Improving a woman's socio-economic and representational status by cementing the right to be treated as equal and with dignity in India, requires out-of-the-box thinking and initiatives to be taken in key social indices.

For instance, promoting their need for education, proper healthcare and an assurance of economic independence, besides protecting them from gender-based violence and discrimination are issues that require attention.
The government has introduced several women empowerment focused schemes, encompassing financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and safety initiatives.
Some of the key schemes are:

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

Aims to address declining child sex ratio and related issues, focusing on the survival, protection and education of the girl child.

Stand-Up India Scheme

Provides loans to women entrepreneurs, particularly those from the underprivileged Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes sections of Indian society.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)

Offers microloans to non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises, with a significant portion going to women-led businesses.

Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme

Offers financial assistance from Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for setting up, or upgrading small-scale ventures.

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate

A small savings scheme with attractive interest rates exclusively meant for female investors.
Trade Related Entrepreneurship Development Assistance Scheme (TREAD): Provides women entrepreneurs financial assistance and resources.

Annapurna Scheme

Offers loans to women entrepreneurs for opening food catering businesses.

Mahila e-Haat

An online marketing platform for women entrepreneurs.

In the area of social empowerment and safety, the government has introduced the following:

One Stop Centre Scheme

Provides a safe and supportive environment for women affected by violence, offering them counselling, medical assistance and legal support.

Women Helpline

A 24/7 helpline for women in distress, offering immediate assistance and support.

SWADHAR Greh

A scheme that provides women with temporary shelter, food, clothing and medical care when they are faced with socio-economic distress.

Mission Shakti

An umbrella scheme that ensures the safety, security and empowerment of women.

Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSKs)

Empowers rural women through community participation and facilitates inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs for women.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): A conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SAG)

Focuses on the holistic development of adolescent girls, promoting their health, education, and empowerment.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana

Ensures financial assistance for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Nari Adalat (Women's Court)

Provides women with an alternate grievance redressal mechanism for resolving cases of a petty nature at the Village Council (Gram Panchayat) level.
Deviating from the long list of women empowerment schemes, let us take a look at how women are faring in three important sectors of the Indian economy, namely handlooms, fruit processing and canning plants.
In the Indian handloom sector, women constitute 72 percent of its workforce. This sector plays a key role in promoting the empowerment of women by providing them with economic opportunities and encouraging them to have financial independence, particularly rural women.
India’s handloom sector is a vital part of its cultural heritage, and women are seen as the primary custodians of these traditions. The handloom sector is a significant source of employment for women from rural and semi-rural areas, assuring them and their families of a decent livelihood.
Financial independence and an opportunity to work outside their homes empower women and increase their decision-making capabilities, both within their families as well as the communities they live in.
Schemes like the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) provide financial assistance for the construction of work sheds, skill development and marketing support.
The Stand-up India Scheme provides financial assistance to women entrepreneurs in the handloom sector, while the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme promotes development of local handloom products.
The Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector (SAMARTH) organises skill upgradation programs for handloom workers.
The Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of women weavers.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the handloom sector specialises in the weaving of fabrics like Pashmina, Raffal, Silk sarees, and cotton items. A large segment of the workforce are women.
The J&K Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms enhances the skills of women artisans through training programs and workshops, equipping them with the knowledge and techniques needed to create high-quality products.
The sector also fosters entrepreneurship among women, with initiatives like the TEJASWINI Scheme of Mission Youth, which aims to promote self-employment ventures among young women.
In the fruit processing sector, the role of women is well recognised, especially in areas like post-harvest management (cleaning, grading, sorting and processing of fruits, all of which contributes to the quality and shelf life of the produce), value addition and entrepreneurship.
As entrepreneurs, women in the fruit-processing sector are establishing small-scale businesses and contributing to local economies. Economic independence is assured and this helps to improve the livelihood of women.
Such empowerment in the fruit-processing sector has positive ripple effects on self and community development, besides fostering a spirit of overall resilience to counter challenges as and when they surface.
Creating value-added products like jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys through government assisted schemes and micro financing, helps women to sell these products at good prices in the market. Connecting women fruit processors with markets and buyers ensures that their products reach targeted consumers and facilitates income generation.
Women, especially those from a rural background, play a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural sector, significantly contributing to food and fruit production, and harvesting in the rural economy.
Though it is a fact that they are constrained by numerous barriers that restrict their full participation and recognition, Kashmiri women are making steady progress in breaking down these barriers.
Addressing this challenge is imperative for promoting gender equality and enhancing agricultural productivity.
Fruit production in Jammu and Kashmir has seen significant growth, rising from 20.06 lakh metric tonnes in 2018-19 to 26.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24.
Fruit processing is a significant contributor to the UT economy and livelihood, with apples, walnuts, and cherries being major exports. The J&K Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Corporation Ltd. (JKHPMC) plays a crucial role in the marketing and processing of fruits and allied products.
It has engaged itself in establishing pre-harvest and post-harvest activities. This includes an integrated network of mechanised warehouses, cold storages, trans-shipment centres and fruit processing plants, besides a network of sales offices in terminal markets, railways stations and airports across the country.
The government believes that women in India have the natural ability to lead the nation’s food processing industry.
With more than 90 million women in India associated with self-help groups today, the sky is the limit for them to take a lead in food science and food diversity because of the skills and knowledge they possess.
It is the responsibility and duty of policymakers to create the right environment, recognise and integrate the contributions of women into policy frameworks to ensure their inclusion in decision-making processes.
This is vital for fostering sustainable development and creating a more equitable and resilient Indian economy.

Email:----------------farooqwani61@yahoo.co.in