Where She Shows the Way
Context:
- India at 75: In 100 years, women must be empowered to take charge of their lives.
Introduction:
- Everyone agrees that since Independence, women have made progress. We now see and understand that if half the population is kept behind, the nation cannot advance.
- With legislation permitting women to own property and preserve their rights, as well as with them becoming financially independent and making their mark in the business world, Indian women have taken the lead and formed a vision in step with global changes.
Important information:
- The percentage of female MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is only 15% and 14%, respectively.
- Just 26% of the candidates picked for the civil service were women, however there are 11 women in the council of ministers.
- Just 23.3% of people are in jobs.
- MSMEs are owned by only 20.37 percent of population.
- Only 10% of new enterprises in India are started by women, while only 18% of the GDP is produced by women.
Using a more thorough approach:
- The conversation must now move forward in order to understand the “whys” and “whats” behind percentages or numbers.
- I believe that the current technique of gauging the accessibility of options, answers, and pathways is unidirectional, and the conversation regarding women’s participation needs to go beyond it.
- A more comprehensive approach would involve assessing the thoroughness, viability, applicability, and accessibility of resolutions in order to propel women towards a bright future. These decisions could be made in the form of legislation, regulations, or instructions.
What should our goals be?
- Nonetheless, every step taken in this direction must be based on social justice, equality, and inclusivity. We must put a lot of effort into making sure that any woman from a low-income background has the same access to empowering measures as a woman from an affluent background.
- There is a need for more regional viewpoints in strategic policymaking, more rural women taking ownership of their own economic decisions, and more women overcoming barriers to develop in leadership roles.
- It is necessary to frequently emphasise what is being done for the nation’s women and whether it is sufficient. The number of lives a policy affects determines how effective it is.
In Tamil Nadu’s past:
- Tamil Nadu and its history have been profoundly influenced by leaders like Thanthai Periyar, C. N. Annadurai, and Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi who fought for social justice and women’s equality as well as created tangible examples for India and the rest of the world to follow.
- In his screenplays, Kalaignar not only addressed concerns affecting Indian widows but also disclosed financial aid programmes for them.
- He established numerous legislation that pushed Tamil Nadu toward prosperity, including the Women Entrepreneurs Scheme, the Women’s Small Trade Loan with Savings Scheme, reservations for women in public jobs and panchayat elections, marriage and maternity benefits. The agenda of Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, M K Stalin, has been advanced.
Conclusion:
- In the ensuing 25 years, I want fairness and egalitarianism to rule the nation. We can advance more women and begin a cycle that opens doors for inclusivity, empowerment, and progress if we provide women the tools they need to take charge of their life and have an impact on the lives of thousands of other women.
