On the Concept of Empowerment

On the Concept of 'Empowerment' Manoranjan Mohanty FOR about two decades since the mid- 1960s there was a plea to put 'politics in command' and accordingly growth models and development strategics were assessed. Even though there was no consensus as to the political criteria for evaluating development policies, still certain values such as freedom and equality were put at the core of this exercise. While the preoccupation with growth was questioned political essence of progress' was emphasised.' With the upsurge of the women's movement and other social movements the pursuit of freedom and justice was put in more concrete terms and development process was scrutinised on the basis of such political parameters.2 It is in this process that the term 'empowerment', i e, giving power to a certain unprivileged section of society came to be used.