Driving Women’s Empowerment for Sustainable Economic Growth

Context

Recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24 data reveals significant growth in women’s FLFP, especially in rural India, where it surged from 18.2%
to 35.5% over six years. However, this growth often reflects economic necessity, not empowerment. The structural barriers preventing gender equality demand
urgent attention for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Recent Incidents Highlighting Safety Concerns

1. Reduced Domestic Workload through Welfare Schemes
• Initiatives like Ujjwala Yojana (free LPG connections) and Har Ghar
Jal (tap water supply) have reduced women’s time spent on domestic
chores, enabling economic participation.
• Data Highlights:

• Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries’ LPG refills rose from 159.9 million
  in 2018-19 to 344.8 million in 2022-23.
• 78% of rural homes now have tap water connections under JalJeevan Mission (October 2024).

2. Employment through Government Schemes
• Programs like MGNREGA ensure equal wages for women, creating rural
job opportunities.

• Key Figures:

•  Women comprised 54.54% of the MGNREGA workforce in
  2021-22.
• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) empowered 9.89
  crore women through self-help groups (SHGs) by 2023.

3. Declining Fertility Rates
• India’s fertility rate is now 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2021), reducing caregiving burdens on women and enabling participation in paid work.

4. Increased Literacy and Skill Development
• Female literacy has risen to 77%, supported by schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
• Programs like Skill India Mission and Digital Saksharta Abhiyan are preparing women for e-commerce, gig work, and other emerging sectors.

5. Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship
• Initiatives like PM Jan Dhan Yojana and Stand-Up India Scheme provide women access to credit and financial independence.
• Key Data:

• Women own 55% of Jan Dhan accounts.
• Loans worth ₹40,710 crore were sanctioned under Stand-Up India (March 2023), with 80% for women entrepreneurs.

6. Digitization and Technology
• The expansion of internet access (53% rural penetration) enables women to engage in remote and gig work via platforms like Amazon
Saheli and Mahila E-Haat.

7. Supportive Legal Frameworks
• Laws like the Maternity Benefit Act (2017) and POSH Act (2013) promote gender-sensitive workplaces.
• The Women Reservation Act, 2023, is a significant step towards improving women’s representation and participation.

Challenges Hindering Women’s Workforce Participation

1. Deeply Entrenched Social Norms

• Traditional gender roles restrict women to caregiving and domestic responsibilities, limiting access to paid work.
• India ranks 127th out of 146 countries in economic participation (Global Gender Gap Report 2023).
• 2. Limited Access to Education and Vocational Training
  Women’s participation in STEM fields and vocational training remains low: Only 18.6% of women aged 18-59 received vocational training in 2022-23.

3. Unpaid Care Work
• Women perform 85% of unpaid domestic work (NFHS 2019-21), leaving little room for economic participation.

4. Gender Wage Gap and Informal Employment
• 90% of women workers are in informal jobs, earning just 18% of labor income (World Inequality Report 2022).

5. Weak Workplace Policies
• 93.5% of women workers lack maternity benefits (OP Jindal Global University report).
• Poor enforcement of POSH Act discourages women from pursuing formal employment.

6. Safety and Mobility Concerns
• Crime against women rose by 12.9% (2018-2022), limiting their mobility and workplace access (NCRB 2022).

Strategies for Effective Economic Empowerment of Women

1. Gender-Specific Skill Development: Focus on emerging fields like IT, renewable energy, and healthcare, while strengthening traditional sectors
like textiles.
2. Affordable Childcare: Establish nationwide childcare support programs linked with workplace policies under the Maternity Benefit Act.
3. Financial Inclusion for Women Entrepreneurs: Enhance access to affordable credit through PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Yojana, and SHGs
under NRLM.
4. Safe and Inclusive Infrastructure: Build gender-sensitive transport, sanitation, and urban safety infrastructure under the Smart Cities Mission.
5. Workplace Reforms: Mandate gender audits, hybrid work policies, and enforce maternity benefits to retain women in the workforce.
6. Increase Representation in Leadership: Encourage women’s leadership roles in politics, governance, and private sectors through capacity-building
programs like Mission Shakti.
7. Bridging the Digital Divide: Scale up Digital Saksharta Abhiyan and initiatives like Amazon Saheli to connect women with larger markets.
8. Regional and Sectoral Interventions: Target state-specific barriers to boost FLFP, focusing on northern states with lower participation rates.

 

Conclusion

While the rise in women’s FLFP in rural India is promising, economic necessity continues to drive participation, especially among teenage girls and elderly
women. Addressing systemic barriers like unpaid care work, low literacy, wage gaps, and safety concerns is essential. Aligning with SDG 5 (Gender
Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work), comprehensive reforms can unlock women’s full potential, fostering a truly inclusive and sustainable economy.

 

MAINS QUESTION

General Studies Paper 1: Society

Traditional social norms and unpaid care work continue to hinder women’s participation in the
workforce.” Discuss in the context of India’s rural economy.

General Studies Paper 2: Governance and Social Justice

Discuss the significance of legal frameworks like the Maternity Benefit Act, 2017, and POSH Act, 2013, in
creating gender-sensitive workplaces in India

General Studies Paper 3: Economy and Development

The rapid rise in women-led entrepreneurship is reshaping India’s economy. Examine the role of
Financial inclusion initiatives like PM Jan Dhan Yojana and Stand-Up India in fostering this trend.

Essay

Balancing tradition and modernity: Challenges and opportunities for women in India’s workforce.