Har subah sirf utho mat Jaago Re TATA TEA

India has made several laws to protect the rights of women in the country. There are laws related to domestic violence, dowry, female foeticide, eve teasing, abortion, sexual harassment, etc. However, irrespective of all the laws, there has been a progressive deterioration of woman's status in India due to the emphasis on the patriarchal system, cultural and religious implications which subjugate women, denying her something as basic as freedom of expression. This is in spite of the fact that India has the world’s largest number of professionally qualified women and more working women than any other country in the world. On an average however, women in India are socially, politically and economically weaker than men.

Plans are underway to launch a national mission for empowerment of women that aim to achieve convergence among women-centric programs run at various levels. Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath promised that a sum of Rs. 10 million will be earmarked for the national scheme. Access to education has been one of the most pressing demands of these women's rights movements. Women's education in India has also been a major concern of the government and civil society as educated women can play a very important role in the development of the country. It not only helps in the development of the women’s quality of life at home and outside. Educated women not only tend to promote education of their girl children, but also can provide better guidance to all their children. Low enrollment of girl child in the schools, engagements of girl children in domestic works and high drop out rate are major obstacles in the path of making all Indian women educated.

There is a National Human Rights Commission for Women that handle all human rights violations against women. There is a National Council for Women that advocate policy for Women. There is an entire ministry for women that formulates and implements policy for them. However, the need is now to see where all these schemes and laws fit in to actually lead to the enhancement of women’s rights and contribute towards their empowerment in a more meaningful manner.