Chapter 6: Empowerment of Women & Other Weaker Sections Class 9 • Maharashtra Board
👩🦰 Women’s movements • ⚖️ Laws • 🧑🤝🧑 SC/ST/NT-DNT • 🕊️ Minorities
📚 Introduction
Women contributed greatly during the freedom struggle and continued to do so after independence. This chapter reviews mass movements led by women, key laws and policies for women’s rights, and provisions for other weaker sections such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Nomadic & De-notified Tribes, and Minorities.
👥 “Know this” – Female–Male Ratio (per 1000 men)
The trend shows persistent concern and calls for social introspection and reform.
| No. | Census Year | Women per 1000 Men |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1951 | 946 |
| 2 | 1961 | 941 |
| 3 | 1971 | 930 |
| 4 | 1981 | 934 |
| 5 | 1991 | 927 |
| 6 | 2001 | 933 |
- Reflect: What social attitudes and practices contribute to this decline? How can awareness and policy address them?
🙋♀️ Women’s Participation & People’s Movements
Bhoodan Movement
- Vinoba Bhave mobilised women volunteers to carry Gandhi’s message of voluntary land-gift across India.
Telangana Peasants’ Armed Struggle
- Women resisted feudal oppression; freedom from bonded labour brought social dignity.
1972 “Rolling-Pin” March (Laatne Morcha) – Mumbai
- Led by Mrinal Gore against scarcity and price rise (oil, ghee, rava, maida; costly kerosene) before Diwali.
- Showcased organised strength of homemakers; achieved relief on essentials.
Chipko Movement (1973)
- Initiated by Chandi Prasad Bhatt & Sunderlal Bahuguna against commercial felling in Himalayan foothills.
- Women encircled and embraced trees to protect them—Gaura Devi with Sudesha Devi & Bachani Devi led locally.
Anti-Liquor Movement (1992, Andhra Pradesh)
- Arrack shops proliferated; alcoholism devastated poor households. Literacy drives used Sitama Katha to spark awareness.
- After three youths from Dubagunta (Nellore) drowned in an inebriated state, village women forced closure of arrack shops; the movement spread State-wide.
🌍 1975: International Women’s Year & Organised Action
- UN declared 1975 as International Women’s Year (themes: peace, development, equality).
- India set up the Committee on the Status of Women chaired by Dr Phulrenu Guha—a national survey on women’s social position, work, education, wages, health and demographics.
Stree-mukti Sangharsha Samiti (1975)
- State-wide conference; 1978 manifesto against discrimination by gender/caste/varna.
- Cultural outreach: Streemuktichi Lalkari (songs), Mulgi Jhaali Ho (street play by Jyoti Mhapsekar), Prerak Lalkari periodical.
Other Groups (1977 onwards)
- Streemukti Andolan Samiti (Soudamini Rao, Pune), Bayaja (fortnightly), Stree Uvach, Maitrin, Stree Anyayavirodhi Manch (Aurangabad).
- Mahila Dakshata Samiti (Kolhapur), Mahila Hakka (Nashik), Nari Prabodhan Manch (Latur).
- Anti-dowry protection committees & protests (e.g., Dhule conference).
- Periodicals by Vidya Bal: Nari Samata Manch, Milun Saryajani; support from Samajwadi Mahila Sabha, Krantikari Mahila Sanghatana.
- Employment Guarantee Scheme (Maharashtra) strengthened economic agency of women.
National-Level Platforms
- Mahila Dakshata Samiti (1976, Pramila Dandavate)—expanded across many States.
- Akhil Bharatiya Janavadi Mahila Sanghatana (1980)—campaigns against dowry, female foeticide, domestic abuse.
- Women’s Studies Centres: SNDT Women’s University, TISS Mumbai, SPPU Pune, Shivaji University Kolhapur.
Women in Leadership
Several States have been led by women Chief Ministers (e.g., Sucheta Kripalani, Nandini Satpathy, Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Vasundhara Raje, Mamata Banerjee, Rabri Devi, Anandiben Patel, Sheila Dikshit, Mehbooba Mufti, Uma Bharti, Rajendra Kaur Bhattal, Sushma Swaraj, Shashikala Kakodkar, Syeda Anwara Taimur, Janaki Ramachandran).
