Rekha Mahajan
The progress of a nation is unimaginable without the progress of women. Today, government’s effort is not only limited to their upliftment but emphasis is now on development under the leadership of women. This sensitive thinking of the Union Government has not only raised national consciousness but also allowed daughters to gain their rightful place in society. As a result of which women are scripting their success journey in every field from army, Start Up, Olympics, research to education, science, politics, industry and sports.
Due to the relentless efforts of the Government, women are able to make their presence felt by leading the Republic Day Parade, flying the most modern fighter aircraft Rafale or in the combat role against enemies, making the nation proud in the world of sports, taking advantage of self-employment opportunities to support the country’s economic progress equally. Women power is walking shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. They have proved with their ingenious nature that if given equal opportunities, they can build a prosperous, proud nation and not just a home.
According to the report of the International Monetary Fund, India’s GDP can increase by 27 percent if the share of women in the workforce reaches the same level as men. If 50 percent of skilled women join the workforce, the growth rate could increase by 1.5 percent to 9 percent per year. There is a need to include women in the labour force in the New India for which the Central Government is constantly taking new initiatives.
‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’ is the motto quiding New India in the Amrit Mahotsav.
The nation exists from us, and we exist from the nation. This feeling is becoming the driving force of the people in building a New India.
Women Empowerment
In the past, there was a time when the issue of women empowerment was not expansive and often the welfare of the poor and rural women was ignored. But in the last few years, the Union Government has also worked to eliminate this imbalance. Today, the face of women empowerment is the 9 crore poor women who have received gas connections and got relief from smoke while cooking. Today, the face of women’s empowerment is also those crores of mothers and sisters who have got toilets in their homes under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which is also called as Izzat Ghar .Women have also benefited from several other Government schemes like pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Similarly, crores of women get assistance during pregnancy and child birth, crores of the women have got their Jan Dhan bank accounts. When Government subsidy is directly transferred to women’s bank accounts, the beneficiaries become the face of women empowerment and changing India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “when the world was in deep darkness, caught in the old thinking about women, then India used to worship Mother Shakti in the form of Goddess. In our country, scholars like Gargi, Maitreyi, Anusuya, Arundhati, and Madalasa used to give knowledge to society. Even in medieval times, full of difficulties, there were great women like Pannadhay and Mirabai in this country. In the Amrit Mahotsav, the country is remembering the history of freedom struggle, highlighting sacrifices of women. From Rani Chennamma of Kittur, Matangini Hazra, Rani Lakshmibai, Veerangana Jhalkari Bai to Ahalyabai Holkar and Savitribai Phule in the social sphere, they maintained the identity of India.
Women at the Center of Aatmanirbhar Bharat
The confidence of the women power of India has increased manifold today and now she is the maker of her own destiny. Earlier, whenever there was talk of business, it was assumed that big corporates and male corporate leaders are being talked about. But the truth is that for centuries India’s strength has always been local industries in the form of small MSMEs.The role of men in these industries is as much as that of women.The old thinking considered the skill of women to be restricted to only household work. It is necessary to change this old thinking in order to advance the economy of the country. This is what ‘Make in India’ is doing today. AatmaNirbhar Bharat’s campaign is connecting this ability of women with the development of the country. Today about 70 percent of the beneficiaries of Mudra Yojana are women.Crores of women have started their work with the help of this scheme and are giving employment to others as well. Similarly, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana is being run to promote entrepreneurship among women through self-help groups. Such is the enthusiasm and strength of the women of the country that in the last 6-7 years the number of self-help groups has increased three times. The same progress is being seen in India’s Start Up ecosystem as well. Since the year 2016, more than 60 thousand new Start Ups have been formed in the country in 56 different sectors. Of these, in 45 percent of units, at least one director is a woman.
Promoting equal opportunity proved to be a game-changer
When respect and equal opportunities are provided to women, then revolutionary changes are visible. Schemes like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”Sukanya Samridhi’ have revolutionized the sex ratio. For the first time, the number of females has reached 1020 per 1000 males. The dropout rate of girls from schools has come down because women themselves are involved in these campaigns.In order to ensure that marriage at an early age does not hinder the education and career of girls, their marriage age has been raised to 21 years.
Today the dream of daughters studying in Sainik Schools is being fulfilled. From this year the admission of women in the National Defence Academy has also started.
Women’s life and career may go hand in hand, with this aim the Government has allowed maximum maternal leave to them. The participation of women in the country’s democracy is also increasing. More women than men voted in the 2019 elections. Women ministers are handling important portfolios in the government.
The increasing selection of women for the prestigious Padma Award is yet another example. From 2015 till now, 185 women have been given the Padma Award for their phenomenal work. This year also 34 Padma Awards have been received by women working in different fields, which, is a record in itself.
The whole country fought the Covid pandemic together and in this too, nurses, doctors, and women scientists have played a big role.
Women’s protection : Legal shield
Today there are strict laws on crimes against women in the country.
In heinous cases like rape, a provision has also been made for capital punishment. Fast track courts are also being set up across the country for the purpose.
The law against triple talaq has given protection and the power to fight against injustice and there has been a reduction of 80 to 82 percent in such cases.
Protecting rights of Daughters of Soil
Earlier in Jammu and Kashmir, women and their children were denied the right to ancestral property for marrying outside but after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, the women of this region have got their due. The law has also been made stricter in cases of overseas Indians marrying and then abandoning their wives.
(The author is an Advocate)
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