Radhika Trikha

The 108th Indian Science Congress organised in Nagpur during 3-7 January 2023 had the theme ‘Science & Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment’. In the inaugural speech, the Prime Minister of India emphasised that all stakeholders should put in all efforts to facilitate women's empowerment ensuring their economic and social security. The country can progress only if our women, mothers, daughters, and sisters are provided with equal avenues to contribute to the progress of society, he said and that we must prioritise national initiatives with pro-people, pro-poor and pro-women dimensions.

Women are critical in addressing sustainable development, and women’s empowerment is crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth. Out of the total Indian population, the female population in India is 48% (UN World Population Prospects 2019). This presents the potential of our female population to contribute to national social and economic progress.

India offers impressive numbers of women participating in Business/Entrepreneurship. Our country can achieve nearly 700 billion USD value to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by enhancing women participation in the national labour force (McKinsey Global). In the report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF, 2022), it is documented that the number of women working in the agriculture and manufacturing sector is higher compared to men. These sectors also play a significant role in alleviating poverty by contributing to household income.

In recent years, the literacy rate, especially for women, has also grown by 8.8% in 2021. As per the SDG Index report released in 2020, women hold the primary responsibility of providing nutrition, household management and childcare and to some extent to environment management as well. However, although women hold crucial positions in the community, they are not represented in the decision-making process at the local, regional, national or international front.

To promote inclusive science and technology in the country, efforts have to be made to address gender equality, which affects the women population the most. In fact, gender discrimination is one of the key challenges in women empowerment not only in our country but worldwide. 

The Indian government has initiated and promoted several policies, programmes and schemes with a focus on women welfare: 

•    The Swachh Bharat Mission has pro-women health as one of its core domains.  
•    The ‘Ujjawala-free gas cylinder’ scheme provides a safe household environment by minimising the risk associated with the toxic smoke generated through traditional cooking systems.
•    Schemes such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and ‘Sukanya Samridhi Yojana’ and mandatory maternity leave rules. 

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