State commissions for women and women´s empowerment: evidence from the Jammu & Kashmir union territory

Abstract

Using India Demographic Health Survey data and a difference-in-difference approach, this paper aimed to investigate the effect of the abrogation of the Jammu & Kashmir state commission for women, and the closing of its two offices, on women’s empowerment. The results suggest that women residing in the districts where the commissions’ offices were based experienced a decrease in decision-making power and presented higher levels of domestic violence justification compared to the control group post-closure. These findings shed light on the importance of institutions prioritizing women’s needs and localized efforts as resources for empowerment.