Economy Survey 2023-2024 Summary : CHAPTER-7 : SOCIAL SECTOR: BENEFITS THAT EMPOWER : Economy Survey 2023-2024 Revision Notes || GIST of Economy Survey 2023-2024 ( Arora IAS)

CHAPTER-7 : SOCIAL SECTOR: BENEFITS THAT EMPOWER

 Economy Survey 2023-2024: Revision Notes

 

INTRODUCTION

India’s Development Journey

Vision and Goals

• Achieve ‘Developed India’ status by 2047.
• Economic growth as a pathway to human development.
• Focus on social infrastructure for a diverse population.
• Improve healthcare, education, housing, and other basic amenities.

Government’s Role

• Transformed welfare approach to long-term, efficient, and empowering.
• Increased social sector expenditure since FY16.
• Nominal GDP growth of 9.5% between FY18 and FY24.
• Welfare expenditure growth of 12.8% between FY18 and FY24.
• Education expenditure growth of 9.4% between FY18 and FY24.
• Health expenditure growth of 15.8% between FY18 and FY24.

DOVETAILING GROWTH WITH EMPOWERING WELFARE: A PARADIGM SHIFT

India’s Development Journey

• Improved Quality of Life: Government initiatives like Jal Jeevan Mission, electrification, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, PMAY, Ayushman Bharat have improved lives.  
• Demographic Dividend: India’s young population (18% aged 15-24) presents an opportunity for growth.  
• Challenges: Improving learning outcomes, eliminating malnutrition, addressing regional disparities, ensuring accountability and transparency.
• Shift from Welfare to Empowerment: Focus on long-term, efficient, and empowering initiatives.
• Universal Access to Basic Amenities: Foundation for inclusive growth.
• Social Empowerment: Building self-esteem and autonomy through participation in development.

Key Points

• Government initiatives have improved lives of millions of Indians.  
• Young population offers opportunities for growth.  
• Addressing challenges crucial for inclusive development.
• Shift from welfare to empowerment for sustainable progress.
• Focus on universal access to basic amenities.
• Building self-esteem and autonomy through participation.

Pillars of the new approach to welfare

Focus on Efficiency and Outcomes

• Spending alone insufficient for desired outcomes.
• Emphasis on improving program implementation and effectiveness.
• Cost-effectiveness highlighted by Muralidharan (2024).
• Government prioritizes process reforms, accountability, and technology.

Digitization as a Force Multiplier

• Digitization of healthcare, education, and governance enhances spending impact.
• DBT and JAM trinity improved fiscal efficiency and reduced leakages (₹38 lakh crore transferred since 2013).
• Outcome Budget introduced in FY18 with goal-oriented allocation.
• NITI Aayog developed Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework in FY20.
• Increased capital expenditure in social services for higher productivity and asset creation.
• Dashboards and MIS for real-time monitoring and accountability.

Targeted Implementation Reforms

• Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) with 3C approach (Convergence, Collaboration, Competition).
• ADP led to improvements in health, nutrition, education, and infrastructure.
• UNDP appraisal positive on ADP’s impact on sectoral growth and governance.
• Additional programs: Aspirational Blocks Programme (2023), Vibrant Villages Programme, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

Prioritizing Social Enablers

• Investment in health and sanitation as social enablers.
• Mission Indradhanush increased child immunization (77.9% to 83.8% from 2015-16 to 2019-21).
• Sanitation programs reduced disease, absenteeism, and improved nutrient absorption.

Social Security for Unorganized Sector

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY), PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJY), PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) launched in 2015.
• Expanded social safety net with universal bank account penetration.
• APY improved upon predecessor Swavalamban Yojana.

Whole-of-Society Approach

• Increased private sector participation through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Mandatory CSR spending since 2014 under Companies Act 2013.
• Growing CSR pool to power sustainable and inclusive development.

India’s Data Governance Strategy: Key Points

• Digital Transformation: National Data Sharing & Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), data.gov.in portal, DISHA dashboards, Prayas platform showcase government’s focus on data management.
• Data Management Challenges: Effectively managing vast data, extracting insights, ensuring interoperability across departments for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
• Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI): Launched in 2020 to assess data preparedness of Ministries/Departments (M/Ds) on a standardized framework.
• DGQI Process: Periodic exercise with M/Ds responding to a questionnaire on the DGQI dashboard. Report with rankings and insights for improvement.
• DGQI Progress: Average score increased from 2.29/5 (Round 1, 2020) to 3.95/5 (Round 6, 2024). Covers 75 M/Ds and 567 schemes.
• Long-Term Goal: Establish a robust data monitoring system for all M/Ds’ schemes, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Baramulla and Gumla: Success Stories under ADP

Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir

• PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2022 under ADP category.
• Challenges: Topography, harsh weather.
• Initiatives:
  • Birth waiting wards in Uri and Boniyar benefiting 20,000 pregnant women.
  • Reduced malnutrition rates through Poshan tracker tabs.
  • 18 lab schools for innovative teaching.
  • Hybrid learning and ICT tools.
  • Crop diversification, mushroom cultivation, organic farming, dairy units.
  • Digital gap analysis, biometric attendance, Innovation Cell.

