Omkar Dattatray
Initiatives for women empowerment is going on full swing in India as the women has become equal if not more in the development of the country. It is satisfying that women are excelling in all most all fields and spares of the societal, economic, technological and overall development of the nation. Now a big achievement has been reached in the field of women development and that is the country has achieved a spectacular stride as India has really achieved the status which can be called that Indian women have moved from women development to women-led development and this is in no way an ordinary development. The womenfolk is not only on the right path of self development but the women have become leaders in development of the nation and this is a really a big achievement for the women and the country. The women as the leaders in the development process should give stress on the development of the entire women force and they should not lag behind in any sphere of the life. It is a matter of satisfaction that women are not only developing themselves but are becoming national and global catalysts in the development of the women and thus performing leaders’ role in the development of the country. But alas! despite development of the women in almost all fields of human life, there is an alarming incidents of violence against women which is very unfortunate in a country whose religious scriptures are full of the praise for women and also exhorts people to respect the women. In fact it is the women which is the creator and generator of the universe and thus we should revere and respect them and never indulge in violence against women. All of us should respect the women flock and learn to show respect to wome. Recently the nation has celebrated the International Day For Women and this celebration should infuse spirit in us so that we will leave no stone unturned to show respect to women. Women by and large have become agents, catalysts and leaders of the development of the women and the country in the ultimate analysis and this is a big development indeed and all of us should appreciate this new role of the women so that they are given heir due in the scientific and technology driven world. PM Modi recently while addressing a post budget webinar on women empowerment ,highlighted that enrolment of women in the fields of engineering, science, technology and mathematics in the country today was 42 per cent. Can we make unicorns in self-help groups too, we have brought that vision in this year’s union budget. PM Narendra Modi asserted that India has entered a phase of women led development, where girls constitute 43 per cent of STEM education, stream students -among the highest in the world. Pushing for unicorns in self-help groups for women, PM Modi said India has moved from women development to women -led development in last nine years. He further stressed, can we make unicorns in self-help groups too, we have brought that vision in this year’s budget. Unicorns are companies that reach a valuation of USD 1 billion, without been listed in the stock exchange market. The PM said that around 70 per cent beneficiaries of Mudra loan are women. The women are not only increasing the income of their families but also opening new economic avenues for the nation. Modi also linked India’s progress with the level of respect and the sense of equality by women in the country. He also said India can move forward only by raising the level of respect for women and the sense of equality. Modi also said that this year’s budget is an auspicious beginning for achieving the target of Vikasit Bharat by 2047. The prime minister said that this year’s budget will give a new momentum to the efforts of women led development. According to Modi ,the results of the efforts for women empowerment are visible and we are feeling a revolutionary change in the social life of the country. PM underlined the Nari Shakti’s strengths of determination, will-power, imagination, ability to work for goals and extreme hard work as reflection of ‘MatruShakti’ He also said that these qualities are playing a major role in increasing the speed and scale of India in this century. He went on and said today the results of the efforts of the women empowerment are visible and there is a revolutionary change in the social life of the country. He said the number of women compared to men is increasing and the number of girls studying up to high school and beyond has tripled in the last 9-10 years. In the fields like medical, sports, business or politics, not only the participation of women has grown but they are leading from the front. Highlighting different government schemes that have contributed to the development of women ,He mentioned the PM Awas Yojna which he said has given women a new voice in economic decisions of the household. The reflection of how we can take the country forward with the help of half of the country’s population and how we can increase the potential of women power is visible in this budget. It should be noted that Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme where women are to get 7.5 per cent interest .Rs 80,000 crore for PM Awas Yojna is also a step in the direction of women empowerment as most of the 3 crore houses are in the name of women. Modi stressed the empowering aspect of PM Awas Yojna in a scenario where, traditionally women had no property in their name. PM Awas Yojna has given a new voice to women in the economic decisions of the household.PM pointed out that women today are contributing not only as small entrepreneurs but also as capable resource persons. The particular mentioned is made of the Bank Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi programmes that are scaling new dimensions of development in villages. It is pointed out that at present four out of five non -farm businesses is run by women.PM also dwelled on the role and importance of the women in co-operative sector and its development. Modi elaborated on the role of women self -help groups in promotion of Shree Anna. In fact despite the development of the women and the women led development is gaining ground in the country but still the exploitation of the women and violence against the women is rising alarmingly and it is cause of grave concern. We should help the women in their honest and sincere endeavors of self as well as nation’s development. In short it will not be an exaggeration to say that women are performing roles as the engineers, architects, agents, catalysts’ and above all as the leaders in the 21st century India and women’s empowerment and this is a welcome development for the country including women who are contributing immensely in the nations development.
