Page 4 - Women Empowerment

Maiyan Samman Yojana in J'khand extended for non-Aadhaar beneficiaries

Beneficiaries who have not linked their bank accounts to Aadhaar will continue to get Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (JMMSY) assistance till March 31, an official said. A meeting of the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, decided to extend the deadline till March from December 31, she said. "The cabinet has approved a partial amendment in the implementation of the Maiyan Samman Yojana. Following this amendment, women applicants whose single bank accounts are not linked to Aadhaar will receive monetary assistance until March. After March, the amount will only be provided to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts," Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel said. The state government provides Rs 2,500 per month to women between 18 and 50 years under the JMMSY. Many beneficiaries were deprived of the assistance since January for failing to link their accounts with Aadhaar. The cabinet cleared a total of 16 proposals during the meeting. Among them was the Jharkhand Micro, S

30% of law officers representing govts should be women: Justice Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna on Saturday hailed the reservation for women in gram panchayats and asserted that at least 30 per cent of law officers representing the Union and state governments must be women. Justice Nagarathna called for the elevation of competent women advocates as high court judges in order to have greater diversity on the bench. If male advocates under 45 years can be appointed to HCs, then why not competent women counterparts, the apex court judge questioned while addressing a seminar on 'Breaking Glass Ceiling: Women Who Made It' organized here by Mumbai University. "To successfully break the glass ceiling, we must not let girls and women of tomorrow be conditioned to the anachronistic lens of gender-roles and virtues. There is no virtue for success that is exclusive to men and lacks in women," she said while pointing out that younger women lack role models and mentors to inspire, encourage and help them to navigate through and succeed in the legal

When Zambia replicated Bihar's programme to give bicycles to school girls

The Zambian programme was launched in 2009, three years after the Bihar initiative to empower schoolgirls (2006) and with similar objectives

Govt will decide soon: Haryana minister on ₹2,100 monthly aid to women

The issue of providing Rs 2,100 monthly assistance to women under 'Lado Lakshmi Yojana' is under consideration and the Haryana government will decide on it soon, state minister Krishan Kumar Bedi informed the Assembly on Tuesday. Ahead of the October 2024 Haryana Assembly polls, the BJP had promised to provide the amount to women each month if it returned to power. During the Question Hour in the Assembly, Congress MLA Pooja sought to know from the government the time by which the monthly assistance is likely to be disbursed to the women of the state. In his reply, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Krishan Kumar Bedi referred to the BJP's poll promise and said, "It is under consideration and the government will take a decision on this soon," Bedi informed the House. Asking a supplementary question, the Congress MLA said, "I am surprised that this kind of reply is being given in the House. Is this the seriousness of the government?" "During the polls, this was the BJP's firs

Progcap offers collateral-free loans of Rs 10 lakh to women-led MSMEs

MSME-focused fintech Progcap on Tuesday said it has launched a programme to offer collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to women-led small and medium enterprises in the next three years. The fintech, which is backed by Peak XV (previously Sequoia Capital India), Google and Tiger Capital, among others, seeks to empower 10,000 women-led MSMEs in semi-urban and rural India by FY27, Progcap said in a statement. "Progcap has introduced ProgShakti Development Program, wherein women entrepreneurs can access loans of up to Rs 10 lakh and get certified through capacity-building knowledge sessions helping them grow their businesses," it said. Aligned with the government's 'Viksit Bharat' vision for 2047 and the goal of increasing women's workforce participation to 70 per cent, Progcap's initiative offers customised credit to women-led enterprises and eliminates the need for a male co-applicant while assessing the creditworthiness, Progcap said. Founded by Pallavi Shrivastava and Himanshu

India reaffirms commitment to gender equality at UNCSW session in New York

A delegation from the Government of India, led by Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Annpurna Devi, participated in discussions at the global forum

Grand Sita Mata temple to be built, symbolising women's power: Amit Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hailed the people of Mithilanchal and Bihar for contributing to the development of Gujarat and said the area had a history of empowering democracy and philosophy from ancient times.Addressing the 'Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav 2025' event here, he also promised that a grand temple of Sita Mata will be built."When I went to Bihar during the Lok Sabha elections, I had said Ram Mandir has been built, now it is the turn to build a grand temple of Sita Mata. The temple will give a message of woman power to the whole world and how life should be ideal in every way," he said. "The people from Mithilanchal and Bihar who have settled in Gujarat have contributed significantly to its growth," he said while assuring them they were safe, respected and welcome in the state. The land of Mithila has been a land of intellectuals from the times of Ramayan and Mahabharat, with the ancient kingdom of Videha being the mother of democracy. "Mahatma Buddha had said many ...

