WOMEN’S DAY – SOME REFLECTIONS – 2025. Speech for Officers, Women
entrepreneurs, Women Based FPOs / OFPOs / SHGs. DINESH
K KAPILA, Chief General Manager (Retd), NABARD
Background
As a man, this is a challenge today. I do not claim to
understand fully the concept of empowerment as regards women, the perspective
of women can be very different from what I may understand or perceive. However,
based on my experience and work, I will try to share my thoughts and views
today. I will however say I have mentored some rather small enterprises of
women and guided them, women can certainly evolve and learn and succeed. Secondly,
I am among my own colleagues, it’s a challenge to be relevant and insightful.
International Women’s Day is a special occasion to honor
the achievements and contributions of women in every field. Women play vital
roles as mothers, daughters, professionals and leaders, shaping a better world
together their hard work and dedication. This year’s theme, “Accelerate
Action,” reminds us to support gender equality and create more opportunities
for women. Every woman deserves respect, education and equal rights to achieve
her dreams. By appreciating and empowering women, we can build a society where
they feel safe, valued and strong. Happy International Women’s Day! Let’s work
together for a better future of equality and empowerment
Women are the foundation of families, communities and
nations. They play vital roles as mothers, leaders, innovators and
changemakers. This day highlights the struggle women have faced for equality
and the progress they have made. Over the years, women have fought for their
rights in education, workplaces and leadership positions. Today, they shine in
fields like science, politics, businesses and sports. However, challenges like
gender discrimination, unequal pay and violence against women still exist.
Education is the key to change. When women are educated, they uplift families and
societies. Equal opportunities must be given to all, ensuring that success is
based on talent and hard work, not gender. The achievements of women deserve
recognition, and their voices must be heard. By supporting and uplifting women,
we create a better world for everyone. When women rise, the world rises. We
have to empower women.
We have different India’s, the India of
women in power, women entrepreneurs, women owning businesses, women as
Directors, officers and many are role models. Mostly an urban story. What about
small town India and rural India. And in cities too, some families are forward
thinking, some are not. Think it over. It’s a struggle at times for ladies to
make their voice heard loud and clear in a male dominated world, which is
inclined to think the way males think.
What
do we mean by Women’s Day. It is a point I always bring out. Honestly. Tell me,
when we look at women giving interviews to the audio visual media, we are
judging their confidence too. That makes us realise their self confidence and
assess the faith and passion they have in what they espouse. While I do not
seek to uphold all that is sourced from the Western World as correct and worth
emulating, but I draw the line at personifying confidence. What do you perceive
when a woman or lady speaks from the typical western mindset. She stands up
straight and looks at the camera directly or at the interviewer. The voice
comes clear and so does the eye contact. I have spent time on this over the
years requesting and advising women to look at me or at the camera or whoever
it may be and to make eye contact while speaking. The idea is not to make the
uncomfortable but rather that their looking down or elsewhere and then making a
point just won’t do. Even while walking
I find many women looking down partially, why not look into the distance
directly. The women have to evolve and develop the confidence in themselves to
demonstrate their level of confidence.
Years ago, still in college, I was on a
bus to Jalandhar city. From Chandigarh. The family nearby, was focused on
feeding the younger male child first. My daughter was born in 1990, when I
reached home from the hospital, an educated neighbour said, “better luck next
time”. And when we distributed sweets, she was the first grandchild for my
parents and in laws, many a house I went to was silent. A lady came to me around 1992, we were
checking income tax papers, she simply said, do not ask questions, only my
husband knows !.
Have things improved, certainly, my first
grand child is a girl, both sides were happy, but when a grand son was born
recently, the congratulations were louder. Just very recently I had to scold a
very accomplished self confident lady, the moment I asked her a question
relating to a will and property, she said it was to be answered by her husband.
Mind you, the property is hers !.
Jagdish Kaur near Chamkaur Saheb, I
remember 20 years on, for her entrepreneurship. Seema Thakur, I saw her evolve,
in Kangra District, she was a SHG Member, then a group leader and later an
animator. A motivator at her village and centre, but shy and underconfident
outside, she was later seasoned and professional.
