Education and Skill Development: Need for Gender Equity

The relationship between education & development is well established and recognized. Education in its multidimensional form not only helps individuals to develop their potential by acquiring knowledge and awareness but also prepares them to contribute effectively to socio-economic development. 
Education of women has a long lasting impact on the status of women in a society. Apart from providing basic knowledge and skills to get independent earning opportunities to raise their economic status, it enables them to participate actively in the developmental process. With the growing realization that the development of any society requires utilization of all its available human resources participation of women who constitute almost half of the world’s population, in socio- economic activities has become an issue of global concern. As a result women form both developed and developing countries including India have started joining workforce in increasing numbers for various reasons. On one hand, the ever increasing demand for educated and skilled manpower has opened new opportunities for educated and skilled women; on the other hand, the status of woman without any adequate education and training has adversely been affected by recent changes at global level. 
Thus education, training and skill development is crucial for improving economic status of women and sustainable development. Making globalization benefit Indian women who constitute educationally and economically weaker section of society is the issue of great concern in the interest of women as well as lager interest of society. The paper focuses on the need of concrete efforts for promoting women’s access to good quality education combined with skill development and training to drive the benefits and face challenges of globalization.