Social Empowerment

The process of establishing a sense of autonomy and self-confidence and working individually and as a group to change social relationships, institutions and discourses that exclude and keep poor and other minority people is known as social empowerment. It can also be referred to as the process of gaining sufficient control and confidence to alter the way society is socially formed, such as its organisations and the roles in society that have been allocated to people, such as gender social roles.

Four Levels of Social Empowerment

Social empowerment is usually implemented at four levels: 

(1)   The individual level, where a person values oneself and actively wants to get involved in the life

(2)   The family level, where the individual learns the importance of having a family as a pillar of support

(3)   The community level, where people work for the community they belong to

(4)   The social policies level, which influences native and national level steps to enhance social equity and social justice for all

Achieving Social Empowerment

Social empowerment is essential for persons with disabilities to achieve a high quality of life, and it is both a process and an outcome. We can achieve social empowerment through various areas of practice, such as improved education systems and cultural research. It is also a distinct field of practice with resources, methods and solutions to help people become more socially incorporated. Individualised social support is a unique and tailored method to social inclusion in which a person is aided in thriving in their unique circumstances.

Need for Social Empowerment

1. The fundamental benefit of social empowerment is that it will result in society’s more sustainable and comprehensive development. People’s earnings benefit individuals and their families and contribute to the development of society.
2. In the case of corruption, social empowerment is beneficial since individuals tend to understand the exploited class and refrain from paying bribes, which lessens corruption.
3. One method of reducing poverty is through social empowerment. When people are empowered, they are more likely to put their knowledge to good use and reduce their poverty, critical for national prosperity.
4. As a result of social empowerment, people are more likely to choose the correct work, which reduces unemployment and underemployment.
5. As a result of social empowerment, there is a reduction in social violence perpetrated against the poor. When someone is socially empowered, they know their rights and responsibilities.

Sections that require Social Empowerment the most

1. Women:

In the last several decades, women have been one of the significant groups requiring social empowerment the most. It has become a topic of discussion worldwide as gender equality is a priority for many international organisations, including the United Nations.  It is believed that women cannot wait any longer to assert their social, economic and political equality.

Some significant problems faced by women that can be resolved by social empowerment are:

• Early marriages and dowry – Girl child marriages and harassment of women by their husbands and in-laws often lead to women’s deprivation of empowerment as they lose self-esteem, confidence, and sometimes even a will to live.

• Limited education – Education is forbidden, and even if it were, the girl would be unable to attend school due to time limits imposed by house chores.

• Job discrimination – Throughout its history, provision for unemployment has been marked by the discriminatory treatment of women. Women are not favoured in many industries, even though they are often paid less.

2. Scheduled Caste:

Scheduled castes are those backgrounds in the country that face massive social, academic and financial backwardness as a result of the centuries-old practice of untouchability, as well as certain others due to a lack of infrastructure and geographic isolation, and who require special attention to protect their interests and accelerate their social empowerment.

Problems faced by scheduled castes:

• Basic rights denied– Many essential services were denied to the SCs, including access to drinking water, temple entry, public transportation and burial. Many advancements have been made, yet the fact that social disadvantages still exist is a harsh truth.

• Bonded labour – They were compelled to do things like scavenge for food, serve as bonded labourers, and do other things that were against their fundamental human rights.

3. Senior Citizens:

According to projections, India’s population is expected to rise by 55 per cent between 2000 and 2050. Governments are frequently insufficient to minimise the repercussions of rapid population growth, which has implications for senior citizens’ social empowerment.

Problems faced by senior citizens:

• Digital illiteracy: When older family members cannot follow the latest technological language of communication, there is a communication issue between the elderly and the younger members. They also find it tough to take advantage of digital schemes.

• Migration and its effects: As a result of younger people migrating, the elderly are left alone or solely with their spouses, and they are socially isolated, poor and distressed.

Conclusion

Social empowerment is a set of measures aimed at increasing people’s and communities’ autonomy and self-determination so that they can represent their concerns in a conscientious and self-determined manner. This includes providing education, employment and health services to those with limited resources and giving them a sense of moral and social responsibility in which they can live and grow.