Former US president Barack Obama once said that you can judge a nation and figure out how successful it will be based on how it treats its women and girl children. India seems to be taking the lead in terms of women’s empowerment
Currently, there are two women, President Droupadi Murmu and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who are at the helm of two of the most important positions in the country’s administration. Not only that, the growth of women’s contribution in the Indian economy is prominently indicated in their growing presence in the boardrooms of India Inc.
Here’s a look at some key numbers:-
- 19 women founders in the 115 unicorns India has at present, according to Orios Venture Partners’ India Unicorns and Exits Tech report 2022
- 18 per cent rise in women’s enrollment in higher education in the past five financial years till FY21, compared to 10 per cent growth registered by men during the same period, according to Economic Survey 2022-23
- 18% was the contribution of women to India’s GDP in 2022, compared to 17% in 2018, as per industry body CII
- 95% of the Nifty 500 companies had at least one woman member on their board in 2022 compared to 69% in 2017, according to EY
The clout of women directors in the boardrooms of Nifty 500 companies has grown in recent years
With the growth in the economy, the share of female workers in the total labour force has improved between FY19 and FY21
Smartphone ownership among women has grown faster than men during 2019-21. Awareness of mobile internet has also increased among women
With rising financial literacy, the share of individual life insurance policies for women to total policies issued is on the rise again
- Allocation to the women and child development ministry increased to Rs 25,448.75 crore, up 6.42% over the revised estimate of Rs 23,912.69 crore of Budget 2022-23
- Mahila Samman Savings Certificate*: 7.5% fixed interest for two years
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission: 8.1 million self-help groups have been created by mobilising rural women
*Maximum deposit amount has been kept at
Rs 2 lakh and the scheme will have a partial withdrawal facility as well