Women make up not only more than half of the world’s population but also half of its potential. Thus, it is not practical that their voices go unheard at the highest levels of decision making. It is not beneficial to limit the success of half the population, as there are no limits to their dreams. There should be no obstacles to their achievements and no ceilings waiting to be shattered. The time has come for increasing awareness about the fact that better societies can be created by empowering women. If men support women and give them some confidence, women can do everything in life.
Realising the same, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has come out to financially support women in the state as they need motivation for all-round growth, development and prosperity. Understanding the importance of the untapped energy of women in his state, the Yogi government decided to appoint female banking agents in 58,000 Gram Panchayats, also known as Banking Sakhis. These women are associated with women’s self help groups in villages and the banks. The Yogi government also implemented various schemes for the safety, security and economic upliftment of women, like the Bhagya Laxmi Yojna, in which a development bond of Rs. 50,000 will be given at the birth of a daughter in every poor family. Widows are being helped under the Rani Laxmi Bai Women and Child Honour fund. The state government also increased the legal aid provided to women from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 10,000. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government successfully launched the Mission Shakti Programme with the hope of providing respect and safety to every woman in Uttar Pradesh.
Yogi Adityanath, being a sanyasi, strongly believes in “Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra Devata, yatraitaastu na pujyante sarvaastatrafalaah kriyaah”, which means that where women are honoured, divinity blossoms, and where women are dishonoured, all action, no matter how noble it may be, remains unfruitful. CM Yogi is trying to send a strong message that, as per Hindu culture, those who hurt the self respect and dignity of women, will be punished by his government. In the incidents of ‘Love Jihad’, marriages are done with the sole objective of religious conversion, so, how can this be acceptable?
His government is trying hard to resolve women’s issues at the grassroots level, whether it is the matter of safety and security, girls’ education, financial assistance for women or encouraging women entrepreneurs. To counter crime against women, the state government is also establishing 218 fast-track courts, out of which, 74 courts will be related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO Act). Simultaneously, the Central Government’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan schemes have also strengthened women in the state. The UP government also launched the Kanya Sumangala Yojna with a view to raise the standards of health and education for girls and brighten their future. The scheme has a proposed annual budget of Rs 1,200 crore. Meanwhile, an amount of Rs 4,004 crore has been proposed for the nutrition programme. Further, Rs 1,988 crore have been kept aside for the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and assistants. An amount of Rs 156 crore for the Kishori Balika Yojna and Rs 103.70 crore for the Mahila Samman Kosh has also been allocated by the Yogi government.
Fighting against the odds in a male-dominated society, women have made important contributions as businesswomen, entrepreneurs and officers. It has been estimated that, in agriculture, if women farmers have the same access to tools and credit as men do, the agricultural output in 34 developing countries would rise to an estimated average which can reduce the number of hungry people by around 150 million. Poverty and employment issues can also not be adequately addressed with only half of the population positively and actively engaged. Therefore, engaging women as a driving force for bringing positive change and eliminating poverty from the country is also a focus area. Enhancing the skills of women can directly reduce their economic dependence on their families, which in turn can increase their decision making power regarding productive expenditure and family matters.
The Yogi government is also working towards making reflective programmes on gender equality, challenging the traditional dynamics which dictate the duties of the woman as a ‘caregiver’ and man as a ‘bread-earner’. Care responsibilities are often a barrier for women in realising their workforce participation aspirations. Therefore, programs to boost female employment without any arrangement for reducing their care responsibilities will only increase their burdens. Recently, the CM decided to check the situation himself and made random visits to different districts to check the authenticity of welfare schemes beyond files and data presented by the district administration. This was certainly a practical approach for checking the authenticity of data as well as generating confidence among the general public and connecting directly with people of the state. When more women work, economies grow. Education, upskilling and reskilling over the course of one’s life—especially to keep pace with today’s rapid technological and digital transformations which affect jobs—are critical for women of all ages, with regard to their income generation opportunities and participation in the formal labour market, and their well being in general too.
To boost growth and development in the state, the state government’s intention to remove gender inequality is clear. Policymakers of the state are now focusing their actions on five clear priorities: Reducing the excess mortality of girls and women, eliminating the remaining gender disadvantages in education, increasing women’s access to economic opportunity and thus earnings and productivity, giving women an equal voice in households and societies, and limiting the transmission of gender inequality across generations. Much still remains to be done, but Uttar Pradesh has already changed by finally recognising that gender equality is good for both women and men. More people have now realised that there are many economic and other benefits of closing gender gaps.
And if we want to bring change for all-round growth and prosperity then we must understand, as Dolores Huerta had said, “Every moment is an organising opportunity, every person is a potential activist and every minute is a chance to change the world for betterment.”
The writer is an Advocate at the Supreme Court of India. The views expressed are personal.