Delivering a dignity-changing model of empowering women under the Modi government

(mitanathbora7@gmail.com)

Swami Vivekananda once said -There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. A bird can't fly on only one wing.

In the 21st century, as the world progresses towards more and more gender equality and elimination of discrimination against women, India marches forward in showering its women citizen through more rights and power via social empowerment and financial independence. India has been striving hard towards improving the lives, livelihood and condition of different strata of its women citizen. From the women at the grassroots level to those wanting to break the glass ceiling, India is providing every scope and opportunity to its women to chase their dreams within the country with complete support from the various policies and programmes of the government. And over the last few years, we see mass transformation as women are making their mark as India handholds them, motivates and facilitates them.

Striding ahead women of India, today, are in news for multiple achievements, from Ministers to CEOs to Leaders of social changes, from being policymakers, having a strong portfolio in critical ministry, taking charge of important defence positions, flying fighter jets to being high-profile entrepreneurs, they are there in every sector, every sphere. Alongside, they are playing the very important role of setting goals for new generations and being role models for young girls of India. The present government run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently introduced 11 women as ministers. Nine women in the Council of Ministers, two women in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) (a first for India) including having India's first-ever first full-time Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, presently also the Finance Minister. India also had the country's first woman Rafale fighter jet pilot Shivangi Singh who was part of the Indian Air Force tableau at the 2022 Republic Day parade. In 2015 after the only male-dominated combat roles in the armed forces were opened up for women with their inclusion as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force, India today has 16 women pilots flying fighter jets like Rafale, Su-30 MKI and MiG-21 Bison.

In the field of space research, we have Mangala Mani, ISRO's first woman scientist who spent over 403 days in Antarctica. Mani was the only woman in a 23-member expedition team that went to India's research station in the icy continent in November 2016. Ritu Karidhal was considered the Rocket Woman of India and was behind the Mars Orbiter Mission or Mangalyaan. She was the Deputy Operations Director of the mission which led ISRO straight to Mars. Famous women scientists also include VR Lalithambika, behind India's Gaganyaan mission, Muthayya Vanitha the woman behind Chandrayaan-2, TK Anuradha, the senior-most woman scientist at ISRO.

On the entrepreneurial front, apart from a brigade of top-notch Indian women CEOs leading reputed companies across the globe, 27 yo Ankita Bose became India's first female unicorn founder of a billion-dollar startup. Entrepreneurial ideas coming from women have increased to more than 30% as one of the largest angel investor clubs in the country mentioned. These women entrepreneurs are India's social ambassadors of women empowerment. They are not only financially independent, but they are also in a position to support more women by creating livelihood opportunities for them.

At the grassroots level, continuous innumerable efforts are also being made at uplifting deprived women citizens and improving their lives through interventions in education, health, safety and security, gainful engagement, rural entrepreneurship, rights on marital lives, etc through women-centric schemes Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Shakti Puraskar, etc besides, increasing the marriageable age of girls to 21 years and removing triple talaq.

Apart from these, the biggest beneficiaries of Garib Kalyan schemes, Jan Dhan Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission Har Ghar Jal, Free Gas Connections, Anna Yogaja, etc., are all women. These schemes have been designed with women in mind, to reduce the burden and challenges they undertake every day for necessities. These have indirectly empowered women who are today proud owners of many household assets, including having their bank account and being financially independent. Under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) a total of 20.40 crore PMJDY women account holders received a monthly cash transfer of Rs 500. In the first three months of the scheme, over Rs. 31,000 crore was deposited in the bank accounts of these women's account holders. Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) over Rs. 68,820 crore was provided through cash or aid to 42 crore poor people across the country. Rs. 30,952 crore was transferred to women account holders of the PM Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY). Through the direct bank transfer step, all financial benefits reach their bank account directly, which only they can use. Over 9 crore women beneficiaries constituting over 74% have benefitted jointly from Mudra & Stand-Up India. 75% of the house-owners of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) are women. Even during the pandemic, over 8 crore beneficiaries got free LJG under PM UjjwalaYojana (PMUY).

