Indian Constitution grants constitutional and legal rights which would help to eliminate the age-old exploitative customs and traditions and also such provisions will also help in social, economic and political empowerment of the women.

 

2.  CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGES

Our Nation founding fathers were determined to provide equal rights to both women and men. The Indian Constitution is one of the finest documents of equality in the world. It states provision to secure equality in general and gender equality in particular. The constitution not only grants equality to women but also empowers the law makers to adopt measures of the positive discrimination in favour of women.

 

3.  PREAMBLE

The Indian Preamble assures justice socially, economically, and politically, equality to status, opportunity and dignity to all individuals. Thus it treats both men and women equally.

 

4.  FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

The policy of women rights are well entrenched in Fundamental Rights and enshrined in our Constitution. For instance:

       a) Article 14 ensures the women the right to equality.

       b) Article 15 (1) specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex .

       c) Article 15 (3) empowers the State to take affirmative action in favour of women.

       d) Article 16 provide for equal opportunity for all in matters related to employment or appointment in any office.

 

These rights being fundamental rights are justiciable in court of law and the government has obligation to ensure that citizen's fundamental rights is not violated.

 

5.  DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

Directive Principles of State Policy contains some very important provision regarding women empowerment and it is the duty of the government to apply these principles while making laws or formulating any policies. Though these are not justiciable in the court but these are essential for governance nonetheless.

 

6.  SPECIFIC LAWS FOR WOMEN IN INDIA

The list below is of some specific laws which were enacted by the Parliament in order to fulfil Constitutional obligation of women empowerment:

 

1. The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
2. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
3. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
4. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
5. The Medical termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
6. The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987.
7. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
8. The Pre-Conception Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994.
9. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Protection and) Act, 2013.
10. The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1976
11. The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
12. The Employee’s State Insurance Act, 1948
13. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
14. The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
15. The Workmen Compensation Act, 1923

 

Above mentioned and several other laws are there which not only provide specific legal rights to women but also gives them a sense of security and empowerment.

 

7.  SUGGESTION

There is need to raise awareness among employers and employees about issue of harassment and violence at workplace.

 

Training and education would help employers to understand and respond to what is happening in their workplace.

 

Employers should be encouraged to try to resolve issues internally and should be given flexibility to decide how to do this before bringing in a neutral third party.

 

Clear, written policies on how organizations should respond to allegations of workplace violence and harassment.

 

‌Policies must include explicit protection against retaliation for reporting an incident.

 

Improve internal professional network.

 

Lack of social interaction leads to sexual harassment and violence.

 

If big companies want to attract future generation, they need to create a workplace where they are happy and creative.

 

8. CONCLUSION

The status of women in the industrial setup is a complex issue that requires continuous attention and efforts. While progress has been made in promoting gender equality and empowering women in the workplace, there are still significant challenges that need to be addressed. It is crucial to ensure equal opportunities, fair treatment, and safe working environments for women in industries. Additionally, policies and initiatives that promote women's leadership, skill development, and work-life balance should be implemented. By recognizing and addressing the unique barriers faced by women in the industrial sector, we can create a more inclusive and equitable workforce. Ultimately, achieving gender equality in the industrial setup will not only benefit women but also contribute to the overall growth and development of society.

 

9.  REFERENCES

1.  November 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
2. "Statistical Overview of Women in Global Workplaces:Catalyst Quick Take".  Catalyst. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
3. "Graph" . Gapminder World . Retrieved February 17, 2015.
4. "12 Stats About Working Women | U.S. Department of Lbor Blog". blog.dol.gov. Retrieved November 10, 2020.