Social Inclusions and Governance – A Study of Economic Empowerment of Women in Assam

Social exclusion happens when people or places suffer from a series of problems such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown. In Assam, women section of the society suffers from different types of social exclusion for which women are not able to achieve empowerment to its fullest. Inclusion demands goals and polices that avoid separating people. Inclusion occurs when everyone lives with purpose, dignity, and satisfaction. Economic empowerment of women is a process by which women become independent and self-confident and thereby they can enlarge their choices. Social inclusion of women is a powerful instrument for gender mainstreaming and integrating women into the development process. Social inclusion through various social sectors and social development provides women the necessary space and support for promoting economic self-reliance, developing self-confidence, overcoming exploitation and taking effective steps towards achieving greater control over their lives. The present paper makes an attempt to study the role of cooperatives, NREGA, NGOs, SHGs, Micro-credit programmes etc. as economic agents that provides women economic participation, developing leadership qualities, promoting financial and social inclusion, and ultimately leading to women’s empowerment by giving them the ability to make strategic choices in their lives.