Empowered Women are Foundation of Viksit Bharat

General Studies Paper-3

Context

• PM Modi launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, highlighting that “empowered women are the foundation of Viksit Bharat.”

About Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited

• Jeevika Nidhi is a state-level cooperative financial institution established to support women entrepreneurs in Bihar.
  • Objective: To provide timely credit at lower interest rates, reducing dependence on microfinance institutions (MFIs) that charge 18%–24%.
  • Membership: All registered cluster-level federations of Jeevika SHGs will be part of the Society.
  • Financing: Both the Government of Bihar and the Central government will contribute funds.
  • Technology: The system is entirely digital, enabling seamless loan transactions via mobile phones. About 12,000 community cadres are being equipped with tablets to facilitate operations.

How Empowered Women Contribute to Viksit Bharat?

• Economic Growth: Studies show that closing the gender gap in labour force participation can add up to $770 billion (approx. 18% of GDP) to India’s economy by 2025.
• Entrepreneurship: SHGs and women-led enterprises create local jobs, boost rural demand, and promote sustainable businesses, thereby deepening grassroots development.
• Education & Human Capital: Educated and economically independent women invest more in their children’s education, improving literacy and skilling outcomes for future generations.
• Health & Nutrition: Empowered women make better household decisions on health, sanitation, and nutrition, directly improving India’s social development indicators.
• Governance & Democracy: Women leaders in Panchayati Raj institutions (one-third of seats reserved for women) enhance governance by prioritising issues like water, health, and education.
• Social Equity: Women’s empowerment reduces poverty, combats social evils such as child marriage, and ensures inclusive growth aligned with Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

Broader Government Initiatives for Women

• Economic Empowerment:
  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY – NRLM): 10.05 crore women have been mobilised into 90.90 lakh Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the country.
  • Namo Drone Didi Scheme (2023): Training 15,000 women SHG members to operate drones for agricultural services.
  • Lakhpati Didi,
  • Drone Didi,
  • Bank Sakhi.
• Social Infrastructure & Welfare:
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Houses are registered in women’s names or jointly, enhancing asset ownership and decision-making power.
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Over 10 crore free LPG connections provided, reducing drudgery and health risks from traditional cooking fuels.
• Health, Nutrition & Education:
  • Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Provides ₹5 lakh annual health coverage per family, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure for women.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan: Focus on reducing stunting, undernutrition, and anemia among women and children.
  • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Maternity benefit of ₹5,000 for wage loss during pregnancy.
• Political & Social Empowerment:
  • Women’s Reservation Bill 2023: Constitutional provision for 33% reservation in Parliament and State Assemblies.
  • One Stop Centres: More than 700 centres operational to support women facing violence.

Way Ahead

• Boost Women’s Workforce Participation: Create more flexible jobs, promote work-from-home options, expand childcare facilities, and provide safe transport to increase women’s role in the labour market.
• Bridge Wage and Skill Gaps: Enforce equal pay laws, expand vocational and digital skilling programmes, and encourage women’s entry into high-growth sectors like STEM, green economy, and defence manufacturing.