Concept and Implications of Empowerment of Rural Women in North-East India: A Case Study

There are a variety of understandings of the term empowerment due to its widespread usage. There could be statistical findings indicating improvements in indicators of gender equality, but unless the intervening process affecting the involved women is investigated, one can not be sure that the improvements in statistical indicators are due to empowerment. For example, the style of living of a person may show a high standard but he/she may not be empowered in the true sense. Empowerment can be defined in terms of specific activities or end results because it involves a process whereby women can freely analyze, develop, and voice their needs and interests. The study focuses on the process and nature of empowerment in Khasi society in Meghalaya and general and tribal women in Tripura. This paper is thus an attempt to examine the nature and process of empowerment of rural women in the two opposing states namely, Meghalaya and Tripur