Answer

Gender budgeting is a fiscal approach that integrates a gender perspective into all stages of public spending, ensuring equitable resource allocation and addressing women’s specific needs. India’s aspiration for Viksit Bharat is being realized through women-driven development, strengthened by progressive gender budgeting.

India’s Vision of Viksit Bharat: Women-Led Development Through Gender Budgeting and Initiatives

• Increased Gender Budget Allocation: The gender budget has risen to 8.8% of the total budget, marking the highest allocation in two decades.
  For example: ₹4.49 lakh crore has been allocated across 49 Ministries, with 12 additional Ministries integrating gender budgets, including sectors like railways and food processing.
• Focus on Skilling and Employment: Key schemes like Skill India Programme and DAY-NRLM now have ₹1.24 lakh crore, with 52% allocated to women and girls.
  For example: The PM Vishwakarma scheme empowers women artisans by providing skill development and marketing support, enhancing their economic prospects.
• Support for Women Entrepreneurs: Efforts like collateral-free loans and financial literacy programs aim to unlock finance for women-owned enterprises, employing millions and boosting GDP.
  For example: The government’s Udyam portal shows 20.5% MSMEs are women-owned, employing approximately 27 million people.
• Formalization of Gig Workers: Proposals to issue identity cards via the e-Shram portal aim to extend social security to women in the informal sector.
  For example: Gig workers in food delivery and domestic services now access maternity benefits and accident insurance through such formalization.
• Leveraging Technology for Empowerment: The India AI Mission dedicates ₹600 crore to provide digital education and AI-based skills, ensuring women’s competitiveness in the future of work.
  For example: AI-based tools in agriculture are empowering women farmers by improving yield predictions and providing market intelligence for better crop pricing.

Challenges Persisting in Informal Sector Dominance and Labor Force Gender Gap

• High Informal Sector Participation: Over 90% of working women are in the informal sector, lacking job security, fair wages, and maternity benefits.
  For example: Women in domestic work often earn below the minimum wage, with no entitlement to health insurance or paid leave benefits.
• Lack of Social Security Coverage: Informal workers, including gig workers, lack comprehensive social protection like pensions and insurance, impacting their long-term economic security.
• Gender Gap in Labor Force Participation: The FLFPR is 42% (2023-24), significantly lower than men’s 79%, requiring structural changes to enhance women’s workforce participation.
  For example: Women’s employment in agriculture is widespread but unrecognized due to lack of land ownership, impacting their economic contributions.
• Barriers in Access to Credit: Women face difficulty accessing credit due to rigid documentation requirements like land ownership for Kisan Credit Cards.
• Underrepresentation in Decision-Making Roles: Women’s presence in leadership roles in corporate and governance structures is minimal, restricting their ability to influence policy and economic outcomes.
  For example: As per Deloitte India Report,  Only 17% of board members in India’s top companies are women, showing a need for stronger corporate diversity policies.

Positive Effectiveness of Current Measures

• Enhanced Skilling and Entrepreneurship: Programs like the Skill India Programme and PM Vishwakarma Yojana have provided targeted training and market linkages to enhance women’s workforce readiness.
  For example: Over 52% of funds under these programs are directed toward women, fostering their skilling and entrepreneurial growth.
• Formalization of Informal Work: Initiatives like the e-Shram portal provide gig workers with identity cards, enabling access to social security and financial inclusion benefits.
  For example: More than 2 crore women gig workers have been registered, ensuring maternity benefits and accident insurance.
• Support for Women-Owned Enterprises: Simplified credit access and financial literacy programs have boosted the growth of women-owned MSMEs.
• Use of Technology for Inclusion: Investments in AI-based education and gender-focused schemes under the India AI Mission empower women for future jobs.

Shortcomings of Current Measures

• Gender Gap in Workforce Participation: The FLFPR of 42% is still far from the global average of 47%, reflecting slow progress in achieving parity.
  For example: Women’s participation in manufacturing and industrial sectors remains marginal compared to men.
• Inadequate Access to Credit: Women farmers and entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing finance due to stringent requirements like land ownership or collateral.
• Unequal Implementation of Social Security: Social security benefits are not uniformly enforced, with gaps in coverage for gig workers and informal sector employees.
  For example: Many women registered on the e-Shram portal report delays in receiving promised benefits like accident insurance or pensions.
• Under representation in Policy and Leadership: Women’s voices are still underrepresented in policymaking and leadership roles, limiting their influence in economic reforms.
  For example: Women hold less than 10% of senior management positions in India’s public and private sectors.

Comprehensive Reforms for Achieving 70% Women’s Economic Participation by 2047

• Formalizing the Informal Sector: Establish a universal labor code to ensure job security, social protection, and maternity benefits for informal sector workers.
  For example: Introducing schemes like portable social security accounts for domestic workers and gig workers can safeguard their financial security.
• Promoting Financial Inclusion: Simplify access to credit through collateral-free loans, alternative credit scoring models, and targeted financial literacy programs for women.
  For example: Expansion of initiatives like Stand-Up India to cover more women entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Closing Skill Gaps in Emerging Sectors: Introduce gender-specific skilling programs in AI, robotics, and renewable energy, targeting women for leadership in high-growth industries.
  For example: Establish 50 Centres of Excellence for Women in Technology under the India AI Mission to foster tech-driven employment opportunities.
• Addressing Social Norms: Launch nationwide campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms and promote shared household responsibilities, enabling women to pursue careers.
  For example: Similar to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, focus on changing societal mindsets about women’s roles in work and leadership.
• Strengthening Women’s Representation: Enforce gender quotas in policymaking, leadership roles, and corporate boards to ensure women’s voices are heard.
  For example: Mandating 30% representation of women in leadership positions in public and private organizations can drive equitable decision-making.

Achieving 70% women’s economic participation by 2047 demands a paradigm shift in policies. By strengthening gender budgeting, formalizing the informal sector, and bridging skill gaps, India can empower its women. “Empowered women, empowered nation” must drive action, fostering an inclusive workforce and ensuring sustainable development for a truly Viksit Bharat.

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