Empowering women through bottom to top approach

Abstract

Empowerment of women enables them to realize their full potential, Women empowerment and Participation of economic activity is vital for economic development and equalities. Sri Lanka’s total population 20.27 million consists of 53% women according to the latest census. The latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2009/2010, which was conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, and the estimates, reveal that, out of five million households in Sri Lanka, 1.1 million (23%) households are headed by women. And, most of the women heading households are in 40-59 age groups, while 50% of them are widows, and 4.5% are reported as never married. And, there are 89,000 widows in north and east of Sri Lanka according to the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs. The high percentage of widows can be attributed to the prolonged war in Sri Lanka. In recent years Government, non government organization and foreign agencies plays significant role in empowering women through creation of rural based enterprises and awareness training and also it empowers the community and the villages of our country The purpose of this study is to find out empowerment through bottom to top approach. Due to the last 30 years war, tsunami in 2004 and internal and external displacement women were affected by many ways. Particularly they lost their house leader, family members, and their shelter and so on . National policies of Sri Lanka empowerments of women safeguard the right and legal entitlement of women in the recent years. Empowerment of women has been recognized as a central issue in determine the status of women. Creating an environment through positive economic and social polices and education Knowledge, political participation also some of the ways to upward the women status from bottom to top. Data for the study was collected by interacting with women development association and also the records from of Government and Non Governmental organization. The collected data were analyzed with appropriate statistical tools. Women are forced to bear multiple burdens due to poverty, conflict and displacement. Needy women needs variety of services just not loan to empower their lives. Presently Microfinance helped them to empower by lending money to women at comparatively affordable rates micro credit organizations in a way help women to try entrepreneurships at least in a small way thus empowering them with economic power. This in turn helps improve their overall status however they needs some other social and physiological counseling to heal their lives

Government should create more favorable policies that stimulate women from the bottom level as a an entrepreneur for sustainable development of their family .proper well design counseling and Education system should be given more training to women to get awareness regarding self-employment.