WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT ISSUE AND ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN GROWTH TRAJECTORY

Abstract

The promotion of women's self-worth, their autonomy, and their right to affect social change for both themselves and others is known as Women's Empowerment. As part of a significant worldwide movement, women's empowerment and the advancement of women's rights have gained momentum in recent years. Additionally, events like International Women's Empowerment Day are becoming more popular. In the contemporary 21st century, the Sustainable Development Goal agenda, technological advancement and use of the internet have been able to connect the grassroots levels of the remotest geographical areas to the world to some extent. Technology has become a driving force behind women's professional, personal and socio-cultural empowerment, from innovative solutions for addressing bias and promoting inclusivity to platforms for women to connect and support one another. With the broad spectrum spread of information and communication technologies, women are finding obvious ways of sharing their thoughts, channelize preferences voicing out against discrimination, and violations and fighting for inclusivity. However, despite significant advancements, violence and discrimination against women still persist bringing down the prevalence of peace and prosperity. This study focuses on the different forms and ways of women empowerment and how technology and innovations could bring about constructive and exemplary progress towards empowerment, security, equality and holistic well-being of society. This study also focuses on the move towards women's empowerment through technology use proposed in NEP 2020.