Modern workplaces weren't designed for mothers, now is the time for change

A recent survey from the United States found that two-thirds of mothers considered leaving the workforce in 2024 due to the stress and cost of child care

Odisha disbursed Rs 5,024 cr to 10 mn women on Women's Day: Dy CM Pravati

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also criticised the opposition, and questioned what work had they done to empower the women

WHO emphasises on rights, equality, empowerment on Intl Women's Day

Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, emphasised that the South-East Asia's growth and development is "inextricably linked" to the health and wellness of women

Women-led tech startups' funding drops 25% in 2024, says Tracxn report

India ranks third globally after US and UK in funding raised by women-led tech startups

Women shatter glass ceiling, increase investments in real estate market

Despite their progress, women investors like Sabbarwal, Somani and Kripalani face significant challenges in real estate

Women-led technology startups struggle to overcome funding winter

Women VCs, including Jahagirdar and Chaturvedi, believe that more women investors can make the fundraising process less intimidating for women founders

Nearly 80% of women-led businesses face global payment challenges: Report

Around 80 per cent of women-led businesses encounter difficulties with international payments, while 60 per cent struggle with complex regulatory compliances, according to a report. Despite their increasing role in the economy, women-led enterprises constitute just 15.4 per cent of India's 58.5 million businesses, the report on growing ambitions of women entrepreneurs in cross-border trade stated. The report stated that a poll of more than 300 women entrepreneurs highlighted four major challenges, including international payments and compliances, that women face while expanding their businesses globally. Around 60 per cent of women entrepreneurs struggle with export laws, trade regulations, and complex compliance requirements, the report prepared by Aspire For Her and payment solutions provider Payoneer said. Limited access to financial resources and supply chain & logistics issues are the other major challenges, it added. "Many women entrepreneurs face funding shortages and ...

Govt to celebrate Women's Day with 'Viksit Bharat with Nari Shakti' theme

Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Annapurna Devi on Thursday announced the government will celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 as a national event with the theme 'Viksit Bharat with Nari Shakti'. A national consultation will be held in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan here on March 8, Devi said in a video message. In a statement, the WCD Ministry stressed the significance of International Women's Day as a global occasion to recognise women's achievements across national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political boundaries. "The government will celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 as a national event on the theme of Developed India with Nari Shakti which would be graced by the President," Devi said. The statement said 2025 holds special importance as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark document that has transformed the global women's rights agenda. "The ...

India leads global GenAI adoption, but women's participation remains low

According to data from Coursera, while India ranks second globally in GenAI enrolments among women learners, they account for only 29.6 per cent of total GenAI enrolments in the country

If voted to power in 2027, will bring 'Stree Samman Yojana': Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said his party will introduce the 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana' in 2027 if voted to power in the state. In a post on X in Hindi, Yadav wrote, "We will launch the 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana' in 2027 and empower every girl, young woman, and female citizen!" The former chief minister also shared an about 4-minute video highlighting the challenges faced by women and portraying hope for change if the SP forms the government in 2027. The assembly polls in UP are due in 2027. Yadav has consistently asserted in his speeches that the SP will return to power in UP in 2027.

SHG Plus model helping Bihar's rural women build homes, educate children

Kiran Kumari of Bihar's Muzaffarpur remembers a time when borrowing money at exorbitant rates was the norm for her. Now, a unique community loan system designed to empower rural women has not only provided her with an escape from the debt trap but also a way to secure her family's future. Women in Bihar who once struggled to make ends meet are now growing strawberries, building homes and investing in their children's education through SHG Plus -- an evolution of the traditional self-help group (SHG) model that is designed to empower rural women through financial inclusion, transparency and collective strength. The system's evolution was dreamed up by the women themselves. The model was developed with help from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India. "We used to borrow money from lenders at 60 per cent interest. It's only 2 per cent under SHG Plus," Kiran Kumari says. "Now, we don't need to borrow from outside." In the villages of Muzaffarpur, Kiran Kumari's journey is not ...

Women achievers to take over PM Modi's social media accounts on Women's Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that he will hand over his various social media accounts to women achievers in different fields to mark the International Women's Day on March 8. In his monthly Mann Ki Baat address, he said these successful women in different fields will speak about their work and experience on his social media accounts. "Let's us celebrate and respect the indomitable spirit of women," he said, lauding the increasing participation of women in different sectors. Modi had handed over his social media accounts to seven leading women in different fields on March 8 in 2020 in a similar gesture. With followers in tens of millions on X, YouTube and Instagram among other handles, Modi is one of the most followed global leaders on social media. The prime minister also renewed his appeal to people to take measures to deal with the growing problem of obesity, saying it is necessary for India to become a fit and healthy country. Citing research, he said one out of

Maharashtra's 'Ladki Bahin' scheme mainly benefits married women: Study

Married women make up as many as 83 per cent of the beneficiaries of the Maharashtra government's 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', as per official data. The scheme, which is supposed to have played a role in the BJP-led coalition's victory in the November 2024 assembly elections, provides monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21 to 65 who are married, divorced, widowed, deserted, or destitute, and whose family income is below Rs 2,50,000 per year. The benefit is also provided to one unmarried woman per family. The scheme has, as of now, some 2.5 crore beneficiaries, though the government is now carrying out a scrutiny to omit those who are ineligible. Data indicates that married women constitute 83 per cent while unmarried women constitute 11.8 per cent of the beneficiaries, a senior official said on Thursday. Widows account for 4.7 per cent of beneficiaries, while 'divorced, destitute or deserted' women collectively make up less than 1 per cent of the cohort. ...