1.1 PROLOGUE Anne Bradstree, through literature, was able to reflect the hardships of women and articulate them in a perspective of “by the women, and for women”. In her poetry - “The Prologue,” she is able to speak her mind freely while still concealing it. Bradstreet’s poetry is not a direct call for empowerment but yes it gives light to women for empowering themselves. Today, media is known as effective tools of development in urban and as well as rural areas but society has a challenge to find proper media to make it accessible for both urban and rural. The administrators of Government have to find out the proper effective and accessible media to strengthen and implement the programs and policies for women. Some other professionals such as non-government organizations, media institutions, community organizations, social groups and researchers must be expansion it of communication by using proper channels for empowering women. At the end, media need more to broadcast, publish in newspaper and advertise the development programs. Government should promote and provide training to workers of Asha/ Anganawadi and Self Help Groups so that the women can get promoted.

"From the holy city of Amritsar, India, To the Mecca of International Peace, The United Nations… an inspiring journey of the first woman in the Indian Police Service! What a national revolution it would be if each one of us were to self-police! Policing is the Power to Correct, the Power to Prevent, and the Power to get things done. It is the most effective protector of human rights just as it could be its worst violator” – this was a part of my acceptance speech on receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1994. “Police services in India are getting tougher by the day. They can be made simpler and effective only if the paths of truth and nonviolence are followed. There is a desperate need to lead the services the right way – with vision and commitment. Unless the service wants to be led by Generals who have no army, leadership must come from within the service and be groomed down the line”. Kiran Bedi in her usual refreshingly candid style, shares wideranging issues which have angered, inspired, or fascinated her. Through her matter of fact style of writing, she draws her readers into situations that they may either not have access to or may tend to ignore. Indian Police Issues… As I See… is a persistent effort by the author to encourage greater awareness about various social the hope to invoke, provoke, and inspire readers to heightened levels of sensitivity, participation, and response.

The book is released with an Introductory Article by Prof. Denis McQuail on Future of Field of Communication. The collection essays are part of ICMCS 2017, an International conference organized by Amity University, Rajasthan in 2017.

Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their capacities.The subject of empowerment of women has becoming a burning issue all over the world including India since last few decades. Many agencies of United Nations in their reports have emphasized that gender issue is to be given utmost priority. It is held that women now cannot be asked to wait for any more for equality.Inequalities between men and women and discrimination against women have also been age-old issues all over the world. Thus, women’s quest for equality with man is a universal phenomenon.The sex ratio in India has improved from 930 in 1971 to 940 as per 2011 census. The female literacy has also increased from 18.3% in 1961 to 74% in 2011, in addition to decrease in male-female literacy gap from 26.6% in 1981 to 16.7% in 2011.These indicators may show improvement, however, the pace is not desirable.The economic empowerment of women is a vital element of strong economic growth in any country. Empowering women enhances their ability to influence changes and to create a better society.Empowering Women through Education: “Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process”. In the political field, the reservation for women is a significant step forward towards their political empowerment. When thirty-three percent reservation for women in Parliament becomes a reality, women’s voice will be heard in the highest forum of democracy.into lime-light the constraints and benefits of empowering women at the integrated process of development and social change. All the articles have been covering a wide range of issues relating to women, particularly women living at grassroots level, downtrodden and helpless.The Article on ‘Efficacy of Entrepreneurial Training Self Help Group Women’ presents the entrepreneurial training given to SHG women to equip them with all the skills required for the establishment and smooth functioning of their micro-enterprises and their responses during pre-training, training and post-training phases.I hope that this book is highly useful to the students and researchers in women’s studies and related fields. I derived encouragement and support from my Husband Mr. P. Muthukumar, Daughter Er. M. Sangeetha and Son Er. M. Vignesh for finalizing these papers. My thanks are due to Mr. Janarthanan of MJP Publishers, Chennai, Tirunelveli and New Delhi, for his constant support and meticulous care in publishing this book.

The efforts made by the Indian development planners during the past decades are commendable in reducing poverty and other dimensions of human development. However, a number of tasks remain unfinished. Abject poverty is still a stark reality for millions of Indians. Also, wide gaps in human development among states, districts and social groups exist. There is an urgent need for more concerted efforts to achieve greater social and gender equality. Women in India are victims of a multiple socio-economic and cultural factors. They are an integral part of every economy. All round development and harmonious growth of a nation would be possible only when women are considered as equal partners in progress with men. Emancipation of women is a pre-requisite for a NATION'S ECONOMIC development and social upliftment. Poverty is the main obstacle for the improvement of the women. The role of women and the need to empower them are central to human DEVELOPMENT programs including poverty alleviation.