I
have in Ropar years ago sat with Father Joseph, as we let ladies swing away to
Punjabi Songs after sharing how inspite of social restrictions, they were
attempting to push ahead, simple dreams, education, grace, respect and a say
in the family on decisions. Including crucially on financial issues and a wider
exposure to the immediate environment, including the local banks and maybe
visits to small hotels.
There
have been disappointments too. Such as entering a Government
School, upto Class XII, where the School Principal, a lady, was
deferring to her husband, who sat in the office only. The Government does its
part, but we have to evolve by understanding we need to change. I just received
a call from a medium level political figure, he invited me to a function.
Actually his wife is the Zila Parishad Chief, but as he put it, the Government
may reserve the position for a lady but I only would run the show from behind
the scenes. It sort of disturbed me, we really need to evolve, I mean hearing
this after all these years again. It’s a slow slow path to moving
up.
One
additional point, many ladies, teaching, working in Banks even, if I share news
such as on opening a DMAT account, or a new Government avenue for investments,
tell me to share it with their husbands. Why should I do so, they
ought to know this aspect too. They may not work on it, but atleast be aware
and have the knowledge and awareness. You have to proceed on tours, sit late at
times too, equality demands some stepping up by women too.
An interesting
sidelight, yesterday in my own sector and among similar well placed socio economic
groups, just to update myself, I thought I would just seek and request views,
specially ladies, any age but preferably say 35 years to 50 years. The issues
- How aware are you
about investments and financial planning. And returns.
- Investments in not just Fixed Deposits but mutual funds, stocks etc.
Deposits in NBFCs
- Any major financial decisions, be it investing in financial products or
buying property, do you have an equal voice and say or it’s the male whose views matter. And who identifies the
opportunity,
- Insurance products and combinations for life, also for health and General
insurance
- awareness about pension products and national pension scheme
- what is your primary source of information, financial advisor or male
member or own reading.
- do you visit bank branches and the like or mainly male members.
- are you in a position to guide maids etc on varied Govt products for
insurance or the girl child.
And property rights. Do
you support it.
If possible and willing,
kindly message me directly. It’s purely voluntary. I am just assessing how much
have we travelled in this journey. Of financial empowerment and awareness.
Gentlemen can also message their views if any. Thank you
Well, some ladies said
we divide our work with our husbands, this is outside our preferred area, a few
conveyed accounts are never easy, some conveyed we do discuss but the actual operation
and execution is with the husband. Only three ladies said they decide
independently, they have a strong circle of friends – mainly ladies and they
decide all investments. Incidentally, some conveyed in many houses, investments
meant only purchase of land and gold. Now if this is the status even today, we
have a concern.
I
agree that the situation is much improved but we are a nation and society at
varying levels of development. Within every social and economic class or
community the degree of empowerment varies and varies deeply. It’s a flux and
this can be a very difficult process as we transition to another level. From
varying levels and cultural contexts. We are all on a journey of discovering
including of ourselves, particularly the women. They perhaps know what they
seek but are held back by the backers of status quo and self styled norms.
Social order, the threat of chaos, mixing up religion with empowerment are all
thrown into the mix of seasoned arguments to oppose the evolution towards
empowerment. This is a fact.
Just by the way we men don’t have it easy too. As ladies evolve and are at
varied levels of empowerment and cultural contexts, we men have to pick up
clues, specially in social settings, as to the cultural norms which are
acceptable. It can be confusing but that is how any society would evolve.
Seriously, men need new cultural norms and ideals because as women are
empowered and evolve accordingly do, men need to understand the evolution and
to learn on how to conduct themselves with the more empowered women. And do
not let a couple of suicides by men detract from the overall context and
scenario. The gender gap exists.
Entrepreneurship is also a personification of
empowerment. I am leaving out the well to do class and a certain
section across all social and economic groups. The upper crust has the
confidence and in the other sections some element will acquire it. You must explore any opportunity to set up a
business, jointly, alone, as a group.
Women’s empowerment has five components:
women’s sense of self-worth; their right to have and to determine choices;
their right to have access to opportunities and resources; their right to have
power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home; and their
ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just
social and economic order, nationally and internationally.
In this context, education, training, awareness
raising, building self-confidence, expansion of choices, increased access to
and control over resources, and actions to transform the structures and
institutions that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination and inequality
are important tools for empowering women and girls to claim their rights. Develop
the confidence.
