3 Ways The Government Is Pushing For Women Empowerment in India

 

The world celebrates Womens’ Day every year on March 8. But every day is a womens’ day as they comprise half the world’s population and also of India.

Equality and empowerment of women does not mean just the freedom and other rights guaranteed under the Constitution. It also means more jobs, increased safety, ease in day-to-day living, right to education and financial independence, which gives them the ability to make a choice.

To ensure women are empowered, many social enterprises and NGOs have stepped in and are providing both education and employment to girls and women. The government and public sectors are also playing an important role by launching schemes to empower women and make them independent.

“In agriculture, women are discriminated against severely. Even though they do much more work than the average man in the household, her work goes unpaid and unrecognized.”

Here are a few schemes that are breaking new ground and improving the lives of women, and encouraging them to think big, both in rural and urban areas.

1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana
   
   

This scheme was launched on 22 January 2015, in Panipat, Haryana. It generates awareness and increases the efficiency of welfare services for the girl child.

The Yojana is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“The Yojana is imparted in 100s of chosen districts low in Child Sex Ratio, covering all UTs and states through a national campaign.”

2. Mahila-E-Haat
   
   

The government launched Mahila-E-Haat in 2016 under the purview of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. This bilingual online marketing platform helps aspiring women entrepreneurs, NGOs, and self-help groups to showcase their products and services. The portal claims to have attracted 17 lakh visitors since its launch and features thousands of products and services from 24 states and across 18 categories.

“Mahila-E-Haat incorporates direct communication between the buyers and vendors, with the right training, advocacy, soft intervention workshops, and web-based approaches.”

3. Mahila Shakti Kendra
   
   

Mahila Shakti Kendra was launched in 2017 by the government to empower rural women with opportunities for employment, health and nutrition, skill development, and digital literacy. Each Mahila Shakti Kendra in the respective Block, District, or State provides an interface for rural women to avail of their entitlements through capacity and training building by approaching the government. It works at the Block, District, State, and National levels.

As we work towards a world where women are equal, empowered, and self-reliant, we must understand that this can happen faster if we all do our bit. Every small step we take to make this world a more equal place is going to go a  long way to empower women across the country.