Women Led Development in India

Source: PIB
GS I: Role of Women and Women’s Organizations, Social Empowerment, GS II: Welfare schemes, GS III: Inclusive growth

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Key Highlights

Why in the News?

Press Information Bureau highlighted India’s transition from ‘Women’s Welfare’ to ‘Women-led Development’.

News in Brief

• Over the past 12 years, the Government of India has transformed from ‘Women’s welfare’ to ‘Women-led Development’.
• With initiatives that improved women’s health, education, economic participation, and social empowerment.
• Emphasised greater participation of women in entrepreneurship, governance and leadership.

Key Highlights

Protection and Empowerment of the Girl Child

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015)
  • Addresses declining child sex ratio.
  • Promotes the survival, protection, and education of the girl child.
  • Creates awareness on gender equality and menstrual hygiene.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
  • More than 4.92 crore pregnant women have received financial assistance exceeding rupees 20,150 crore.
  • Helped in reducing maternal mortality.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
  • Provide free and quality antenatal check-ups at government health facilities.
  • Enables early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
  • Savings scheme for girls below 10 years.
  • Minimum deposit of rupees 250 annually.
  • Supports higher education and marriage expenses.
• Scholarship schemes
  • National scholarship for Post-Graduation studies.
  • AICTE Pragati Scholarship for girls in technical education.
  • Encourages higher education among women.

Women in Science and Higher Education

• Vigyan Jyoti Scheme
  • Encourages girls from IX-XII to pursue STEM subjects.
  • Provides mentoring, laboratory exposure, and career guidance.
• Supernumerary seats in IITs and NITs
  • Additional seats created exclusively for women.
  • Increased female participation in engineering education.

Skill development and employability

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
  • Provide industry-oriented skill training.
  • Covers emerging sectors such as AI, drones, green energy, and electronics.
  • Nearly 45% of beneficiaries are women.
• NAVYA
  • Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls.
  • Focuses on girls aged 16-18 years.
  • Training in AI-enabled services, cybersecurity, digital marketing and financial literacy are provided.

Health, Nutrition and Well-being

• Ayushman Bharat- PM Jan Arogya Yojana
  • Provides cashless health insurance coverage.
  • Reduces the financial burden of hospitalisation.
  • Nearly half of the beneficiaries are women.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
  • Strengthen primary healthcare.
  • Focus on maternal and reproductive health services.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
  • Digital health records through ABHA IDs.
  • Improves access and portability of healthcare services.
• Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
  • Provides supplementary nutrition.
  • Focuses on maternal and child health.
  • Tackles malnutrition and anaemia.
• Mission Indradhanush
  • Strengthens routine immunisation under the Universal Immunization Programme.

Financial Inclusion

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
  • Universal access to banking.
  • Enables Direct Benefit Transfers.
  • Promotes savings and financial security.
• Bank Sakhi Initiative
  • Women SHG members provide banking services in villages.
  • Enhances financial inclusion at the grassroots level.

Women Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods

• DAY-NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission)
  • Organizes rural women into SHGs.
  • Provides credit linkages, training, and livelihood opportunities.
  • Over 10 crore women connected through SHGs.
• Lakhpati Didi
  • Helps SHG women achieve an annual income of at least rupee 1 lakh.
  • Target expanded to 6 crore women.
  • Promotes sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
  • Collateral free loans for micro-enterprises are provided.
  • Major support for women entrepreneurs.
• PM SVANidhi
  • Supports street vendors through working capital loans.
  • Nearly 46% beneficiaries are women.
• Stand-Up India
  • Loans from rupees 10 lakh to rupees 1 crore for women entrepreneurs.
  • Encourages enterprise creation and expansion.
• Namo Drone Didi
  • Trains SHG women to operate agricultural drones.
  • Creates new income opportunities in agri-services.
• Womaniya (GeM)
  • Enables women entrepreneurs to sell products through the government e-Marketplace.
  • Expands market access and government procurement opportunities.
• SHE-Marts (Budget 2026-27)
  • Dedicated retail outlets for SHG products.
  • Helps women transition from livelihood activities to entrepreneurship.

Dignity and Quality of Life

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
  • Provides LPG connections to women from poor households.
  • Reduces indoor air pollution and health risks.
• Swachh Bharat Mission
  • Construction of household toilets.
  • Improves sanitation, safety, and dignity for women.
• Jal Jeevan Mission
  • Functional Household Taps Connections (Har Ghar Jal)
  • Reduces the burden of water collection on women and girls.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
  • Encourages ownership/co-ownership of houses by women.
  • Enhances economic security and social status.
• Mission Shakti
  • Strengthen women’s safety, security, and empowerment through integrated support services.
  • Sambal focuses on safety and protection measures, while Samarthya focuses on women’s empowerment and rehabilitation.

Political and Leadership Empowerment

• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023
  • Provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
  • Strengthens women’s representation in legislatures.
• Panchayati Raj Institutions
  • There are more than 14.5 lakh women elected representatives.
  • Women play a significant role in local governance.
• Women in National Defence Academy (NDA)
  • Women cadets admitted since 2022.
  • Expands women’s participation in defence services.

Conclusion

• India’s women-centric initiatives have evolved from welfare-based support to a women-led development model.
• This shift aims to make women active partners in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Consider the following statements

1. 1. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
   2. Namo Drone Didi aims to train Self-Help Group Women in operating drones for agricultural services.
   3. Women are now eligible for admission to the National Defence Academy, expanding their role in defence services.

How many of the above statements are incorrect?

a) only one statements

b) only two statements

c) All three statements

d) None

Answer: d) None

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