Technology in bridging gaps, specially in rural areas, is important, the leaders at Mahila Mandals, Groups, NGOs etc should understand this, learn it and work on it. Digital literacy can be a game changer, enabling women to access information, markets and opportunities previously out of reach. encouraging women to leverage digital tools can significantly enhance their economic and social standing.
Incidentally, who attends seminars on skill
development and Agriculture in rural areas, it’s the older men. HP, TN, Kashmir,
Punjab, Haryana and UP, Who does the work ok dairy – women. But are no where to
be seen. At camps. Technical inputs are important. There is silence and not
speaking up or inquiring even if they are present.
THE
WHY - Rural women are torchbearers for
social, economic and environment transformation for the ‘New India’. In India,
Agriculture employs about 80 percent of rural women. Empowering and
mainstreaming rural women workforce in agriculture can bring a paradigm shift
towards economic growth. It will enhance food and nutrition security and
alleviate poverty and hunger. It’s a win win strategy for achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Be Aware Be Knowledgeable.
Read. Watch the news. Read the newspaper. If you have
a smartphone, watch Youtube for knowledge. I have seen women Not a single woman -
from amongst all present at a function from age groups of approximately 18 to
45, was reading a newspaper or magazine. Reading was strictly religious, if at
all. - There was no awareness about products of banks, either of asset or
liability classification.
- Literacy
was upto class VIII normally with a few matriculates, but literacy skills were
lost due to lack of application. - A
felt need for subsidy or grants from the government was maximum.
- Entertainment vide
TV was common but with a religious bias, quite regulated and minimal emphasis
on current affairs etc. How many know
about Common Service Centres and village
information centre /kiosks. And the
toll- free kisan call centre. Do not do to your
daughter in law or daughter what your mother in law or own family imposed on
you. This generational hand me down of adverse relationships with the daughter
in law by the mother in law must stop or reduce. That is a reality I have to
say. Visit the offices for inputs on Agriculture, try it. Have role models,
study them and their work. Be visible. Be curious. Know how the Panchayat
works, Banks work.
Religion and Society
We
have the example of some quoting from their religious texts to justify that
empowerment and self confidence are qualities already spoken for and hence so
embedded. They forget it’s typical of the mindset we have in our nation that to
say is to have executed it. Not so. Data points out the truth. As we are
generally not able to execute projects in terms of timelines etc so is there a
wide gap between the thoughts and ideals espoused in the religious texts which
we quote and the process of actual empowerment. Else our nation would not have
required laws on female foeticide.
Minor
or rather mini revolutions are occurring across rural and semi urban India but
so are the votaries of status quo. The opposition will take time to move to a
broader level of acceptance of the rights of women. Even in urban India, as
urbanisation is a recent phenomenon, the mindset of status quo has ventured in.
Agriculture
Mainly
rural women are engaged in agricultural activities in three different ways
depending on the socio-economic status of their family and regional factors.
They work as:
Paid
Labourers. Cultivator doing labour on their own land. Managers of certain
aspects of agricultural production by way of labour supervision and the
participation in post harvest operations. Except grazing, all other
livestock management activities are predominantly performed by women.
Ideally, overall Women and men must have equally
participate as decisionmakers in rural institutions and in shaping laws,
policies and programmes but do we see
them at Mandis. Women and men should have equal access to and control over
decent employment and income, land and other productive resources Women’s work burden is reduced by 20 percent
through improved technologies, services and infrastructure. .
By
the way the work force participation rate is higher for rural women than women
in urban areas.
Women
friendly equipment and designs are a must. An Engineer heading a start up
pointed this out, but without this demand or view from women. The say in
decision making and financial matters is what eludes women even if active in
agriculture. An engineer told me he perceived this, not the women, design
equipment for women.
Access and control over resources : How many women had land
ownership and almost the same extent had household ownership. Their ownership
was restricted mostly to ponds, fallow, pastures or rainfed lands and marginal
land-holding.
Health and nutritional security
Look after your own health. Women should plant a nutrition garden
in their homestead. To minimize iron deficiency (anaemia), additional food
requirements during pregnancy and lactation, importance of breast-feeding,
supplementary feeding for young children, preparation of nutritious weaning
food at home, importance of kitchen-garden in homesteads. Raksha Dhand – bring
variety and nutrition in diets and food. Learn the varied modes of dishes too.