Gumla, Jharkhand

• PM Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2022 under ADP category.
• Challenges: Anemia, malnutrition, low income, poor productivity, lack of infrastructure.
• Initiatives:
  • Ragi cultivation to tackle anemia and malnutrition.
  • Women empowerment through SHGs.
  • Ragi procurement, processing, packaging, and marketing by tribal women.
  • Open-door policy for grievances, regular meetings, optimal fund allocation.
  • Ragi Mission expanded cultivation by 3500 acres, production increased by 219% in FY22.
  • Solar-based lift and drip irrigation for year-round agriculture on 4349 acres.

CSR Trends in India

Overall CSR Spending

• ₹1.53 lakh crore spent on CSR from 2014 to 2022.
• Over 50% of total CSR spending occurred in the last 3 years.
• Annual CSR spending exceeded ₹25,000 crore in the last 3 years.
• 1.5 times increase in annual CSR spending over 8 years.
• More than half of companies exceed CSR obligations.

CSR Contributors

• Public sector units contribute 17% of total CSR spending despite being only 2% of covered companies.

CSR Focus Areas

• Top 4 sectors: Education (32.4%), Healthcare & Sanitation (38.4%), Rural Development (6.9%), Environment, Animal Welfare & Conservation (10.9%).
• Together, these sectors account for over 75% of total CSR spending.

CSR Implementation

• Around 50% of CSR funds implemented through partnerships with non-profits.
• Partnerships benefit both corporates and non-profits:
  • Non-profits gain analytical and process rigour.
  • Corporates enhance community engagement and inclusive outlook.

CSR Distribution

• CSR investment concentrated around corporate headquarters.
• Underdeveloped areas receive less CSR funding.
• Need for capacity building of non-profits in underdeveloped regions for balanced CSR spending.

Overall Progress and Outcomes

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• Focus on income alone insufficient to measure poverty.
• MPI measures incidence and intensity of poverty.
• NITI Aayog estimates MPI for India, aligned with global MPI.
• MPI includes health, education, and standard of living dimensions with 12 indicators.

India’s Progress in MPI

• Sharp decline in MPI from 0.117 in 2015-16 to 0.066 in 2019-21.
• 13.5 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
• Improvements driven by reduced deprivations in nutrition, education, sanitation, and cooking fuel.
• Rural India shows significant progress, with states like Bihar, MP, UP, Odisha, and Rajasthan leading.
• UP witnessed the largest decline in multidimensional poverty with 3.43 crore people escaping poverty.
• Number of states with less than 10% multidimensional poverty increased from 7 in 2016 to 14 in 2021.

Long-Term MPI Trends

• 24.82 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23.
• Multidimensional poverty reduced from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23.
• UP witnessed the largest decline with 5.94 crore people escaping poverty.
• Faster decline in poverty HCR between 2015-16 and 2019-21 compared to 2005-06 to 2015-16.

Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23

• Reduced inequality and rising consumption spending.
• MPCE increased by 40% in rural and 33.5% in urban areas compared to 2011-12.
• Gini coefficient declined in both rural and urban areas.
• Rural-urban divide reduced.
• Consumption of lowest 5% grew faster than top 5%.
• Free-of-cost items through government programs increased MPCE.
• MPCE/PCI ratio increased for most consumption classes, indicating inclusive growth.
• Progress despite COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality Healthcare for All

Health Sector and Economic Resilience

• Strong healthcare crucial for economic resilience.
• Healthy population leads to better human capital, labor productivity, and household savings.
• Prevents poverty trap due to catastrophic health expenses.
• Builds resilience against health crises like COVID-19.
• Indian health system undergoing significant reforms.

Government’s Commitment to Healthcare

• Focus on preventive and promotive healthcare.
• Aim for universal access to quality healthcare.
• Implementation of various schemes and programs.

Minding the Mind: Taking stock of the mental health scenario

Mental Health: A Growing Concern

Importance of Mental Health

• Mental health crucial for individual and national development.
• Interconnected with physical, social, and emotional well-being.
• Impacts daily life, productivity, and community contribution.
• Includes mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities, and distress.

