As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget for 2024, there is strong anticipation that the government will continue its focus on women’s economic empowerment.
Previously, under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission, 81 lakh rural women were mobilized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The new goal is to advance these groups into large-scale enterprises, each consisting of thousands of members.
In her interim budget speech earlier this year, Sitharaman underscored the progress made in women’s empowerment, enhancing their dignity and quality of life. She increased the target for the “Lakhpati Didis” initiative from 20 million to 30 million women.
Additionally, around 30 crore loans have been issued to female entrepreneurs under the Mudra Yojana. There has also been a rise in women pursuing STEM courses, higher education, and increased participation in the workforce.
Women now make up 70% of joint or sole ownership of houses under the PM Awas Yojana. A proposal to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was also introduced.
Looking ahead, the Budget is expected to highlight several new initiatives to further support women:
– Lakhpati Didi Schemes: Continued focus on transforming women into successful entrepreneurs with dedicated support.
– Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT): Potential improvements to DBT initiatives, including those related to cooking gas.
– Healthcare Funding: Increased funds for public hospitals and provisions for free or subsidized health check-ups for women.
– Ayushman Bharat Scheme Expansion: Extending health coverage under this scheme to ASHA and Anganwadi workers and their helpers.
