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As India celebrates the approaching centenary year of its Independence in 2047, the idea of Viksit Bharat is no more limited to economic development or any other kind of development in terms of infrastructural advancement. It is rather a complete blueprint for creating an all-encompassing, innovative, self-sufficient and prosperous country where everyone contributes towards the growth of the country. While investment in roads, railways, telecommunications and industries is important, the real development of the country comes when people are strong. People are strong when they have educated daughters, empowered mothers and wives who play an active role in the development of the country.
The transition from “development of women” to “development by women” in India is a result of this change in perspective. Women have emerged from being viewed primarily as beneficiaries of welfare schemes to becoming leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and decision-makers shaping the nation’s development. Such an idea takes on special importance for Jammu & Kashmir, where the strength of women could be one of the strongest pillars of development.
Half the Population, Equal Partners in Progress
India has an estimated population of 1.47 billion people, thus becoming the country with the highest number of inhabitants in the world. About 48.4 per cent of the population consists of women, which amounts to 710 million females in the country. In other words, every second inhabitant of India is a woman. A developing country seeking to join the ranks of developed economies in 2047 cannot fulfil this mission without utilizing the potential of nearly half of its population.
The role of women today can be seen in practically any sphere of life. Women are working as scientists, doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, judges, police officers, military officers, administrators, journalists, researchers, athletes, and conservationists. Women run startups, manage companies, innovate, protect the heritage of the country, and influence policies.
Women from Kashmir also play an equal role in this transformation. Women who have been preserving the globally renowned industries of Pashmina and carpet making, and taking care of apple gardens, farming of saffron, Self Help Group initiatives, and homestays are continuing to develop the local economy. More and more young women have become educated, cleared their exams, joined professions, and have become entrepreneurs. Their success proves the point that women’s empowerment is a social justice and necessity for the future of India.
Education: The First Step Towards Transformation
Every developed country has spent money on educating its womenfolk, and there should be no exception in India. Education is the basis of confidence, leadership qualities, innovations, and economic self-reliance. Educated women empower their families, motivate their communities and contribute significantly towards the development of the nation.
In Jammu & Kashmir, access to schools, colleges and universities has improved a lot over the years. Many girls have started joining higher education and are working hard in fields of medicine, engineering, law, management, research, teaching, and civil services. But there is a need for something more in the future, other than just academic success.
When every girl is allowed to learn, she becomes an agent of change capable of transforming generations.
Economic Empowerment: Turning Potential into Prosperity
Financial freedom continues to be one of the best indicators of women’s empowerment. In Kashmir, there are many women who participate in the activities of agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, tailoring, food processing, livestock rearing, and home-based ventures. They make sure that their families prosper economically.
As tourism is becoming a major industry in Kashmir, new avenues have opened up for women to earn livelihoods through entrepreneurship. Homestay accommodation, traditional cooking, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, centres for handicrafts, and local guiding are some areas where such women can succeed in life. Similarly, the digital medium has made it easier for them to market their products online.
With increased access to affordable credit, skill-building programs, online marketing, and e-commerce, these small ventures can become successful business organizations.
Technology and Digital Inclusion
The digital revolution has brought numerous new opportunities for women in India. Distance education, digital banking, telemedicine, ecommerce, and remote working have allowed overcoming the hurdle of distance and have brought new ways for women.
Mobile phones and the internet are sources that provide women in rural Kashmir with access to knowledge, financial transactions, government schemes, medicine, and markets. Digital marketing by young entrepreneurs for their crafts and other services is becoming common practice.
Making sure that these women can access affordable internet and are digitally literate is the way forward.
Leadership Beyond the Household
Since time immemorial, women have been handling domestic affairs with tremendous acumen. Presently, they are taking their leadership skills to institutional organizations as well as governance and policy formulation.
The involvement of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, municipalities, educational institutions, and civil society organizations is bringing about change in education, sanitation, health, environment, and development matters. Involvement of women in governance enhances democracy since all sections of society get taken care of in governance.
It is important for more women to be encouraged to join politics, administration, policing, and public service for inclusive institutions that will formulate policies in accordance with the people.
Women as Custodians of Peace and Culture
The women in Kashmir have been playing an important yet unnoticed role in ensuring harmony and cultural heritage. During difficult times, they have managed to keep alive the tradition and culture by helping their families, educating them, teaching them values like tolerance and patience, etc. Today too, they continue to preserve the rich heritage of Vaakhs of Lal Ded, the literary legacy of Habba Khatoon, the poetry of Arnimal, their traditional food, the Kashmiri language, their folklore, and other local traditions besides educating themselves and getting into business ventures. This fusion of heritage and development is the best example that shows that development can occur without sacrificing heritage; rather, development occurs with the combination of heritage and innovation.
Challenges That Still Need Attention
While there has been good progress made, some challenges still hamper the full participation of women. Lack of job opportunities, access to finances, lack of skills, taking care of children, security, and the digital divide are some of the challenges facing women, especially those in rural settings.
To overcome these challenges, a collaborative approach involving the government, educational facilities, financing agencies, civil society, and communities is required. Vocational training, entrepreneurship, health care, transport, digital connectivity, and leadership capacity building will ensure that women are well prepared to exploit new opportunities.
It should be noted that development occurs when opportunities are not available for a few, but all.
The Road Ahead: A Shared Responsibility
The achievement of Viksit Bharat 2047 is not possible through the efforts of the government alone; equal participation from families, educational institutions, universities, business houses, media houses, civil societies, and communities is required. Families should encourage their daughters to look beyond boundaries. Educational institutions should foster creativity and leadership. Banks must invest in women entrepreneurs, whereas society must ensure an atmosphere where women feel empowered in every walk of life.
For J&K (UTs), empowerment of women entails nurturing the most precious asset of the region, the people. Every successful entrepreneur, teacher, doctor, artisan, scientist, farmer, and administrator contributes to a stronger local economy and a stronger India on its path to becoming a developed country.
Viksit Bharat Truly Begins at Home
Viksit Bharat 2047, ultimately, is a story of the people. It is all about creating opportunities that enable citizens to realise their full potential. Women, comprising almost 50% of the population in India, hold a central role in this vision. Their education, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and resilience would determine the country’s future as much as any infrastructure or economic reforms.
This journey holds particular importance for Kashmir as well, where empowered Kashmiri women have already started making contributions in the fields of education, health, tourism, handicrafts, governance, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community development. By providing more opportunities to women, Kashmiri women would be able to become even more partners in establishing peace and progress in the region.
A developed India will be defined by its GDP, smart cities, or technological advances. It would be defined by its opportunities to learn, lead, innovate and succeed. And when every household empowers its daughters and every community values women’s efforts, the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 is further reinforced. The path to a developed India, thus, starts from within the homes where empowered women play the leading role.
The Author writes on themes related to women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods, entrepreneurship, health, and changing social realities in the Kashmir Valley.
rakshandagul629@gmail.com
