Quick notes

Empowering Women, Elevating India -Articles 14-16

"A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform."

Amartya Sen coined the term "missing women" to highlight ongoing gender disparities globally.

What are the Key Provisions in Place for Women’s Socio-economic Empowerment?

• Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.
• Article 15(3): Allows the State to make special provisions for women and children.
• Article 16: Provides equal opportunities in matters of public employment.
• UN SDG Goal 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, focusing on their rights and economic opportunities, by 2030.

Government Initiatives:

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Provides access to affordable credit for women entrepreneurs and SHGs.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Focuses on generating awareness and improving women's welfare through education.

Mahila E-Haat: An online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs and SHGs.

Mahila Shakti Kendra: Facilitates empowerment programs and resources at the village level for skill development and entrepreneurship.

Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017: Increased paid maternity leave to 26 weeks and mandated crèche facilities.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: It ensures housing under women's names.

Working Women Hostel: Supports safe and affordable accommodation for working women in urban areas.

Key factors hindering socio economic growth of women:

Deeply Rooted Social Norms and Male-Dominated Attitudes: Traditional beliefs and patriarchal attitudes limit women's freedom, education, and economic opportunities.

Preference for Sons and Discrimination Against Daughters: Many regions still prefer sons, leading to practices like gender-biased sex selection, causing imbalanced sex ratios.

Low Labor Force Participation only @ 37%: India's female labor force participation is low, with women largely in informal jobs, especially after the shift away from agriculture.

Disproportionate Share of Unpaid Care Work: Women spend much more time on unpaid household tasks than men, reducing their time for education, skill-building, and paid work.

Gender Pay Gaps: Women earn less than men and face barriers in hiring and promotions, contributing to significant gender pay gaps.

Lack of Property Ownership and Financial Inclusion: Few women own land or property, limiting their economic power and access to credit.

Exposure to Violence: Violence against women, including domestic abuse and sexual harassment, limits their freedom and ability to work safely.

Over 28,000 complaints of crimes against women received in 2023 (National Commission for Women (NCW).

Limited Education: Female literacy rates remain lower than male rates, with fewer girls continuing education at higher levels. Literacy rate @ 65%

Limited Political Participation: Women have low representation in Parliament, though a recent bill aims to reserve 33% of seats for women in legislative bodies.

The recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata have reignited nationwide concerns about women's safety. Crime against women is on the rise, and it's a serious issue that needs urgent attention

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

National Quantum Mission -2023: 

In April 2023, the Government of India launched the National Quantum Mission (NQM) 

Quantum technology uses principles from quantum mechanics—like superposition and entanglement—to create revolutionary systems. 

These technologies have the potential to transform industries such as cybersecurity, healthcare, and defense.

Superposition: Particles can exist in multiple states at once.

Entanglement: Particles can share information instantly, even if they are far apart.

Objectives of the National Quantum Mission

Develop Quantum Computers: drug discovery, materials science, cryptography, and artificial intelligence.: 

Quantum Communication: Quantum communication promises ultra-secure data transmission

Quantum Sensing: Quantum sensing uses advanced technology to detect very small changes in things like temperature and magnetic fields. This helps improve medical diagnoses, navigation accuracy, and Earth studies. 

Development of Quantum Materials: The mission also focuses on discovering new materials with special properties that can lead to breakthroughs in things like energy storage and superconductivity. 

Training and Human Resource Development: The mission aims to train scientists, engineers, technicians and researchers in quantum technologies to build a skilled workforce