EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE DISTRICT OF MURSHIDABAD, WEST BENGAL

According to the census of 2011, women constitute 48.2% of the total population of India. We know that, the goals of human development are closely related with the empowerment of women in our country. For sustainable development of the Indian economy, women empowerments are highly prioritized. Women constitute a valuable human resource of any country in the world. Women empowerment has been recognized as the central issue since independence. Now in 21st century women empowerment becomes a global issue. Though many women of our country are empowering themselves, but still there are some Muslim women of our country who remain backward in education and development. Muslim women always remained socially and economically backward in our country. Their low participation in education becomes a roadblock in the path of achieving the goal of universal education. Indian Muslims women are far behind in achieving the literacy status because of their poor economic conditions and superstition. The Constitution of India grants the right to Equality and Right to Freedom of Religion and Protection of Interests of Minorities in regard to educational right. Besides providing all the facility, Muslim girls and women are still lagging behind in the entire sphere and are deprived of all the opportunities especially in the state West Bengal. Empowerment of Muslim women is one of the pivotal issue while addressing Muslim women's right and development. This paper highlights the educational development and empowerment of Muslim women in West Bengal with special reference to Murshidabad district.