⚖️ Laws & Policies for Women
| Year | Law / Decision | Key Provisions / Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Reforms recognising women’s rights | Right to alimony, share in father’s property; streedhan recognised; polygamy outlawed; right to divorce. |
| 1961 | Dowry Prohibition Act | Giving/receiving dowry became a cognizable offence. |
| 1961 | Maternity Benefit Act | Paid leave and protections for working women during childbirth. |
| 1984 | Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) | Strengthened enforcement in response to rising dowry deaths. |
| 1984 | Family Courts | Speedy, conciliatory resolution for alimony, custody, marital disputes. |
| 1985 | Shah Bano judgment | Supreme Court upheld right of a divorced Muslim woman to alimony; followed by Muslim Women’s Act. |
| 1988 | Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act | After the Roop Kanwar case (1987); stringent punishment for committing/glorifying sati. |
| 1993 | Protection of Human Rights Act | Established NHRC and State Commissions; addressed collective oppression, workplace security, conditions of divorced women. |
| 1992–93 | 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments | 1/3rd reservation for women in rural & urban local bodies; many States incl. Maharashtra raised it to 50%. |
📌 Despite laws, social vigilance remains vital. Press & civil society exposed suspicious “accidental” deaths to reveal dowry-related violence, pushing stronger amendments.
🧭 Constitutional Equality & Public Participation
- Equality of men and women: equal rights to vote, education, and work.
- Outlawed inhuman practices: sati, dowry, polygamy (as per relevant laws).
- Property rights and divorce rights recognised; reservations in local bodies amplified political voice.
🧑🤝🧑 Empowerment of Other Weaker Sections
Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Constitutional values: liberty, equality, fraternity, social justice.
- Untouchability abolished (Article 17); reservations in education & public employment.
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Remote habitation → economic & social backwardness; low farm productivity; malnutrition; limited health access.
- Special protection and representation in education, services, law-making bodies.
Nomadic & De-notified Tribes (NT–DNT)
- Pre-independence Criminal Tribes Act (1871) stigmatised communities; repealed after independence.
- Listed as De-notified Tribes; policies for social–economic development and educational & job representation.
Minorities
- Defined by smaller number in religion/language/race within society; India’s diversity requires protections.
- Educational & cultural rights: conserve language/culture; establish educational institutions.
- Government runs various welfare schemes for progress.
🧠 Quick Revision (Exam-Ready)
- Movements: Bhoodan; Telangana struggle; 1972 Laatne Morcha (Mrinal Gore); Chipko (1973); Anti-liquor (1992, AP).
- 1975 Women’s Year: Dr Phulrenu Guha Committee; Stree-mukti Sangharsha Samiti; cultural campaigns.
- Laws: 1952 reforms (alimony/property/streedhan/divorce; polygamy illegal); Dowry Act 1961 (+1984); Maternity Benefit 1961; Family Courts 1984; Sati Prevention 1988; PHRA 1993; 73rd–74th reservations (1/3 → 50% in MH).
- Weaker Sections: SC (Art.17), ST (special protection), NT–DNT (post-independence de-notification), Minorities (educational/cultural rights).
- Outcome: Greater education, employment, political representation for women; stronger safeguards for vulnerable groups.
✅ Conclusion
Through grassroots movements, legal reforms and constitutional safeguards, India has advanced the rights of women and other weaker sections. Continued awareness, education and equitable policies are essential to deepen this progress.
