PM Modi's women-centric policies drive major shift in gender landscape

Since coming to power in May 2014, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government has implemented several policy decisions aimed at empowering women across multiple levels.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

These steps, rather than being short-term solutions, have been carefully designed and executed to bring about positive and lasting changes in the years to come, irrespective of the party in power.

Official sources pointed out that one of the most crucial milestones of Prime Minister Modi's tenure has been the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, which reserves one-third seats in the Lok Sabha (India's Lower House of Parliament) and state legislative assemblies for women and enhances women's political participation.

While the bill's full implementation will be contingent on the next delimitation exercise, its passing is seen as a momentous achievement in addressing the gender gap in political representation. The bill ensures that women will have a significant voice in the decision-making process.

This, they say, will push more women to join politics in the coming years and make it incumbent upon political parties to create more space for women leaders in the cadre. It is pertinent to mention that in the 2019 general elections, 78 women Lok Sabha MPs were elected, a number that came down to 74 in 2024 in a House of 543 MPs.

In the field of defence too, the union government has taken concrete steps to enhance women's participation in the armed forces, something that was out of bounds for a long time. The defence ministry, under push from the highest office and after thorough deliberation with military offices, extended a Permanent Commission to women officers in the Indian Army, allowing them to serve in command roles, thereby ensuring equality in promotions and responsibilities.

At the social level, the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" (BBBP) campaign, launched in 2015 has improved the child sex ratio and ensured that more girls receive an education. In 2015-16 it was 919, in 201921, it rose to 929.