RU-56-01-366-060324/EXPLAINER
NARI SHAKTI
From Women Development to Women led Development
March 6, 2024
India's development journey is closely interlinked with the empowerment of its women.
Recognizing this critical connection, the central government has placed Nari Shakti at the
forefront of its agenda over the past nine years. The government understands that
women's empowerment is not a one-time solution; it requires a comprehensive approach
that addresses their needs throughout their lives. In this regard, welfare programs have
been designed to support women at different stages, enabling them to overcome socio-
economic barriers and achieve wholesome empowerment.
Nari Shakti Adhiniyam passed giving 33% reservation to women
National Sex Ratio improved to 1020 for the first time
Paid maternity leave increased to 26 weeks
Over 4.73 Crore pregnant women examined under PM Surakshit Matritva
Abhiyan
3.2 Crore Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana accounts
Around 10 crore smoke-free kitchens by providing LPG Gas cylinders
72% women ownership under PM Awas Yojana Gramin
MMR to 97/lakh live births in 2018-20 from 130/lakh live births in 2014-16
Abolition of Triple Talaq empowering Muslim women
69% of the loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs under PMMY and
84% of the beneficiaries under Stand-Up India are women.
Permanent commission granted to Women Officers in 12 Arms and Services.
Entry of women as Agniveers commenced in all the three Services
43% STEM graduates in India are women which is highest in the world
NARI SHAKTI ADHINIYAM – AMRIT PEEDI’S MOMENT
A milestone in this journey has been achieved by the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan
Adhiniyam, 2023) which seeks to reserve one-third of the total number of seats for
women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Delhi Assembly.
Another notable feature was that the Women’s Reservation Bill, called was the first to be
considered in the new parliament building setting the tone for India’s Amrit Kaal.
BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO – A STEP TOWARDS GENDER EMPOWERMENT
One of the key initiatives is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, which has
generated significant mass mobilization to combat gender discrimination and promote
the value of the girl child. At every level, the scheme has worked diligently to raise
awareness about the rights of girl children through community engagement. By
advocating against sex selection at birth and encouraging positive action to support their
educational growth, BBBP has brought about a positive change. Over the years, there has
been a commendable improvement in the sex ratio at birth, with a rise of 19 points from
918 (2014-15) to 937 (2020-21). Additionally, the enrolment of girls in secondary
education has increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 79.46% in 2020-21, marking
significant progress. Further, for the first time in the country, the Sex Ratio of the total
population (females per 1000 males) has reached 1020 (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD
In the pursuit of a malnutrition-free India, the government launched the POSHAN
Abhiyaan on March 8, 2018. This mission is a convergence platform for various
stakeholders to address malnutrition comprehensively. With the aid of the POSHAN
Tracker, a robust ICT-enabled platform, real-time monitoring of supplementary nutrition
and prompt supervision and management of services are ensured. The engagement of
over 14 lakh Anganwadis and the coverage of approximately 10 crore beneficiaries
exemplify the scale of impact achieved through this initiative.
The paid maternity leave has been extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. The amendment
to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 was passed by the Indian government to provide better
support and protection for working mothers. This significant policy change recognizes
the importance of allowing new mothers sufficient time to recover from childbirth, bond
with their infants, and ensure their overall well-being.
DIGNITY OF LIVELIHOOD
PM Awas Yojana - Gramin
Recognizing the importance of secure housing and financial decision-making for women,
the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Grameen (PMAY-G).
Impressively, more than 72% of these houses are either solely or jointly owned by
women. By granting ownership of houses to women, PMAY-G has fulfilled their
aspirations and empowered them to actively participate in household decision-making.
PM Ujjwala Yojana
To address the health and safety concerns of women, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY) was launched in May 2016. This initiative aims to provide clean cooking fuel,
(LPG), to rural and underprivileged households. The distribution of over 10 crores LPG
connections under PMUY has safeguarded the health of millions of women, freeing them
from the hazards of using traditional biomass fuels like firewood, dried cow dung, etc, as
cooking fuels and the consequent indoor air pollution.
