Despite the social, economic and political progress in India, the patriarchal mindset is complexly prevalent in the present Indian society. Due to this, women are still considered a responsibility. Women get less opportunities for development due to social and family stereotypes, due to which their personality is not fully developed. Gender equality is very important for the development of our society. Women and men are the basic pillars of society. Gender inequality in the society is a deliberately created gap, which makes the journey to achieve the level of equality very difficult. However, there is a gradual change in the mindset of the society as a result of which issues related to women are being discussed seriously.
Women centric schemes are being run
Many such efforts were also made by the government, which showed encouraging results. Efforts are being made for women empowerment through schemes like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, ‘One Stop Center Scheme’, ‘Women Helpline Scheme’ and ‘Mahila Shakti Kendra’. According to Atul Malikram, an expert doing research on women empowerment, progress is being seen in the sex ratio and educational enrollment of girls as a result of the implementation of these schemes. Mudra and other women centric schemes are being run for self-reliance in the economic field.
Giving equal status to sons and daughters, the Central Government has also introduced a bill in Parliament to increase the minimum age for marriage for women from 18 years to 21 years at par with men. The role of women in driving the rural economy is becoming more widespread. In 2021-22, 28 lakh self-help groups have been given help of Rs 65 thousand crore by banks. The government has also trained the members of thousands of women self-help groups and made them partners in the form of banking sakhi. These women are becoming the medium of door-to-door delivery of banking services in rural areas. Women empowerment is one of the top priorities of the government.
Entrepreneurship and skill promotion
We are all witnesses of the success of Ujjwala Yojana. Through the Mudra Yojana, the entrepreneurship and skills of the mothers and sisters of our country have been promoted. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative has yielded many positive results, and there has been an encouraging increase in the number of girls enrolled in schools. The government has started to free the society from this evil practice by declaring triple talaq as a legal offense. Restrictions on Muslim women, such as performing Haj only with Mehram, have also been removed. A provision of gender inclusive fund has also been made in the National Education Policy to promote the ability to learn among the daughters of the country.
33 Sainik Schools admit girls
All the 33 existing Sainik Schools in the country have started admitting girls. The government has also approved the admission of women cadets in the National Defense Academy. The first batch of women cadets will enter the NDA (National Defense Academy) in June 2022. With policy decisions and incentives from the government, the number of women police personnel in various police forces has more than doubled as compared to 2014. Its status of women has improved, but it is still inadequate.
The thread of gender equality is also linked to labor reforms and social security laws, whether ensuring equal pay for working women or guaranteeing secure jobs. The laws of maternity leave which are applicable in the government sector will have to be strictly implemented in the private and unorganized sector also. India can be freed from the shackles of gender inequality only through an integrated effort of gender budgeting and social reforms.