‘Growing Feminisation’ is the new buzz in India with women today seen in almost every professional field, and there is ample statistical evidence illustrating the growing feminisation of India’s demography. Feminisation is linked to several dimensions, like, political, economical, geographical etc. In traditionally male dominated bastions, many women leaders have emerged, making waves with their achievements including leading large corporates. However, are we seeing feminisation in India’s rural sector?Reducing gender gap has been a national endeavour since independence and education is the first step towards empowerment. While rural education has improved with women gradually freeing themselves from being long imprisoned by customs, traditions etc. women are barely seen as decision makers in larger rural settings. This is despite their multi-dimensional contributions.
Also Read: India’s Female Labour Force Participation — why it is a paradox of progressGross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of women (in education) has shown notable improvement from 24.6% in 2017-18 to 28.5% in 2022-23. The Gender Parity Index in the 5 year period increased from 1.01 in 2017-18 to 1.06 in 2022-23 indicating higher enrolment rate of females as compared to males. However, despite the increasing number of educated women in the country their participation in the labour market is still abysmal. As per the Labour Bureau, unemployment rate of women in 2023-24 at 15%, was almost double that of men. Urban female unemployment was strikingly high at 20%. Clearly, urban sector which has higher educated women than rural are also left without jobs. What is even more worrying is the lack of job opportunities for women as they go up the educational ladder.
As per the NSSO survey 2018-19, a post graduate women seeking for work is significantly higher than that a lesser educated woman. In rural areas, female unemployment rate in 2023-24 stood at 12.5%. Most often rural women enter the labour market under economic compulsions rather than taking up a job of their choice. Clearly education though a necessary pre-requisite of empowerment is not the only solution. The key lies in creating the environment which can absorb the growing number of women who now has a voice of her own. One clear step that has to be taken by both the public and private sector is the generation of employment. A possible path could be to facilitate women with their job search by looking into the specific needs of women and facilitate them with their job search. Government initiatives like SMAM signify a step in the right direction. Under this central governments scheme, farmers are provided with the benefit of finance and subsidies for buying agricultural machinery, with priority given to women farmers. This can enable women farmers to adoption mechanisation on their farmlands, thereby increasing productivity and improve farm and hence rural income of their families. However, many more such policy interventions are needed.The increasing number of educated women demands a greater need to improve the overall economic environment. Unless positive steps are taken by all stakeholders the possibility of employment generation becomes an uphill task. Large business groups and public sector undertakings (PSUs) too can take noteworthy steps in their respective industries to absorb the growing base of educated women.— The author, Hemant Sikka, is President, Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., and Chairman, FICCI Agri Committee. The views are personal.(Edited by : Unnikrishnan)
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