While addressing the Women Empowerment Maha Sammelan organized on the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilya Bai, PM said that government has made Women-led Development the foundation of national progress.
Women’s Development vs. Women Led Development
Aspect | Women’s Development | Women-led Development |
Core Philosophy | Women as passive recipients of welfare. | Women as active agents and drivers of change. |
Primary Focus | Providing services to women. | Empowering women to lead development. |
Role of Women | Beneficiaries needing support. | Change-makers and decision-makers. |
Approach | Top-down delivery of schemes. e.g., Providing Shelter assistance | Bottom-up participation and leadership. e.g., Providing Property Entitlements |
Significance of Women-led development to the society
- Economic Empowerment: Advancing gender equality could potentially lead to a 30% increase in India’s GDP. (NFHS)
- Gender equity: Women in leadership positions can serve as role models and help shift societal norms about gender roles and capabilities.
- e.g., recent leadership of Col. Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh in Operation Sindoor.
- Inclusive growth: It channelizes potential of women for actively shaping and driving economic, social, and political progress at all levels of governance.
- >80% artisans in Khadi Sector are women, >50% of persons practicing sericulture are women.
