Page 7 - Women Empowerment

PM disburses Rs 8,000-cr loans at Sashakt Nari, Viksit Bharat programme

The PM disbursed around Rs 8,000 crore in loans to SHGs at a subsidised interest rate through bank linkage camps set up in each district

Govt resolved to make 30 million women 'lakhpati didi', says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government has resolved to make three crore women in the country "lakhpati didi" and asserted that women's welfare is their priority. The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating the 'Mahtari Vandan' scheme in Chhattisgarh to provide monetary assistance to women. "It is fortunate that today I got an opportunity to dedicate the Mahtari Vandan scheme aimed at empowering 'nari shakti'. Under the scheme, we had promised to give Rs 1,000 per month to more than 70 lakh women and today, the BJP government has fulfilled it," Modi said addressing the function via video conference. The first installment of Rs 655 crore was deposited into the bank accounts of beneficiaries (married women) under the scheme on Sunday, he said. "I should have been among you today for this programme, but due to some other engagements I am in Uttar Pradesh. I am speaking from Kashi, the land of Baba Vishwanath, who is also showering his blessings on you," he ...

Nearly 75% of women-led startups still unfunded, says Tracxn report

There are currently 117,254 startups in the country, according to data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Number of board seats held by women in India Inc grew in last 5 yrs: Report

The number of board seats held by women across India Inc has increased gradually over the past five years with them holding 18.3 per cent board seats in 2023, a Deloitte report said on Friday. The 'Women in the boardroom: A global perspective' report, however, said that it is lower than the global average of 23.3 per cent. The report by Deloitte Global Boardroom Program analysed more than 18,000 companies in 50 countries exploring representation of women in the boardroom. This includes analysis of 400 companies from India. "Boardroom diversity requires a paradigm shift. Since many companies prefer to recruit board members with CEO or CFO experience, these numbers do not paint an optimistic outlook for pipeline development. India Inc. must break from historical patterns and prioritise capabilities over past roles," Deloitte South Asia Chairperson Shefali Goradia said. The report shows a gradual increase in the number of board seats held by women across India Inc, with women holding

International Women's Day: Hope of a better life eludes ASHA, site workers

Pay disparity, absence of social security or support system remain dominant themes

Watched 'Article 370', film shows complexity of problem: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said he has watched the film 'Article 370' with his family at a theatre here, and said the movie shows the "complexity" of the "problem" as well as the "challenging solution". "Today I went to a cinema hall in Delhi with my family and watched the movie 'Article 370'. I heard praise for this film from many people. The film is inspired by true events and presents the events of the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in a very effective manner," Singh said in a post on X in Hindi. "This film shows how complex this problem was and how challenging the solution was and it also presents a good example of women empowerment. I congratulate the producer-director and all the actors of this film for their effective presentation," he wrote. The central government on August 5, 2019, had revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and ...

Working women pip men in life insurance policy ownership, says survey

They also lead in insurance ownership, homemaker women lag

Sudha Murty nominated to RS, PM lauds her contribution in diverse fields

Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauding her contribution in diverse fields. Modi asserted in a post on X that her presence in the Upper House is a powerful testament to "Nari Shakti" (women power), exemplifying the strength and potential of women in shaping the nation's destiny. Wishing her a fruitful tenure, he said, "I am delighted that the President of India has nominated Sudha Murty Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Sudha Ji's contributions to diverse fields including social work, philanthropy and education have been immense and inspiring." Murty, wife of Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, is also the chairperson of the Murty Trust and has authored several books. The 73-year-old, whose nomination comes on International Women's Day, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

Women-led direct-to-consumer brands see 54-fold growth in 2023: Simpl

Women-led D2C brands growth in 2023 was driven by demand in beauty, apparel, and personal care. Rising internet commerce in non-metro cities fuel this trend

PM Modi hits out at TMC over Sandeshkhali incident, party retorts

PM accused the West Bengal government of using all its might to save the "oppressor of women", a reference to suspended Trinamool leader and Sandeshkhali strongman Sheikh Shahjahan

Best of BS Opinion: Women's rights as a power play, Different lanes & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Women's rights as a power play

With elections approaching, women have become the focus of political contestations, but no amount of handouts can change the reality of gender disparity in India

Promoting women to leadership roles step in overcoming bias: Justice Kohli

Promoting women to leadership positions, encouraging their participation as key speakers at conferences and ensuring their representation on panels are steps towards overcoming an unconscious bias against them, Supreme Court judge Justice Hima Kolhi has said. Justice Kohli was speaking on Tuesday at a programme organised by the International Arbitration & Mediation Centre, Hyderabad and others here on the topic of The Sociological Dimension of International Arbitration: Impartiality & Diversity'. She said promoting women to leadership positions will recognise the true value which they bring to the table as decision makers. Corporate entities, as significant stakeholders in arbitration, have a critical role to play. They are expected to include women in lists of potential arbitrators or in counsel roles. Providing young women lawyers with internships and opening doors to gaining practical experiences in legal departments and government sectors can pave the way for their future .

63% women aspire to be entrepreneurs, seek financial independence: Study

The fourth edition of the PayNearby Women Financial Index finds more women are seeking financial independence, adopting digital payments, and seeking better financial planning

Registration to provide Rs 1,000 monthly to women will start soon: Delhi CM

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday sought the blessings of women for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as he announced that registration will soon start for a scheme to provide them Rs 1,000 a month. While presenting the 2024-25 Delhi budget in the assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Atishi had announced a new scheme for women under which eligible non-income tax payees above 18 years will get the amount every month. The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May and Delhi sends seven members to the Lower House of Parliament. The scheme, which will be implemented after the elections, is likely to benefit around 50 lakh women in the national capital. In a long post on X, Kejriwal said he was getting a lot of phone calls from women since the announcement of the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojna on Monday and they were asking about the registration for the scheme. The chief minister said he was working on the scheme and registration for it will start

Notice to govt on conditions imposed on married women for using maiden name

The plea alleges gender bias and an "impermissible discrimination" against women as the Centre's conditions and requisites are applied only on them, if they wish to revert to their maiden names

Uttarakhand's Rs 89,000 cr Budget to focus on women's welfare & education

Dhami government has allocated Rs 574 crore specifically for women's welfare, with a strong focus on empowering women

Women can't be denied govt jobs due to pregnancy, says Uttarakhand HC

The High Court invalidated the state government's regulation labelling women pregnant for 12 weeks or more as "temporarily unfit" for employment

World Bank wants to focus on women empowerment, equal opportunity: Official

World Bank is focusing on housing solutions for women to address women empowerment and provide them equal opportunity, a senior official has said. If India increases its female labour force participation to 50 per cent, it would help boost GDP growth by 1 per cent which is huge for a country like India, World Bank Managing Director (Operations) Anna Bjerde said. The official was in the city recently to visit World Bank-supported projects. She visited the working women's hostel - 'Thozhi' - which has been jointly developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, World Bank and the private sector and is located at suburban Tambaram. TN Chief Minister M K Stalin had inaugurated the hostel in January. "I think the ultimate achievement while we are focusing on a housing solution for women is because we want to address women empowerment and an equal opportunity for women. What we see by solutions like these is that some of them undertake studies or some take up interesting jobs in IT or ...

'Nari shakti' touching new heights of progress in every field: PM Modi

PM Modi also said that March 8, observed as International Women's Day, is an opportunity to salute the contributions of women's power in the developmental journey of the country