And teach your sons. Know nutrition. Know proteins and carbohydrates.
Vocational skills:
Pick up Skill-oriented trainings in Crèche management, preparation
of educational play materials, soft-toy making, food preservation, preparation
of utility items, embroidery and infant garment making. Utilization of
non-degradable farm-waste: Degradable farm-waste, can be used for preparing
files, purse, bags, asanas, durries, tablemats, footmat, runners and
photo-frames.
Livelihood security:
Efforts are required to strengthen SHGs by conducting group
trainings in a systematic manner, providing continuous facilitation support by
exchange of information and ideas with successful group members, micro
financing strategies by enhanced, mutual trust between banks and SHG groups,
promoting saving habit and proper use of loan by SHG members. Members need to
be equipped with entrepreneurial skills
such as vermi-composting, dairying, flour milling, preparation of handicrafts,
embroidered products through demonstrations, video films, mahila mandals
(success stories of women entrepreneurs). Micro-enterprise units were
established by many SHGs in which their skills were developed.
Improving representation in
communities and politics
Women representation in communities is comparatively much lower
than men. Traditional norms often hinder women from participating in policies
that concern them. As a result, their needs are barely taken into account.
Therefore, it is crucial to form and support rural women empowerment movements
and form policies that require a minimum representation of women in every
aspect that concerns them such as labour unions, politics, education and local
administrations. You must voice your opinions. And find representation. Do not
let it be pati sarpanch. The women speak
to me when the men are away or else go silent.
Change this, get political in thought.
Education
& Skill development
Through various government schemes and programs, the enrollment of
female children in schools improved over the years. Unfortunately, the dropout
rates of women are staggering. Wedding in the family, the girl students are
absent more. Attend PTA Meetings. Try to push the teachers. Educate yourself,
know the opportunities. Encourage any possibility for vocational education and
skills development training to match the market needs and obtain employment.
Financial
wisdom
Bias and discrimination,
limited credit history, lack of collateral a reality. Know the support
available. Read and watch to learn. We have to reduce the financial gap.
Collateral free loans – Mudra Yojna, Interest subvention or concession,
simplified eligibility, NBFC MFIs know and understand them, PMEGP, Terms and
conditions, its not just you, the nation gains, society gains, the family
gains. No
knowledge of insurance as a method to minimize risks was known or found amongst
them. Small credit needs for consumption expenditure was found to be the main
demand. Do the accounts for your home, not the men. And voice your assessment.
Morni
Hills – Tomato farming, the lady said – do not consider me less empowered if I
do not have my own shop or small business, I and my husband, plus my devar and
his wife harvested 700 crates plus of tomatoes, each crate has 25 kgs of
tomato, rates Rs 1500/- a crate to Rs 150/- to Rs 200/- a crate, plus I lead
the mahila mandal, ask me anything on SHGs and our functioning and the costs at
our farms. This is what I want to see and hear.
In
SHGs, debate deeply, know the bank, visit it regularly, know the forms, rate of
interest, and do not let a couple of members to dominate the group. Exchange
information and tie up with other groups. Do not let men guide you if it comes
as an instruction, I just saw this. As I discussed, the men started to say they
do not understand interest, the women went quiet, let them be. And I want all women to be empowered and
aware, not just the leaders, spread the empowerment.
Progress will be mainly incremental and slow, we have to stay focused on the overall context and not just the social impact but the beneficial impact on the economy too. The women as a group have to understand this significance, inculcate these values in both sons and daughters and make this impact at workplaces too. Society evolves, if we understand the need and context.
Incidentally,
even if migrant labour has been present for 10-12 years at a single location,
access to any banking service is uniformly denied normally, to men or women as
the case maybe.
Do
not say How ! If you can watch Reels and Gossip, you can do this too. My view,
my observation, Rural women, once aware and trained in financial literacy -
specially rates of interest and fixing installments - are found to
generally demonstrate a higher degree of financial literacy and awareness as
also discipline than the men by NGOs. Women were also found to be serious in
learning the concept and adopting it. The deep felt need of these women to
access credit and opportunities can only be felt and understood by interaction
In India, reforms are underlined for holistic development of women, enabling
socio-economic and health security. Since Independence, several government
flagship schemes and programmes have been initiated to improve the stature of
rural women in society by creating livelihood opportunities and engagements in
paid employment. Various schemes, such as the Prime Minister’s Employment
Generation Program (PMEGP), National Livelihoods Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhayay
Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
(PMKVY), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana I
(PMMVY), etc. have made a significant
contribution to creating gender parity and socio-economic empowerment of women
in India. Now, rural women have availing access to education, productive
resources, capacity building, skill development, healthcare facilities and
diversified livelihood opportunities through government beneficiary schemes.
