Women Led Development in India

The Rajya Sabha, under the Chairmanship of Jagdeep Dhankar, is promoting women-led development by implementing several progressive measures both in House proceedings and within the Secretariat.

About Women Led Development

• Women-Led Development is an approach where women actively lead and shape the development agenda, participating in decision-making, planning, and policy implementation.
• It shifts from viewing women as passive recipients to recognizing them as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth, empowering them in social, economic, and political spheres.

Need for Women Led Development

• Promote Economic Growth: Empowering women to lead development initiatives can significantly contribute to economic growth.
• Widening Gender Inequality: India was ranked 127 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report, 2023. and faces the perennial issue of “missing women” from the workforce – which is a wicked problem
• Sustainable Development: Women are pivotal in areas such as climate resilience, food security, and community welfare. Their participation in leadership ensures a more holistic and sustainable approach to development.
• National Progress: With the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, women’s involvement is critical to achieving national development goals.
• Addressing Inequality: Women’s leadership helps tackle generational inequalities, improving access to education, healthcare, and financial inclusion, especially for marginalised women. 

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Current Status of Women in India

• Women in STEM: India boasts a strong female presence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with 43% of participants being women, one of the highest rates globally.
• Women in Local Governance: Women hold 46% of elected positions in rural local bodies, showcasing their growing leadership roles in grassroots governance.
  • However in the Lok Sabha, the percentage of women members has risen from 5-10% until 2004 to 13.6% in the current 18th Lok Sabha, while in the Rajya Sabha, it is 13%. 
• Dominance in Nursing and Midwifery: Over 80% of nurses and midwives in India are women, reflecting their significant contribution to healthcare services.
• Access to Financial Support: Approximately 70% of the loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have been granted to women, supporting female entrepreneurship. 
  • Similarly, 80% of the beneficiaries of Stand-Up India are women, utilising bank loans for greenfield projects.
• Women in Space Science: One-fourth of India’s space scientists are women. Their talent and hard work have been integral to the success of major space missions like Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and Mission Mars.
• Women-Led Startups: Around 15% of unicorn startups in India have at least one female founder, with the combined valuation of these women-led companies exceeding $40 billion, demonstrating their influence in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Women Led Development in India

• Legislative and Legal Empowerment
  • Nari Shakti Adhiniyam, 2023: The landmark legislation reserves one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly, promoting inclusive governance.
  • Abolition of Triple Talaq: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, was passed by the legislature to outlaw instant triple talaq and ensure legal protection for Muslim women.
• Education and Health Initiatives
  • Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP): Improved the sex ratio at birth (from 918 to 937) and increased girl child enrolment in secondary education.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan: Tackles malnutrition through real-time monitoring and engagement with over 14 lakh Anganwadis, benefiting around 10 crore women and children.
  • Extended Maternity Leave: Paid maternity leave extended from 12 to 26 weeks, allowing women sufficient time to recover, bond with their children, and manage their health
• Enhancing Livelihood and Dignity
  • PM Awas Yojana-Grameen (PMAY-G):  72% of houses under PMAY-G are owned by women, empowering them economically and enabling decision-making in households.
  • PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Over 10 crore LPG connections provided to rural and underprivileged households, improving women’s health and reducing dependency on hazardous traditional fuels​.
  • Swachh Bharat Mission: Achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, improving women’s sanitation, safety, and dignity.
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: Ensures access to clean tap water in rural households, reducing the burden on women to fetch water, enhancing health, and promoting sanitation
• Financial Empowerment
  • PM Mudra Yojana & Stand-Up India: 69% of Mudra loans and 84% of Stand-Up India loans are sanctioned to women, fostering female entrepreneurship.
  • Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: Introduced in the 2023-24 Budget, promoting savings exclusively for women.
• Safety and Security
  • Mission Shakti: Addresses gender biases through skill development, financial literacy, and access to legal and social support via One-Stop Centres and a helpline (181).

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Challenges in Implementing Women Led Development

• Gender Inequality: Deep-rooted social and cultural norms continue to restrict women’s access to education, employment, and decision-making roles, particularly in rural areas. 
• Limited Access to Education: Despite improvements, many women, especially in rural areas, still face barriers to quality education. This limits their ability to engage in and lead development initiatives effectively.
  • The World Economic Forum (WEF) report of 2024 on global gender gaps recently ranked India at 129 out of 146 economies, with a decline in the education sector being one of the reasons for India’s rank slipping a couple of places this year.
• Economic Disparities: Women often face wage inequality and lack access to economic resources, which undermines their ability to sustain development projects. Many women are employed in the informal sector, with lower wages and job insecurity.
  • At the national level, the share of women in regular wage work has declined sharply to 15.9% in 2022-23, from 21.9% in the pre-pandemic period of 2018-19.
• Social Norms and Stereotypes: Traditional gender roles often constrain women’s autonomy and leadership. Societal expectations around caregiving and domestic responsibilities hinder their participation in decision-making processes​.
• Healthcare Access: Limited access to healthcare, particularly maternal and reproductive health services, affects women’s well-being, reducing their capacity to participate in development.
• Violence Against Women: Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue, affecting women’s mobility, safety, and participation in public life, thus hindering their role in development initiatives.
  • According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2021, a total of 4,05,861 cases of crimes against women were reported in India, of which 32,033 cases were of rape.
• Underrepresentation in Leadership: Women are underrepresented in leadership roles across political, economic, and social sectors, making it challenging to adopt gender-sensitive policies.

Way Forward

• Enhance Educational Access: Improve quality education for girls, especially in rural areas, to empower women from an early age. Expanding digital literacy and STEM education for women can also boost participation in key sectors like technology and innovation​.
• Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship: Support women entrepreneurs through schemes like Stand-Up India and PM Mudra Yojana. Increased financial inclusion and credit access are critical to enabling women-led businesses.
• Strengthen Leadership Representation: Encourage women’s leadership in politics and decision-making. Implement measures to increase women’s representation in local bodies and key government roles to create more gender-sensitive policies​.
• Focus on Health and Safety: Enhance access to healthcare and create robust mechanisms to address gender-based violence. Initiatives like Mission Shakti provide comprehensive support, but more efforts are needed to ensure safe and secure environments for women to participate in development activities.
• Economic Empowerment through Skill Development: Tailor skill development programs to ensure women are equipped to participate in the formal economy. Promote micro-entrepreneurship through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and expand financial literacy​.
• Recognizing Domestic Labor: Efforts should be made to invest in the care economy and redefine GDP to include household work, making unpaid labor visible and counted.
• Women in Climate and Agriculture: Highlight women’s crucial role in building climate resilience, promoting food security, and ensuring sustainable nutrition.
• Transforming Social Perceptions: Promote education and awareness to change mindsets, fostering recognition and empowerment of women in leadership roles.

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