BY MAHADEV DESAI
On 8th March, 2011 the world celebrated International Women’s Day, not only to mark and honor the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future but also to remind all of still existing inequities and oppression that need to be resolved.
Mahatma Gandhi had said that “Salvation of India lies in the elevation of women.”
The theme of the IWD 2025 campaign is “Accelerate Action” and taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked International Women’s Day 2025 by honoring ‘Nari Shakti’ and reaffirming his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. He has launched several initiatives to empower women, through education; good health, financial independence, representation and safety at home and work.
In India, women’s role and status has evolved significantly and is contributing well to India’s progress and prosperity. Women’s contribution to India’s GDP is 18%.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign has helped in improving the declining child sex ratio and enrollment of girls in schools.
About 42 % of women are in Indian workforce. They have strong presence in sectors like healthcare 40%;IT 30% and banking 25 %.About 36% women are in senior management positions in middle-level cos.. Fortune 500 Cos., however have only about 5% women CEOs/MDs. It is encouraging to note that big Corporations are implementing DEI( Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) to create more jobs
Improving maternal healthcare and ensuring dignity and convenience for women are also key focus areas. The government has constructed toilets, provided financial security with bank accounts, and improved maternal healthcare services. These initiatives have significantly improved the quality of life for women across the country. Women are entitled to paid Maternity leave upto 26 weeks.
Modi also highlighted government’s efforts in increasing home ownership since 2014, as 30 million women have become homeowners. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY), houses with toilets, electricity and LPG connections,drinking water and jan dhan facilities.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched in 2015. It provides loans up to 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. The initiative aims to facilitate micro-units and support entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, by providing affordable credit.
One of the most significant initiatives is the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, launched on August 15, 2023. This program aims to empower women entrepreneurs by recognizing self-help group (SHG) members who earn Rs 10,000 or more per month, with an annual income of at least Rs 1 lakh from activities like agriculture, animal husbandry, or small industries. The initiative also provides financial literacy,skills training and has already seen substantial success, with many women achieving financial independence and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures..
The Namo Drone Didi Yojana has revolutionized the rural economy by enabling women ‘s self-help groups(SHGs) earn substantial income through the use of drones for agricultural purposes(application of liquid fertilizers or pesticides). Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREG )also helps rural women with jobs and livelihood.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiated a maternity benefit plan called the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Yojana, or SUMAN Yojana, targeting expectant women and newborn children to provide free, quality access to medical treatments at affordable cost. The free health care from the program should be availed by pregnant mothers and their respective newborns right from delivery day up to the sixth month onward. The idea behind the service is to safeguard safe delivery as well as pregnant women’s conception early detection of pregnancy problems or issues.
Ayushman Bharat is National Protection Scheme which will cover over 100 crorepoor and vulnerable families, providing coverage of upto 5 lakh Rs. per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
The government has also introduced the National Free Drugs Initiative and the Free Diagnostics Initiative to provide essential drugs and diagnostic services free of cost at various levels of public health facilities. These initiatives have made healthcare more accessible and affordable for women across the country.
Modi’s government has also focused on improving women’s safety and access to justice. Under e-FIR , victims can now file police reports remotely, and the Zero FIR provision enables women to lodge complaints at any police station regardless of jurisdiction. Additionally, rape victims can now record statements via audio or video calls, and medical examination times have been reduced to seven days to ensure faster justice.
The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 aims to reserve 33% of the total number of seats in Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies for women.Currently, there are 74 women MPs in Lok Sabha and 24 women represetaives in Rajya Sabah(About 13% of the seats in Parliament).
Panchayati Raj also plays a vital role in local development, including education, health, and infrastructure, while also promoting social justice, in rural India.
President Droupadi Murmu recently lauded the Indian women, “Women are marching ahead in all areas with determination and hard work. They are excelling in every field ,be it guarding the country’s borders to being fighter plane pilots and from being entrepreneurs to IAS and IPS officers and doctors and they are making the country proud.”
As these initiatives continue to evolve and expand, they hold the promise of a brighter and more equitable future for women in India. Readers are requested to note that the above list of initiatives is not exhaustive, as different States also have their own initiatives.
