The empowerment of India’s women with bold policies

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS 2: Social Justice

India is advancing women’s empowerment through initiatives in sanitation, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and governance.
These policies enhance women’s participation in economic and social development, fostering gender equity and national progress.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has transformed sanitation by constructing toilets, especially in rural areas, improving women’s dignity, safety, and well-being.
Over 116 million households have benefited, reducing open defecation and ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment.
A self-help group in Rourkela built community toilets for marginalized leprosy patients, enhancing menstrual hygiene and generating income through composting.
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched to provide tap water connections to every household.
Before JJM, only 17% of rural households had tap water, forcing women to spend hours fetching water.
Now, over 150 million households have tap water, reducing this burden and increasing women’s participation in agriculture and allied sectors by 7.4%.
Rural women’s workforce participation rose from 24.6% in 2017 to 41.5% in 2023, with JJM playing a crucial role.

Women entrepreneurs are becoming key drivers of India’s economy, supported by government initiatives.
Over 73,000 startups with at least one female director have been recognized under Startup India.
Financial support programs like Stand-Up India and Mudra Yojana have provided:
- ₹53,609 crore in loans to 236,000 entrepreneurs under Stand-Up India.
- ₹32.36 lakh crore in loans under Mudra Yojana, with 68% of loans going to women.
Digital expansion through BharatNet and PM-WANI has brought high-speed internet to 199,000 villages and 2,14,000 gram panchayats, supporting women’s access to banking and e-commerce.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has enabled over 300 million women to open bank accounts, fostering financial independence.
Women entrepreneurs are growing in government procurement, with 8% of sellers on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and ₹46,615 crore in contracts secured by over 100,000 Udyam-verified micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
Digital platforms are helping small-scale women entrepreneurs expand their businesses beyond local markets.

33% reservation for women in legislative bodies is transforming political representation.
Women now make up 46% of elected representatives in panchayati raj institutions (PRIs), with 1.4 million women serving in rural governance.
Women leaders are driving policies that improve healthcare, education, and public safety, making governance more inclusive.

Women now make up 43% of STEM graduates, strengthening India’s technical workforce.
Government policies are fostering progress in entrepreneurship, education, and financial inclusion, creating opportunities for sustainable development.
Ensuring continued support for these initiatives will lead to lasting economic and social transformation.

India’s commitment to women’s empowerment is reshaping economic and social landscapes.
By sustaining these initiatives, women will continue to play a transformative role in governance, business, and community leadership, ensuring long-term national progress.