These are an unprecedented level of social security that has been conferred on women and dignity restored to them. Rural women's life has significantly transformed under the Modi government showing a marked difference in how they live and lead.

Also working on the atrocities and crimes against women several initiatives have been taken by the Modi government to reduce the use and abuse of women, such as the Ujjawala Scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Swadhar Greh, HYPERLINK "https://wcd.nic.in/schemes/one-stop-centre-scheme-1" One Stop Centre Scheme, Women HelplineScheme, Nirbhaya to Mahila Police Volunteers. The National Women Commission along with the State Women Commission are working aggressively to address issues of atrocities on women, from rape, rape-cum-murder, assault with intention of outraging modesty, dowry deaths, acid attack on women, cruelty by husband or his relatives, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Assam State Women Commission (ASWC)

The ASWCfacilitates women in distress and works towards reducing crimes against women. Presently headed by Dr HemapravaBorthakur as Chairperson of ASWC, it operates at 4 layers – State Committee, District Committee, Sub-Division and Block Committees. The Committees comprises a healthy team of top Women Commission members, NGO members, Social Workers, Superintendent of Police, Government Doctor, Advocate and Academician. The legal team consists of a retired High Court Judge, a government advocate and the Commission Chairperson.

ASCW majorly is entrusted to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the constitution, matters relating to deprivation of women's rights, cases of violation of women with the appropriate authorities, identify factors responsible for impeding the advancement of women, besides, also to give counselling and assistance to women victims of atrocities and women in distress in the state.

In the last 4 months, since the new state committee has been formed, ASWC has conducted a meeting with social activists, district SP/Additional SP, OC & IC of Police Stations in almost 11 districts along with district committee members and help on-spot hearing at Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and a few more. It has also initiated discussion with the Tea garden community to resolve their issues and plans to have a one-day seminar especially concentrated to address challenges of tea garden women. An awareness campaign across the state is ongoing on aspects of social, educational, sports, art and culture, judiciary, media, corporate sector, politics etc.

Interestingly, there are instances of false cases being registered by women themselves or their families at the slightest pretext, which only increases the number of registered crimes. The commission deeply investigates to filter such cases and so at times, even man gets support from being falsely trapped.

Apart from regular functions, ASWC is taking up some new initiatives

l Women Leadership Skill Training in all districts.

l Seminar on Criminal Law & Legal Awareness.

l Violence on Women – Domestic, Workplace, Public Place

l Tea Tribe - Health issues amongst Tea tribes, mostly have severely anaemic patients. So encouraging importance of nutrition to pregnant mother.

l Work on Women's Health, Education and Financial security.

l Awareness amongst both boys and girls on women's safety.

In collaboration with the State Social Welfare Department, the ASWC also spreads awareness and monitors the performance of women-related schemes of both Central and State governments. The Assam State Government since 2016 has introduced several schemes exclusively for the welfare of women, such as the Assam Orunodoi Scheme, SwanirbharNari – Atmanirbhar Assam Scheme, Arundhati Gold Scheme, etc. Besides, other schemes such as the SABLA Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, IGMSY Maternity Benefit Programme, Mission Purna Shakti, State Resource Centre for Women, VCFS - Village Convergence and facilitation Service, VTRC - Vocational Training cum Rehabilitation Centre are also focused on helping women across the various districts and villages of our state.

To reach out to ASWC, one can call Women Help Line (Sakhi/181) an integrated one-stop centre or email ascwguwahatia@gmail.com.

For a woman who not only had to work her way through gender-bias, but often work doubly hard to prove her mettle, times have changed significantly both on personal and professional fronts. Women are now actively breaking the glass ceiling by their actions, using their capacity and competency and sending out encouraging signals to the larger population. India, on its part, leaves no stone unturned to applaud each women's progressive step, recognizes and awards them respectfully.