8th March is a symbolic day to mark women contributions in the refraction of “International Women’s Day”. At least, we have a day on which we can thank them for all the support and sacrifices because, in general, we are failing to oblige. It is also an alarming day to retrospect about the pathetic situation of women in our country. So, I will take this opportunity to thank all the women in the universe for their strong will power, for creating and nurturing our existence and for being kind than us. I will also take this opportunity to thank PM Shri Narendra Modi for launching various women- oriented schemes and policies besides whatever the real implication is.
The universal development of any society is ensured only when every section gets equal opportunity to join the process of development. If any section is left or undermined in the journey of development, then it will become a major cause of inequality in future. So, this also applies in context of women. You can’t imagine a prosperous development of an economy by undermining and ignoring women participation in your workforce.
It is true that after India’s independence from the cruel colonial rule of Britishers, the representation of women has been less than of men and probably this is why India is still considered a developing country. Women make up nearly 50% of our population, but in reality, a very small number of women were represented in India’s growth and development map. But from 1990 onwards, a golden period of women’s representation was observed in India. Today, women are equally represented in every field as men. It’s not a fact but hypothetically you can say.
The present Modi led central government is also trying to ensure the journey of development by actively engaging women workforce. In response, some major schemes which are showing impressive effect at the ground level and some are just on advertising boards. So, the analysis of women centric policies should be streamlined from birth to its participation in the society. The first priority to ensure women-based development begins at birth. The current central government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana’ and ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ are working in order to empower girls in the financially as well as socially.
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme is concentrated to increase the challenging falling ratio of female against male. A target has also been set to ensure higher education to girls under this scheme. The reach of this scheme is being seen even in rural areas. If we recall the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s union budget speech, then we can get much more insight about this.
She proudly announced that ‘Gross Enrolment Ratio’ (GER) of girls is higher than boys. She acclaimed it as an ‘unprecedent success’ of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. FM announced that in the elementary level, the enrolment for girls was 94.32 percent which is more than 89.28 percent for boys. In secondary education, the enrolment for girls was 81.32 percent whereas 78 percent for boys. In senior secondary too, the Minister claims that 59.70 percent for girls which is better than 57.54 percent for boys. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ has been allocated Rs 220 crore in the current financial year. But I have one more interesting fact in reference to this scheme. Government can defend themselves in the name of awareness but it’s really catchy. Government’s official data revealed that for the year ending March 31, 2018, out of Rs 280 crore for ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, Rs155.71 crore was spent on media-related activities. It means that government was bringing transition in women life by maintaining its own PR. On the part of Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, it is quite a good step. Till now more than 1,52,44,016 accounts have been opened under this.
In order to promote entrepreneurship among women, the present Central Government is providing 3 tier loans under the Mudra scheme without any commitment. Most of the loans have been given to women under this scheme. Women make up 75% of the total loan distributed under this scheme. Of the more than 14 crore beneficiaries covered under the scheme, around 10 crore women are beneficiaries. Alone in Financial year 2018-19, the number of women accounts opened stand at 3,70,62,562 and total of Rs 1,33,033.62 crore were sanctioned.
In the Budget 2020, only a marginal increment has been made for women. Budget allocation for women specific schemes has been increased by merely 3.6%. In budget 2020, a provision of 28,600 crore were made and last year it was 27, 584 crore. However, such increase in the budget doesn’t show the real commitment of the government towards women’s development and empowerment.
The Modi government should be appreciated for increasing maternity leave. The government has already provided 26-weeks of maternity benefits to the women employees as provided for in the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act,2017. This was also present IN FM Budget 2020 speech.
To empower women in rural area, Domestic gas connections has been distributed free of cost under the Prime Minister Ujjwala scheme. Under this scheme, more than 8 crore LPG connections have been given to women. But here I have serious concern. The latest CAG report on UJJAWALA is contradictory to government’s claim. In a Performance Audit Report, the chief auditing body of the country said that encouraging the sustained and continuous usage of LPG still remains a big challenge. According to CAG report, out of 1.93 crore consumers who were given connections under the scheme, one consumer refills 3.66 LPG annually. At the same time, on 31 Dec 2018, 3.18 crore Ujjwala consumers were refilling only 3.21 LPG annually. So, this means that people have taken LPG cylinder connection but are not able to get it refilled.
Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, a total of 16.42 crore accounts have been opened for women depicting the success of a large financial inclusion in the economy. This is something where government should be appreciated. Ensuring the status of women in any country’s financial system is part of the definition of sustainable economic development. Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana has prepared a new scale of economic development by ensuring women’s participation in formal structure of economy.
However, even today, no solid policy has been formulated in the country for women farmers living in rural areas. India is a country where 73.2% of rural women workers are engaged in agriculture and its related activities but they own only 12.8% of land holdings. We have to understand that without ensuring the productive participation of these women farmers, we cannot end the prevailing inequality in our country. There is a need to work on a large-scale for the upliftment of women in the rural areas. Along with this, we must ensure a healthy representation of women in Parliament. In 17th lok sabha, there are 78 women members of parliament, which is the highest since independence. But a simple calculation connotes that it is only 14% of the total house intake.
I think the time has come when there is a need to further empower women by passing the Women’s Reservation Bill.
India don’t need to think what it can be do for women’s rather the matter of concern should be like that what women can do for India. Because till now this potential has not been tapped appropriately. This step can transform India into an entirely different nation. Disturbing gender gap is one of the bitter truths of our society. And we have to accept it. Now dowry system is entertained as a symbol of progress and prosperity. Now, it has become a societal system. Gender gap constitutes as one of major social inequality which has kept a large number of people on the cusp of deprivation in New India.
Irrespective of various fractured and handicapped policy implementation, I must say that India’s future is going to be driven by women. Not a single sphere is left where she has not proved her commitment, compassion and capabilities. Its peak hour to recognise this unmatchable treasure strength of India and utilise it to its optimum for electrifying socio-eco-pol development of the country. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji had once said that “To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves”.
(Writer is a first year student of M. Com, Faculty of Commerce, Bananras Hindu University and Founder and President of Finance and Economics Think Council)