Rising Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

• One in eight people globally living with mental disorder (WHO 2019).
• Anxiety and depression most common.
• COVID-19 increased mental health cases by 27.6% (depression) and 25.6% (anxiety).
• Half of the world’s population will experience mental health disorder (McGrath et al., 2023).
• India: 10.6% adults with mental disorders, 70-92% treatment gap (NMHS 2015-16).
• Urban areas have higher mental morbidity than rural areas.
• 25-44 age group most affected (Dhyani et al., 2022).

Mental Health of Children and Adolescents

• Foundation for holistic development and economic growth.
• Rising prevalence due to academic pressure, social media, family, and socio-economic factors.
• One in seven 10-19-year-olds experience mental disorder (WHO 2021).
• 19% of 15-24-year-olds feel depressed or disinterested (Gallup for UNICEF).
• India: 11% students anxious, 14% extreme emotions, 43% mood swings (NCERT).
• 50% students cite studies, 31% cite exams as reasons for anxiety.

Impact of Internet and Social Media

• Increased screen time linked to mental health issues (Jonathan Haidt).
• Social media impact: obsessive consumption, cyberbullying, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social comparison, perfectionism.
• Vivek Murthy: Social media like tobacco, needs warning labels.
• Los Angeles Unified School District bans smartphones.
• India: 23.8% children use smartphones in bed, 37.2% reduced concentration (NCPR).

Economic Impact of Mental Health

• Mental health problems reduce individual potential and productivity.
• Lead to absenteeism, decreased productivity, disability, and increased healthcare costs.
• Poverty can increase risk of mental health issues.
• Urbanization and migration contribute to mental stress.
• High return on investment in mental health treatment.

Government Initiatives

• National Mental Health Policy (2014), National Youth Policy (2014), and National Education Policy (2020) emphasize mental health.
• 22 mental disorders covered under Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY.
• State-level initiatives like Meghalaya’s mental health policy and Delhi’s happiness curriculum.

Policy Recommendations

• Increase number of psychiatrists to WHO norm of 3 per lakh population.
• Develop guidelines for excellence centers.
• Assess program effectiveness through feedback.
• Nurture peer support networks, self-help groups, and community-based rehabilitation.
• Partner with NGOs to scale up efforts.
• Involve individuals with mental health experience in decision-making.
• Sensitize Anganwadi workers on mental health.
• Standardize guidelines for mental health startups.
• Develop age-appropriate mental health curriculum for schools.
• Address stigma and promote awareness.
• Tackle mental health as a public health and economic issue.

Impact manifest in health statistics

Rising Role of Public Healthcare

Increased Public Healthcare Spending

• Government Health Expenditure (GHE) as % of GDP and Total Health Expenditure (THE) increased.
• Focus shifted towards primary healthcare.
• Share of primary healthcare in GHE increased from 51.3% in FY15 to 55.9% in FY20.
• Share of primary and secondary care in GHE increased from 73.2% in FY15 to 85.5% in FY20.
• Social security expenditure on health increased from 5.7% in FY15 to 9.3% in FY20.
• Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as % of THE declined between FY15 and FY20.

Improved Health Indicators

• Decline in infant mortality rate (39 to 28 per 1000 live births).
• Decline in maternal mortality rate (167 to 97 per lakh live births).
• Ayushman Bharat saved over ₹1.25 lakh crore in OOPE.

Second Order Effects

• Ayushman Bharat linked to better credit market outcomes.

Future Trends

• Focus on healthy eating and mental health.
• Obesity increasing (24% women, 22.9% men overweight/obese in 2019-21).
• Type-II diabetes incidence increased from less than 2% in 1970s to more than 20%.
• Importance of state and local governance for effective implementation.

 

Health Insurance and Credit Market Outcomes

Impact of Catastrophic Health Expenses

• Catastrophic health expenses can lead to poverty and indebtedness.
• Healthcare cost mitigation improves financial stability and loan repayment capacity.  

PMJAY and Credit Market Dynamics

• Study investigates PMJAY’s impact on credit market using difference-in-difference framework.
• Hypothesizes PMJAY reduces financial strain, improving loan repayment.  
• Uses administrative data from a significant Indian credit bureau.
• Sample includes nearly 12 million loans across 636 districts.

Study Findings

• PMJAY implementation correlated with significant reduction in NPA rates in microfinance loans.
• NPA rate decreased by 3.7 to 4.0 percentage points in PMJAY implemented districts.  
• Represents 34.6% to 34.1% reduction relative to average NPA rates.  
• Similar reduction in NPA rates observed in eligible small agricultural loans.