CRUCIALLY THE GAP REMAINS.
To sum up, women play a pivotal role in
driving economic growth and bringing a positive social change. You just have to
be resilient, have a focused
determination, be innovative and flexible in the mind. When women are fully empowered, its not just
the family which gains but the nation, it drives prosperity. Jai Hind.
The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, reflects a strong commitment to women's
welfare, economic empowerment, and social upliftment. With a record
allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore towards gender-specific initiatives,
marking a 37% increase from last year, this budget sets the stage
for greater financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and employment for women.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has been
upgraded in the Gender Budget, government's focus on Self-Help Groups
(SHGs) as drivers of economic change. This aligns with the Viksit
Bharat Vision, which aims for 70% women participation in economic
activities.
Additionally, India Post is being repositioned as a logistics hub to
support women entrepreneurs and SHGs, ensuring better access to
financial and logistical support for rural women.
A new scheme for first-time women entrepreneurs, along with
SC/ST entrepreneurs, will provide term loans up to ₹2 crore in
the next five years. This initiative, modeled on the successful Stand-Up India
scheme, includes online capacity-building programs to enhance
managerial skills. In a significant move, the government will introduce customized
credit cards with a ₹5 lakh limit for micro-enterprises,
enabling easier access to credit for women-led businesses.
Healthcare and Nutrition: Investing in Women’s Well-being Saksham
Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Nutritional support for over 1 crore
pregnant women and lactating mothers will be enhanced. Day Care
Cancer Centres: 200 centers will be set up in district hospitals to
improve women’s access to cancer treatment. PM Jan Arogya Yojana Expansion: Gig
workers, including women on digital platforms, will now be covered under this
health insurance scheme.
Rural Prosperity and Skill DevelopmentA comprehensive multi-sectoral
program will focus on empowering rural women and young farmers,
ensuring skilling and employment in agricultural and allied sectors. Moreover, National
Centres of Excellence for Skilling will be set up to equip women with
industry-relevant skills, ensuring better job opportunities.
Infrastructure and Safety Measures
Urban Livelihoods Program: A new scheme for socio-economic
upliftment of urban women workers will be launched.
- Women-Friendly Transport: The Ministry of
Railways and Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways have
been included in the Gender Budget Statement for the
first time, ensuring safer and more accessible transportation for women.
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·
Good Morning, I was so pleased and heartened to read the brilliant topic
of your speech. - How aware are you about investments and financial planning.
And returns.
·
The word investment was almost taboo in the contemporary context. In my
household - investments meant property ( agricultural land or the home ) and
gold ( that too jewellery). The traditional understanding of keeping money safe
and locked away in FD’s in a bank is very typical of conservative attitudes of
the services. What parents know best of the world. They pass on. I have had to
learn the hard way, and in my middle age the value of recurrent income through
a diversified portfolio that consists of both short and long term investments. -
Any major financial decisions, be it investing in financial products or buying
property, do you have an equal voice and say or it’s the male whose views
matter. And who identifies the opportunity. -All major decisions are taken by
me. As mine is now a single parent household.- Insurance products and
combinations for life, also for health and General insurance. - I have a health
and life insurance amounting to a figure that would support my daughter for the
next 5 to 8 years, should I pass unexpectedly.- awareness about pension
products and national pension scheme. I do not fall in that category, but I am
aware through my father. - what is your primary source of information,
financial advisor or male member or own reading. My own girlfriends who are
entrepreneurs, building their businesses and financial advisors they have
employed to grow their money- help educate me & invest for me. - do you
visit bank branches and the like or mainly male members. My parents have always encouraged to be
proactive for all banking. I have been going since grade 10. I manage my
sisters accounts for them as well.- are you in a position to guide maids etc
on varied Govt products for insurance or the girl child. Not completely. I
would be very very keen to know. I find their educational needs at the moment
and would want to build a corpus for them as well.
thi
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