The discourse surrounding women’s empowerment in India has reached a critical juncture, particularly following the recent parliamentary debates concerning the reservation of seats for women in legislatures. While proponents view this as a crucial step towards inclusivity in law formation, antagonists have dismissed it as a mere political maneuver, especially with its linkage to delimitation exercises. Despite the differing viewpoints, the core question remains: is reserving a limited number of legislative seats sufficient to truly empower half of the nation’s population?
India has witnessed women in prominent roles such as Prime Minister, President, and Chief Ministers in the seventy-five years since independence; however, the situation for the average woman has not significantly improved. The experiences of women in states led by female Chief Ministers were reportedly not markedly different from those in states led by men. The issue, it seems, delves deeper than simple representation in parliament.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that true empowerment requires a more comprehensive approach. Rather than fixating solely on legislative quotas, political parties should prioritize increased involvement of women in party affairs and provide them with more opportunities to contest elections. Instances where elected women’s power is wielded by their spouses underscore the need for genuine agency.
The current government has implemented several initiatives aimed at uplifting women, including Mission Shakti for enhanced safety and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao for improved education. A significant move was the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, criminalizing instant Triple Talaq to safeguard women’s marital rights. Furthermore, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018 imposed stricter penalties for sexual offenses, including the death penalty for the rape of girls under 12.
Efforts to ensure gender equity within the armed forces have led to women transitioning from supportive roles to permanent commissions, command positions, and even combat roles. Approximately 68 percent of Mudra Loans have been allocated to women entrepreneurs, fostering economic independence. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, aimed at securing political representation, is also noteworthy. Consequently, the introduction of the women’s bill is not an isolated strategy by the BJP to influence elections. Prime Minister Modi, during a visit to Banaras after the Bengal elections, reaffirmed his commitment to the bill, emphasizing that women’s empowerment is central to a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
These governmental initiatives have reportedly contributed to a rise in the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women (aged 15+), from 22.0% in 2017-18 to over 40% in 2023-24. The female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has also shown improvement, increasing from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. These increases are mainly driven by rural women working in informal agriculture-related industries. While rural participation has increased significantly, urban engagement remains considerably lower, and over 90% of working women are employed in the informal sector.
According to reports, a holistic strategy is essential for genuine women’s empowerment; a fragmented strategy risks exacerbating India’s current difficulties. Nearly 50% of the more than 2.12 lakh DPIIT-registered startups in India have at least one female director as of early 2026, totaling over 1.02 lakh startups. However, women solely founded only 10% of unicorns. Although the percentage of employable female graduates has increased to 47.53%, women make up only 13.6% of the 18th Lok Sabha. While 89.2% of women possess bank accounts, only 13% are recognized as landowners despite their significant role in the agricultural labor force. Women possess roughly 20% of MSMEs in India, while the PM Mudra Yojana has contributed 68% of total loans to women-led businesses. Indian women spend an average of 305 minutes per day on unpaid domestic tasks, compared to only 67 minutes for men.
Indian women have consistently demonstrated their talent and ability to succeed in many fields throughout history. Indian culture has always embraced and valued women. Therefore, concentrating on building a climate that enables women to thrive, rather than just providing reservations, is the need of the hour. The irony is that we continue to discuss women’s empowerment…
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
Leave a Reply