Implications

• Public health insurance programs have broader economic impacts.  
• PMJAY can enhance economic stability in emerging economies.  
• Relevant for countries considering similar health insurance schemes.
• PMJAY improved credit market outcomes in India.  
• Highlights interplay between health insurance and financial stability.
• Public health initiatives can create significant economic benefits.

Education

UN SDGs (SDG4) and NEP 2020

• UN SDGs (SDG4): Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Launched in 2020, aims to align Indian education with SDG4 and prepare youth for a knowledge-driven economy.
• Target: Provide quality education to all 3-18 year olds, position India as a global knowledge superpower.

Challenges in School Education

• Learning gaps: Widened since COVID, as per NAS 2017 and 2021.
  • Class 10: Significant drop in Maths, Science, Social Science.
  • Class 3: Drop in Language, Maths, Environmental Studies.

NEP 2020 Key Recommendations

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Strong emphasis.
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN): Strengthening.
• Experiential learning, multilingual education, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches.
• Holistic assessment.

Progress in School Infrastructure

• Improvement in basic facilities: Toilets, drinking water, hand-washing in government schools.
• Focus on drinking water and sanitation: Under Samagra Shiksha Scheme and Swachh Bharat Mission.
• ICT infrastructure: Smart classrooms, ICT labs supported under Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023

• Launched: August 2023.
• Purpose: Implements NEP 2020 goals.
• Development: Input from 16 lakh stakeholders.
• Key improvements: Competency-based education from grade 3, focus on Indian languages, comprehensive roadmap for Implementing Early Childhood Care and Education or ECCE  and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), integration of Indigenous knowledge, use of ICT.

Vocational Education

• NEP 2020 mandate: Mainstreaming vocational education in all institutions.
• Focus: Skills gap analysis, local job opportunities.
• Implementation: Pre-vocational skills in foundation stage, work exposure in middle stage, vocational capacities in secondary stage.
• Samagra Shiksha Scheme support: Grants for infrastructure, teacher training, curriculum development.
• Progress: 29,342 schools covered under skill education (FY19-FY24), 22 sectors with 88 job roles, 1011 spoke schools under Hub and Spoke model.
• Focus for FY25: Skill education exposure for 1,08,418 schools, 3643981 students.
• Curriculum: Inclusion of employability skills (communication, self-management, ICT, entrepreneurship, green skills).

Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB)

Overview

• Launched: May 2023.
• Aim: Create world’s largest, universal, high-quality preschool network at Anganwadi Centres.
• Aligns with: NEP 2020 guidelines.
• Unique feature: First government program for early stimulation (0-3 years).

Key Features

• Daily 2 hours of high-quality preschool instruction for every child.
• Play-based, activity-based learning pedagogy aligned with developmental milestones (0-3 years and 3-6 years).
• Special support for Divyang children.
• Teaching-learning materials: visual aids, audio aids, audio-visual, spatial materials.
• Mother tongue as primary instruction medium.
• Community involvement through Jan Andolan.

Anganwadi Strengthening

• India has ~13.9 lakh Anganwadi centres serving ~8 crore children (<6 years).
• 85% brain development occurs by age 6, making Anganwadis crucial.
• Infrastructure, play equipment, and trained Anganwadi workers needed.
• 40,000 Master Trainers to train Anganwadi Workers on ECCE.
• 3735 State Level Master Trainers trained as of Jan 2024 (25 states, 182 districts).

Potential

• Anganwadis as employment generation institutions.
• Stronger, productive India.

Vidyanjali: School Volunteer Programme (Launched: September 7, 2021)

Goals

• Strengthen school infrastructure.
• Improve quality of education through community participation.
• Align with NEP 2020 vision of CSR and private sector involvement.

How it Works

• Vidyanjali Portal: Connects volunteers with schools.
  • Volunteers: Alumni, teachers, professionals, homemakers, etc.
  • Schools: Create projects requesting specific support.
• CSR Module: Companies/organizations can support multiple schools.

Impact

• Enhanced learning for 1.44 crore students.
• Diverse volunteer contributions:
  • Subject-specific assistance & mentoring.
  • Modern electronics & digital devices (mobiles, computers).
  • Essential items (first-aid kits, sports equipment).
  • Upgraded learning spaces (smart classrooms, kitchen gardens).
• 26,268 asset requests completed:
  • Basic infrastructure (electrical, classrooms).
  • Health & safety aids.
• 13,100 activities completed:
  • Varied projects extending over multiple days/tasks.

