GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL

Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.” (Principle 20, Rio Declaration). Sustainable development depends on an equitable distribution of resources and it cannot be achieved without gender equality. Almost there is a dual rationale for prompting gender equality. Firstly, that equality between women and men-equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities - is a matter of human rights and social justice. And secondly, that greater equality between women and men is also a precondition for development. Women empowerment is a key factor for achievingsustainability. Sustainable development and sustainability have various meaning. Sometimes it may be equitable distribution of resources and opportunities or sometimes it may be defined as understanding the interconnections among economy, development and society. Basically, it is based on the principle of democracy and the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. It cannot exist without equality in the distributional process. UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end the poverty, fight inequality is a cross-cutting issue, and unless addressed in multi dimensional way, gender equality will not become a reality. Every woman's contribution to sustainable development must be recognized. They have a strong role in the education and most essential socializing their children, including teaching among them care and responsibility. The present paper is an attempt to analyze the essentials of women contributions in sustainable development as shareholders and beneficiaries in India.