In the last few years, there has been a great change in how people view the empowerment of women in India. One of the main shifts has been that women are no longer seen just as recipients of welfare benefits but increasingly are being seen as contributors or leaders of national development.
Traditionally, government programmes that were designed to support and assist women focused on welfare since women were viewed as passive recipients. The more current approach reveals that providing welfare benefits to women is not enough; providing opportunities for women to contribute positively to the economic growth of our country, participate in governance in an innovative way, and assist in the development of our country must also be provided.
As a direct result of increased government focus on the issue of girls’ status, we are seeing improvements in nearly all aspects of girls’ status. Programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have raised awareness about discrimination against girls and brought public attention to the historically decreasing ratio of female children in India. The gradual improvement in the overall sex ratio in India serves as one indicator that society’s perception of girls is undergoing a significant transformation.
In addition, there has been more attention given to maternal health than at any time ever before. Programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan have used numerous methods to support pregnant women financially, have increased the availability of health services for pregnant women, and have promoted institutional births.
The recent implementation of the Anganwadi and Poshan schemes to help provide access to proper nutrition, health care and other essential services to expectant mothers and their children will be very beneficial to the recipients of these programs in the long run. This type of investment will help build a healthier and more productive generation of people.
The Government has also made great progress in furthering education. There are significantly more girls in schools, staying longer in school, and transitioning to higher education.
Because of the changes made to the school infrastructure, classrooms are now more welcoming as part of learning. For instance, the addition of dedicated girls' toilets, clean water for everyday use, and girls' hostels have created a very positive environment in which girls can learn and develop their capabilities through education.
The story of each girl from disadvantaged backgrounds who has settled herself into a job in civil service or competed for India in an international sporting event is an example of how much change can occur when access to education is provided with the support necessary to help them find success through that education.
Women have seen a large increase in opportunities to attend post-secondary institutions. There has been a steady increase in the number of young women seeking to build their careers with the help of all of the available assistance for as many scholarships and other types of financial assistance and as they have increased their numbers to qualify for attendance at some of the best institutions of post-secondary education in the country. The increase in participation by women in many of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career opportunities also demonstrates that progress is continuing to be made. There are young women finding their way into fields that have traditionally been viewed as male-dominated professions, through initiatives such as Vigyan Jyoti, as well as the increasing number of technical institutions providing their programs with enrolment opportunities for young women. This trend is essential to India's dream of becoming a technology-based economy.
Skill-building programs are also contributing to improving women's economic opportunities. Programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana seek to give women the skills they need to succeed in their industries. Other new skill-building programmes focus on providing women with skills in emerging industries, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Drones, and Green Technologies, thus preparing them for jobs that will exist in the future.
The ability of women to gain access to financial products is arguably the most significant change to date. Women have gained access to banking services, credit products, self-help groups, and small business support programmes that support their journey to financial independence. Financial empowerment frequently serves as a springboard for social empowerment.
Healthcare reform has been a major expanded focus area, starting with maternal healthcare. The Ayushman Bharat ecosystem has expanded women's access to affordable healthcare services; digital health records, primary care clinics, and insurance coverage have removed many of the barriers women have faced in accessing treatment for medical emergencies.
Improved sanitation, shelter, clean fuel for cooking and access to tap water have improved people's dignity and everyday lives in both urban and rural India by providing basic need resources, lowering time and effort spent on household chore, improving health, and creating more opportunities for women's participation in education and workforce.
The growing number of women in leadership roles throughout all types of organizations and all levels of government demonstrates an ongoing transition to democratic decision-making processes and creating a Union for All Peoples. There are many obstacles to achieving true gender equality in many aspects of society; however, as time goes on, we see that the road toward equal opportunity for men and women is becoming more visible. For example, the shift in India from "Welfare of Women" to "Development of Women" represents a major change in how policymakers think about women as they create pathways for women over their life spans and their leadership experiences and contributions. Therefore, India has built a strong foundation for equivalent representation for its population as they work toward Vikasit Bharat by 2047.


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