SEver since India gained its independence from the British Raj in 1947, women’s rights have been central to the thought of the republic and its national consciousness. Our constitution not only provided political agency to women but also sought to close the gender gap with special provisions for women’s rights and their economic development, which are vital for the progress of any country. And now that India has assumed the presidency of the G20, the same ideals of equality and empowerment are entering the list of top priorities of the international body.
The G20 is a grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies, which meet regularly to discuss and coordinate socio-economic and financial policies. Like any political and economic institution, the G20 runs the risk of being either inclusive or exclusionary. For the G20 2023, the onus has fallen on India to create an institutional drift towards inclusive and sustainable development. It faces the major task of representing the concerns of the Global South in international fora and of changing a perspective that gives credence to the Global North’s perception of the problem. In order to accelerate the world economy at a sustainable and balanced rate, all countries should work on a comprehensive strategy for structural transformation. The heavy emphasis on the self-regulating free market that has long dominated the world of finance has shifted to deflect substantial criticism and inspire a more adaptable and inclusive market approach.
India’s domestic policies emphasize broad-based rights for its women – from promoting digital literacy and financial inclusion to supporting women entrepreneurs and ensuring gender pay parity through the new labor code. As a G20 member, India stands for holistic women-led growth that is inclusive. We have 14.5 lakhs There are about 9,000 women in grassroots leadership positions in Panchayati Raj institutions defense services, Government schemes like MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) and Mission Poshan have served lakhs of women in the country. These initiatives will help build a more inclusive and equitable society that ensures women’s participation in the global economy. India is indeed leading by example.
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India has been a land of entrepreneurial skills and enthusiasm. Rather than trying to replicate the Global North, India has charted its own path to achieve pay parity and ensure public participation. women today Constitute Over 57.8 per cent of the beneficiaries of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA). India has launched programs allowing access to start-up funding and other tools to further increase female participation in its labor force, ensure diversity in its workforce, and give women access to greater growth opportunities. It will convert non-revenue work done by majority of Indian women into revenue and employment generating businesses through promotion of social entrepreneurship. The country boasts of a vibrant population and remains a land of opportunities, with plenty of room for aspiring entrepreneurs. We have Gaurav Grameen Mahila Manch, Shree Mahila Griha Udyog, Lijjat Papad, Sakhi Pad, Sewa and many more Self Help Groups (SHGs) which have provided many opportunities to innumerable women to make a sustainable economic life.
Social entrepreneurship is what sets India apart from other G20 countries. This includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores along with cultural aspects, including giving GI tag to Kashmir Pashmina and giving greater economic value to traditional arts and crafts. It provides the world with a strong four-pillar foundation of ESG+C. The ESG+C methodology not only aims at providing sustainable livelihoods but also reflects and preserves the socio-cultural fabric of ‘Bhav’ (the essence of our culture and civilization). ethos) in India. As these arts and crafts are part of a community’s cultural heritage, they are often practiced by members of the community employing local resources, and knowledge of the skills is passed down through the generations. It not only ensures a sustainable source of livelihood but also keeps alive the knowledge practices of a community, strengthens its socio-cultural fabric
‘ESG+C’ is most effective in creating a cognitive connection between women empowerment and financial inclusion. Social enterprises are more attuned and responsive to social market needs because they are often organically created. They are more gender inclusive and help preserve and promote folk culture. These ventures also show the way forward through community engagement. These enterprises are built from the bottom up and reflect the people and their diversity – the many tribes, communities and ethnicities that define our nation.
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Decoding Indian Policy Shift
India’s approach to seeking sustained engagement with women stakeholders represents a major policy shift, with engagement, collaboration and public outreach as primary goals. Examples of this policy change are programs like ‘Atmanirbhar Nari Shakti Se Samvad’, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to members of women self-help groups associated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-) through video conferencing. NRLM), poverty relief program of the Centre. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched to provide LPG connections to women from below poverty line families, has allowed them to replace polluting firewood with cleaner fuel, thereby ensuring a step towards a better quality of life. To be. The JAM Trinity – Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile has been another influential policy. It not only ensured inclusion of unbanked and underbanked people in the financial system but also allowed them access to various financial services for economic growth and empowerment.
The Government’s Skill India Mission, implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is promoting inclusive skill development by increasing women’s participation in programs to accelerate their economic development. The ministry offers several schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Crafts Skills Training Scheme (CTS), and Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS). Focusing on training and skill development among diverse background, Public Private Partnership is being promoted under PMKVY. One such example is Airbnb collaborating with the hospitality and tourism sectors to homestay services,
These schemes will strengthen the institutional framework of the country for effective coordination of skill training. A policy leap forward is the creation of a centralized database of apprentices to better adapt to the needs of different sectors and socioeconomic demographics. Credible content creation, curriculum design and training delivery have done wonders for the reputation of Indian education abroad and the competitiveness of Indian sportspersons on the world stage. The focus of the government has shifted from women’s development to women-led development. To achieve this goal, the government is continuously working to maximize women’s access to education, skill training and institutional credit.
Today, India is well-positioned to leverage its leadership to ensure that a strong, gender-inclusive perspective pervades the G20 and establishes an innovative framework that countries can follow in the future.
Aditi Narayani is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Laxmibai College, University of Delhi. She tweets at @AditiNarayani. Rekha Sharma is the chairperson of the National Commission for Women. She tweets @sharmarekha. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)