📝 Chapter 6: Empowerment of Women & Other Weaker Sections – Exercises with Answers
1) Choose the correct option / Complete the statements
- In 1992, a movement against drinking alcohol was started in Andhra Pradesh. ✅
- In 1975, the Government of India formed the Committee on the Status of Women under the chairpersonship of Dr Phulrenu Guha. ✅
- Correct statement: The practice of untouchability was banned by law (Article 17 of the Constitution). ✅
- Correct statement: The Constitution gives cultural and educational rights to minorities. ✅
2) Identify and write the wrong pair
| Pair | Given | Verdict | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Saudamini Rao – Stree-Mukti Andolan Samiti | ✅ Correct | Active in Pune-based women’s movement. |
| (2) | Vidya Bal – Nari Samata Manch | ✅ Correct | Also associated with Milun Saryajani. |
| (3) | Pramila Dandavate – Mahila Dakshata Samiti | ✅ Correct | Founded in 1976; branches across India. |
| (4) | Jyoti Mhapsekar – Women’s Commission | ⚠️ Wrong | Known for the street play Mulgi Jhaali Ho within the women’s movement, not a Women’s Commission head. |
3) Explain the following statements with reasons
(1) The women’s liberation movement began.
- Persistent patriarchal mindset, discrimination and violence (dowry, domestic abuse, unequal wages, low representation) necessitated organised action.
- Incidents of dowry deaths and “accidental” deaths spotlighted by media and activists created urgency.
- Global & national catalysts—International Women’s Year (1975), formation of committees and organisations—galvanised collective struggle.
- Mass actions like the 1972 Laatne Morcha, 1973 Chipko, and 1992 anti-liquor movements showed the power of unity and prompted reforms.
(2) The Prohibition of Dowry (Amendment) Act was enacted in 1984.
- The 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act proved insufficient; offences continued and often masqueraded as accidents.
- Rising dowry-related deaths and social pressure demanded stronger deterrence and enforcement.
- The 1984 amendment tightened provisions, improving the legal framework to protect women and prosecute offenders.
4) Write short notes on
(1) Chipko Movement
Beginning in 1973 in the Himalayan foothills, the Chipko Movement protested commercial felling of forests. Led by activists like Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sunderlal Bahuguna, with pivotal local leadership by Gaura Devi (along with Sudesha Devi and Bachani Devi), villagers—especially women—embraced trees to prevent their cutting. It protected ecology, highlighted women’s role in sustaining rural economies, and inspired environmental policy awareness.
(2) Protection of Human Rights Act (1993)
This Act established the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commissions to prevent and redress human rights violations. It addressed issues like collective oppression, conditions of divorced women, and the need for secure workplaces, thereby strengthening institutional safeguards for vulnerable groups, including women.
5) Answer the following question in detail
Explain with examples how the united strength of women can bring about constructive changes in various fields.
- Economic justice & consumer relief: The 1972 Laatne Morcha in Mumbai, led by Mrinal Gore, mobilised homemakers against scarcity and price rise. Their unity compelled authorities to stabilise supplies (oil, ghee, rava, maida, kerosene).
- Environmental protection: In Chipko (1973), women encircled trees to stop commercial felling, safeguarding livelihoods dependent on forests and shaping environmental awareness and policy.
- Public health & social reform: The 1992 anti-liquor movement in Andhra Pradesh saw village women shut arrack shops, pushing the State toward stricter alcohol policies and reducing household distress.
- Legal & institutional reforms: Continuous activism exposed dowry atrocities, contributing to stronger laws like the 1984 Dowry Amendment, 1988 Sati (Prevention) Act, and expansion of Family Courts (1984).
- Political empowerment: Mobilisation aided acceptance and effective use of reservations for women (73rd & 74th Amendments), increasing leadership in Panchayats and municipalities and improving local governance outcomes.
- Knowledge & culture: Organisations (e.g., Stree-mukti Sangharsha Samiti) used songs, street plays (like Mulgi Jhaali Ho by Jyoti Mhapsekar) and periodicals to spread awareness, changing mindsets at scale.
Conclusion: Whether in markets, forests, villages, courts or councils, collective women’s action has driven tangible, constructive change—from policy shifts and legal protections to community welfare and environmental stewardship.
🧠 Quick Recap (Exam-Ready)
- 1992 Anti-liquor: Andhra Pradesh • 1975 Committee: Dr Phulrenu Guha.
- Untouchability banned by law • Minorities have cultural & educational rights.
- Wrong pair: Jyoti Mhapsekar – Women’s Commission (should be known for Mulgi Jhaali Ho).
- Chipko (1973) = women-led eco-protection • PHRA (1993) = NHRC & State HRCs.