Role of higher education in women empowerment and development

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once said: “If you educate a man you educate an individual, however, if you educate a woman you educate a whole family. Women empowered means mother India empowered”. In our country women contribute almost half of the population. By empowering women it will automatically strengthen the national economy. According to the Literacy Rate 2011 census, the female literacy level is 65.46% where as the male literacy rate is over 80%. Education is considered as a milestone for women empowerment. Education is the only key to unlock the golden door of freedom for development. Education play a major role for supporting women’s right, dignity and security. Women Education in India has been a major preoccupation of both the government and society because educated women play a vital role in the development of the country. Education of women is the most powerful tool which help to change the status of women in the society. For the harmonious development of the country women should go shoulder to shoulder with men. For empowering the women, higher education will play a major role. This paper discuss the impact of higher education on women empowerment.