Swaccha Bharat Mission
Another critical aspect of women's empowerment is access to sanitation. Realizing the
challenges faced by women due to inadequate sanitation facilities, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on October 2, 2014. This
mission aimed to provide toilets to all households in the country, thus ensuring improved
sanitation and hygiene. And on 2nd October 2019, 11 years ahead of the SDG-6 target set
by the United Nations, rural India became open defecation-free (ODF). As per the report
titled “Access to toilets and the safety, convenience and self-respect of women in rural
India”, after the construction of toilets, 93% of women said they were no longer afraid of
being harmed by animals while defecating, contracting health infections and going to the
toilet in the dark of night. The availability and regular usage of sanitation facilities have
greatly contributed in ensuring the well-being and dignity of women, marking a
significant achievement in India's journey towards a cleaner and healthier nation.
Jal Jeevan Mission
Access to clean drinking water is vital for the well-being of communities, particularly
women. With this understanding, the government launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
on August 15, 2019. With primary objective to provide clean tap water to every rural
household and public institution, tap water connection has been provided to 14.45 crore
households under the mission. By ensuring the availability of safe drinking water, the
mission aims to alleviate the burdens faced by women in fetching water over long
distances. This transformative initiative has empowered women and contributed to the
enlightenment of villages with regard to water, sanitation, and hygiene practices.
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Women's
empowerment is
contingent upon the
economic
empowerment of
women. That is why the
government has taken
steps to promote
financial inclusion
among women through
initiatives like Stand-Up
India and Pradhan
Mantri Mudra Yojana.
Stand-Up India scheme
focuses on providing
support for the
establishment of
greenfield enterprises
among women,
Scheduled Castes (SC),
and Scheduled Tribes
(ST). Similarly, PMMY
aims to provide
financial assistance to
non-corporate, non-
farm micro and small
enterprises. Around 69% of the loans have been sanctioned to women
entrepreneurs under PMMY and 84% of the beneficiaries under Stand-Up India are
women. Mahila Samman Savings Certificate was introduced as part of the Union Budget
2023-24, which is a small savings scheme exclusively for female investors. These
initiatives have enabled women to chart their paths and contribute to the economic
growth of the nation.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Mission Shakti is another noteworthy endeavour by the government, seeking to enhance
women's safety, empowerment, and participation in the workforce. This mission aims to
address gender biases, discrimination, and the care burden on women through skill
development, capacity building, financial literacy, and access to micro-credit. Integrated
services provided under one roof, such as police, medical and legal aid, counselling, and
psycho-social support through One-Stop Centres (OSCs), ensure comprehensive
assistance for women affected by violence. A toll-free women's helpline (181) further
offers emergency and non-emergency support. Mission Shakti has created an enabling
environment for women to thrive and actively contribute to society.
ABOLITION OF TRIPLE TALAQ
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 was enforced in India
on September 19, 2018. This Act renders the practice of instant divorce, commonly
known as triple talaq, void and illegal when pronounced three times. It imposes penalties,
including imprisonment for up to three years and a fine, on husbands who engage in the
practice of instant triple talaq. By implementing the triple talaq law, the Indian
government aimed to provide legal protection to Muslim women who had been subjected
to this regressive practice for many decades. This significant reform has led to an
improvement in the overall situation of Muslim women, enabling them to escape
domestic violence and discrimination they previously endured within society.
FROM WOMEN DEVELOPMENT TO WOMEN-LED DEVELOPMENT
Over ten years, the government's efforts have led to remarkable progress in women's
empowerment. The number of female police personnel has increased significantly, and
women athletes have brought laurels to the country with their remarkable achievements.
Enrolment of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) has also witnessed significant growth.
By shifting the narrative from women as recipients of welfare to agents of empowerment,
the government has been successful in hugely transforming Indian women’s lives. From
addressing gender discrimination to promoting education, health, housing,
entrepreneurship, and safety, these initiatives have brought about tangible
improvements in the lives of women and contributed to the nation's overall progress.
Today, it is not just about women's development but women-led development.
Nimish Rustagi/Himanshu Pathak/Ritu Kataria/Priyanka Kumari
