Women empowerment through Collective Action and Constitutional Provisions

In part-3 of the constitution of India,fundamental rights have been elaborated in four main trajectories-
1.Civil and political rights;
2.Rights of the marginalised(such as women,dalits and tribals);
3.Economic,social and cultural rights;
4.The right to transparent and accountable governance.
While civil and political rights focussed on the rights of the individual,in the mid 1970s a new human rights discourse,based on group rights,collective rights and peoples' right became the main agenda for social and political empowerment.
The women's movement not only critisised the Indian patriachy,casteism and feudalism;it also promoted a new awareness of women's rights.Started as urban movement,over a period of 30 yrs. ,it has spread with new campaigns for women's political participation and rights.73rd and 74 th amendments has provided reservation of atleast 33% to women at all levels of the local self-government.