Latasinha's Weblog

Empowerment and self reliance

Empowerment comes from enlightenment and freeing oneself from any kind of fear or insecurity. In simple words, empowerment means freeing oneself from dependability on other or asking favours from others or the government for positions in the echelons of power.

Empowerment can be achieved through devising a proper system of education and training. Proper upbringing within the family followed by a sound system of education could empower the weak, ignorant, illiterate and unskilled persons confident, aware, knowlegable as well as employable. It would develop the capacity to stand on ones own feet and to take one’s own decisions without crutches or any outside help. 

 Empowerment can not be done through quota system or reserving seats of power for impoverished groups. Empowerment does not mean that one has to occupy a position of power in society or one has to become a ‘PM, CM (holding, important positions in political institutions), GM (occupying crucial positions in public or private sectors), or DM (appointed in influential positions in bureaucracy)’.

It is a law of the nature that almost in all the fields – be it social, economic or political-, there are two ends – giving end and begging end. People at giving end exercise authority over the persons at asking end. Persons belonging to asking category remain dependent on the former group. For empowerment, one must develop the capacity to give something worthwhile to the people, to their society and to their nation.

To empower the weaker sections of society, the role of government is that of a facilitator. It is advisable that the Government must ensure the participation of people in performing this task effectively and function in co-operation and co-ordination with the common men of the country. Then only it would achieve its targets within time and cost parameters. 

People should regularly give a feed back to the institutions responsible for the bringing up marginalised sections of society. Those in power should be accountable, transparent and accessible to common man.  It should involve all sections of society in the task of empowering the submerged sections of society. Police-force, planners and policy-makers, service providers, transport authorities, community groups, residents groups and NGO’s to make collective efforts to ensure safety, security and make their areas a better place to live in. Once it is done, people would automatically feel empowered. 

February 16, 2010 - Posted by latasinha | General | Empowerment