Where do we stand in empowering women in India? ~Lalit Kishore IN INDIA, gender disparity manifests itself in various forms as is evident by declining sex ratio in the population, social stereotyping and violence against women at the domestic and societal levels. Discrimination against girl children, adolescent girls and women persists in education, health and development in many parts of the country. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its preamble, fundamental rights, fundamental duties and directive principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. Some of the steps taken for by the GoI for women empowerment are: • From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards there has been a marked shift in the approach to women’s issues from welfare to development. • The national commissio...