Loss of Socialist Vision and Options before the Women's Movement

During the past decade, evaporation of ideological content has happened at the national, regional and local levels, and concerns not only the economic field, but also other areas of social emancipation. The women's movement too has been co-opted so much into the ideology of 'empowerment' that even the thinking of alternatives has become difficult. Seen in this light, the re-emergence of a 'socialist vision' calls for ideological clarity, selfreliance and simple living. Women, 'the last colony', have to ally with other internal colonies like dalits and adivasis to make the state answerable to their needs.