It is well recognized that a motivated and empowered woman makes the most effective agent of social change. Bakul Rajni Patel ENTREPRENEUR INDIA
C H A P T E R F I F T Y - S I X B A K U L R A J N I P A T E L E M P O W E R I N G W O M E N In the span of the last 60 years, India has been a witness to a great many social, economic, political and above all demographic changes, which have impacted the lives of our generation. On the social front, there has been a change in the level of literacy, health standards and today more than 54 percent of our population is below the age of 25 years and women constitute nearly 55 percent of the total population. It is this generation of young and somewhat socially empowered women who are poised to transform the nation into a world class economy. Equipped with professional education, higher awareness about the social and economic issues, they have the vision and the means to do so. After all, they constitute half the human resource potential available for economic activities. It is therefore evident that unless they fully participate in the developmental process, the dream of turning India into a global economic superpower cannot be fulfilled. An inclusive strategy alone can help India to achieve economic prosperity in the true sense, where the impact of development reaches the lowest common denominator in the society. For this, it is of utmost importance that women from rural, tribal and backward areas are also brought into the fold of education and given vital tools such as knowledge and information to enable them to play their legitimate role in economic development. Only when they are empowered socially, politically and economically, will they be able to transform India s developmental potential. 517
2 0 : A n A n t h o l o g y It is well recognized that a motivated and empowered woman makes the most effective agent of social change. My own experience in working with women in the slums of Dharavari, Jogeshwari, Kalina and other labor-intensive areas in Mumbai, bears testimony to this. Women who were economically empowered after vocational training and skills up-gradation impacted their family life and that of the neighborhood in a dramatic way. The quality of their lives changed beyond recognition. Not only did they realize the value of educating their own daughters, they also played a proactive role in encouraging every young woman in the neighborhood and took an active part in cleaning up their surroundings and in raising environmental issues with the community in an effective manner. The drop out rate in girl s schools was reduced substantially. These women gained tremendous self-confidence and took the lead in organizing cultural and community events to enhance the scope of their participation in various issues concerning the community. In short, educating a single woman, was like educating an entire generation! Clearly, therefore, investing in women s capabilities and empowering them to exercise their choices is not only valuable in itself but also spurs a nation s overall economic growth and development. In recent years, there has been an effort to apply market oriented criteria to time allocation and to the division of labor, particularly in the working class, where women play a significant productive role. This helps in also recognizing the multiple productivity of women from backward agrarian societies in rural areas, whose total work was grossly undervalued, up till now. However, the plight of women in today s resurgent India continues to be challenging. In a country like ours, where the female population is larger than the combined total population of Canada, the United States and the Russian Federation, at 496 million (according to the statistical data of 2001), the number of women for every thousand men is only 933. The ratio of educated men to 518
B A K U L R A J N I P A T E L educated women is 60 to 40 (graduates and above). The average literacy rate for women is 54 percent compared to the 76 percent amongst men. The economic abuse and exploitation of women are still rampant every 26 minutes a woman is molested and every 34 minutes a woman is raped. Notwithstanding the inspiring success stories of women s self help groups like SEWA (Self Employed Women s Association) and ANANDI at Amul Co-operative Society, both in Gujarat and the Working Women s Forum in Tamil Nadu and a few others who have successfully addressed the crucial issues of women s empowerment, a great deal remains to be achieved in addressing the unequal social practices and lopsided economic development. The recent government initiative to strengthen the Panchayati Raj in rural areas, is a step in the right direction. However, the political empowerment of women at Panchayat level, in rural areas, in local self-government bodies like municipal corporations in urban areas, in state Legislatures and in the Parliament, remains grossly inadequate. The representation of women in decision-making positions and in governance is negligible. At present, less than 8 percent of parliamentary seats and less than six percent of cabinet seats are occupied by women. Less than 4 percent of the judges in the country s high courts and the Supreme Court are women and fewer than 3 percent of administrators and ministers in India are women. In these important bodies, women s representation is far below their demographic strength and their natural capabilities. The situation however, is more encouraging across a swathe of knowledge-based professions. In medicine, law and professional management, women are playing increasingly pivotal decisionmaking roles. The impact of women professionals at the top has been felt quite powerfully in banking and financial institutions, where women buttressed by knowledge and education have used their natural aptitudes for analytical and insightful thinking and ethical practices to bring exceptional value to their organizations. 519
2 0 : A n A n t h o l o g y The number of women entrepreneurs is also on the rise and they are creating a powerful impact in the world of business and industry. Their participation in new economy industries like Information Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Bio Sciences and Fundamental Research is also increasing as opportunities expand. But even in the important positions women now occupy in these fields, they continue to suffer from gender bias in terms of promotions and recognition. It is evident that given a level playing field of greater opportunities and gender equality, women can and do rise to the very top of corporate India. In creative fields such as literature, theatre and arts too, women are playing a crucial role in raising the collective sensitivity of society and awareness about social issues. A quiet revolution is taking place under the surface and more and more women are joining forces to fight against social and economic injustice, exploitation, male dominance and abuse of power. Women s empowerment, therefore, can deliver two critical advantages to society. First, it brings into the productive main stream one half of a nation s population. Second, women by their very nature, are better and more effective agents for social change than men. It is this combination of quantity (sheer numbers) and quality (empathy, responsibility and strong work ethics) that make women such a decisive factor in a nation s economic success and more importantly in overall development. Throughout Indian history of civilization, women have played a central role in public life embodying leadership, sagacity and courage. Whether they were political leaders, royalty, freedom fighters, spiritual teachers or ordinary women juxtapositioning their many roles with skill and determination, Indian women more perhaps than even women from developed countries have been a powerful force in imbuing India with its unique ethos of secularism, tolerance and compassion. We, women in contemporary India, are proud inheritors of this 520
B A K U L R A J N I P A T E L legacy and it is our responsibility to build on it, to lead India to prosperity and freedom from hunger and poverty and inequality. 521