Women’s Economic Potential
Context:
The recent female labour force participation (FLFPR) report indicates an increase from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. Apparently, this increase is still less than the male participation rate of 77.2% and the global average of 50%.
- The article discusses the challenges faced by women in India and also talks about the potential of empowering women economically.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Women Empowerment)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is Driving Women’s Economic Participation in India?
- Barriers for Women in India
- What Can Be Done?
What is Driving Women’s Economic Participation in India?
- Education:
- Women’s access to higher education is rising—50% of total enrolments in 2021-22 were female.
- 42.57% of STEM students in India are women, breaking gender stereotypes and entering high-paying sectors.
- Digital learning and scholarship programs are bridging urban-rural divides.
- Women-led government policies:
- Government schemes like the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Stand-Up India, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-G (PMAY-G) prioritise leadership, ownership, and entrepreneurship.
- Example: Over 10 crore women are part of 9 million SHGs.
- 84% of Stand-Up India loans go to women.
- Rise of Women Entrepreneurship
- From Nykaa to MobiKwik, women are now job creators, not just job seekers.
- Over 10% of SIDBI’s fund supports women-led startups.
- Digital Empowerment
- 39.7% of deposits and 39.2% of bank accounts are now held by women.
- Use of Aadhaar-linked services and mobile banking boosts confidence and financial independence.
- Models like Bank Sakhis processed transactions worth $40 million.
- Legal Support
- Fast-track courts, one-stop centres, and women’s help desks are addressing workplace safety and domestic violence.
- Stronger maternity benefits and workplace laws improve retention.
- Work from home facility and Gig Economy
- Technology has allowed women to work from home, breaking location and time constraints.
- Over 67,000 common service centres are run by women entrepreneurs.
- Changing Social Norms and Role Models
- 15% of Indian pilots are women—3 times the global average.
- Leadership examples like Commander Prerna Deosthalee and Justice BV Nagaratna are reshaping aspirations.
Barriers for Women in India
- Low FLFPR: Despite improvements, India still trails the global female average of 50%.
- Post-marriage dropouts and lack of re-entry support are major concerns.
- Unpaid Care Work: Women spend 236 minutes/day on unpaid care work, while men spend only 24 minutes/day (Time Use Survey).
- This limits their time for formal employment or upskilling.
- Gender Pay Gap and Informalisation: Urban men earn 29.4% more than women; in rural areas, the gap is 51.3%.
- 81% of working women are in informal, insecure jobs.
- Gender-Based Violence and Safety: 4.4 lakh crimes against women in 2022; 51 cases every hour (NCRB).
- Nearly 30% of married women report spousal violence (NFHS-5).
- Poor Political and Corporate Representation: Only 13.6% of MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha are women.
- 17.6% of directorships in Nifty-500 companies are held by women.
- Digital Divide: Only 33% of rural women use the internet (NFHS-5).
- Mobile phone ownership among women is still around 54%.
- Lack of Supportive Work Infrastructure: 37% of companies don’t provide maternity benefits.
- Only 17.5% provide childcare facilities, leading to dropouts.
What Can Be Done?
- Improve Skill: Align skilling programs with local economic needs (e.g., green jobs, digital services).
- Empower Women Entrepreneurs: Merge finance schemes like MUDRA, Stand-Up India, and Women Entrepreneurship Fund.
- Turn SHGs into micro-incubators and enable digital onboarding.
- Create a National Childcare Framework: Build a National Crèche Grid combining ICDS, Anganwadis, and private support.
- Gender-Inclusive Infrastructure: Integrate gender-responsive budgeting in Smart Cities, transport, water, and housing schemes.
- Institutionalise gender audits and involve women in planning.
- Formalise and Secure Informal Women Workers
- Make Udyam registration easier for women entrepreneurs in small and micro sectors.
- Extend benefits of e-SHRAM, ESIC, and NPS to women in informal jobs to ensure social security and job protection.
- Promote Inclusive Governance and Workplace Equality
- Enforce gender quotas in MSME boards, cooperatives, and local government bodies.
- Train panchayats in gender budgeting and encourage women’s participation in decision-making.
- In the private sector, mandate policies like paternity leave, flexible work hours, and returnship programs for women returning to work.
- Strengthen Women-Centric Planning and Digital Identity
- Develop a unified Women’s Empowerment Stack linked to Aadhaar for streamlined access to welfare, credit, and insurance.
- Localise planning through Gender Action Plans at grassroots levels and involve Mahila Sabhas and SHG networks in development activities.
Way Forward:
- India stands at the cusp of a socio-economic transformation. Empowering women is not just about fairness—it’s a smart economic strategy. Countries with higher female labour participation experience faster and more inclusive growth.
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