Success Story

• Delhi: Exemplary participation.
  • 2883 out of 2969 schools registered.
  • 14,882 active volunteers.

Progress in School Infrastructure and Education

School Infrastructure

• Improvement in basic facilities: Toilets, drinking water, and handwashing facilities available in most government schools.
• Samagra Shiksha Scheme and Swachh Bharat Mission instrumental in providing resources.
• ICT labs and smart classrooms established under Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023

• Launched in August 2023.
• Based on inputs from 16 lakh stakeholders.
• Promotes competency-based education, vocational education from grade 3, and Indian languages.
• Focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).
• Integrates Indigenous knowledge, ICT, and moves away from rote learning.

Vocational Education

• Mainstreamed in all institutions as per NEP 2020.
• Focus on skills gap analysis and local job opportunities.
• Pre-vocational capacities from foundational stage.
• Samagra Shiksha Scheme provides grants for infrastructure and capacity building.
• 29,342 schools covered under skill education from FY19 to FY24.
• 22 sectors with 88 job roles covered.
• 25 new job roles introduced in FY24.
• 1011 spoke schools approved under Hub and Spoke model.
• Exposure to skill education for 1,08,418 schools in FY25.
• Employability skills included in job roles curriculum.

Higher Education

• Total enrolment increased from 3.42 crore in FY15 to 4.33 crore in FY22.
• Female enrolment increased from 1.57 crore in FY15 to 2.07 crore in FY22.
• Rising equity in higher education with faster growth in SC, ST, and OBC enrolments.
• Better employment opportunities for underprivileged sections.

Re-imagining Lifelong Learning Through a Digital Prism

Key Points

• India’s vast educational landscape: 26.52 crore school students, 4.33 crore higher education students, 11 crore skill learners.
• NEP 2020 aims to transform this landscape through interconnected formal, non-formal, and informal learning.
• National Credit Framework (NCrF) announced in April 2023.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) like APAAR and ABC support NCrF.
• APAAR: Electronic registry for institutions, students, and faculty.
• ABC: Online repository of academic credits for credit transfer and recognition.
• 2037 HEIs onboarded ABC, 30.13 crore APAAR IDs created.
• UGC Regulations allow up to 40% credits from online courses.

Way Forward

• Mission-mode implementation of well-designed programs.
• Unity of purpose and convergence of efforts across central, state, and local governments.
• Civil society collaboration (e.g., LAHI model) for vocational education.
• Focus on pedagogy and governance for cost-effectiveness.
• Monitoring teaching quality, recognizing teacher performance, and hiring local volunteers.

Additional Notes

• APAAR and ABC enable various use cases like credit-based learning, scholarships, internships, and job opportunities.
• Data consent layer allows students to share academic credentials with employers and institutions.
• Challenges in primary education require focused attention and effective interventions.

India’s Online Learning Architecture

Key Platforms

• SWAYAM: Open learning MOOC platform with 13,140+ courses, 4.3 crore enrollments.
• SWAYAM PRABHA: DTH-based education channel with 48 channels, 1.2 million students, 143,000+ unique videos.
• SWAYAM Plus: High-quality online courses for credit recognition, focusing on employability.
• SAMARTH: E-governance solution for HEI administrative processes, adopted by 3500+ HEIs.
• PM e-VIDYA: Unifies digital education efforts, includes DIKSHA and Sathee platforms.

Impact

• Bridging digital divide and achieving NEP goals of access, equity, and quality.
• Mainstreaming students into knowledge economy through SWAYAM.
• Providing 24×7 access to educational content through SWAYAM PRABHA.
• Enhancing employability through SWAYAM Plus.
• Digitizing HEI administration through SAMARTH.
• Offering diverse content and resources through PM e-VIDYA (DIKSHA and Sathee).

Additional Points

• SWAYAM Plus focuses on emerging technologies and industry-relevant courses.
• SAMARTH contributes to establishing a network of digitally enabled campuses.
• DIKSHA features over 3.5 lakh e-contents and 6,854 Energized Textbooks.
• Sathee platform provides resources for competitive exam preparation.

India making headway in R&D

Importance of R&D

• Drives innovation, progress, and productivity.
• Crucial for economic growth and competitiveness.
• Essential in emerging fields like AI, environment, and biotechnology.

India’s R&D Progress

• Rapid growth in patent filings (nearly one lakh in FY24).
• Improved Global Innovation Index rank (40th in 2023).
• Increased Ph.D. enrollment (81.2% in FY22).
• Growing Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD).
• Rise in high-quality research publications (9th rank in Nature’s Index 2023).

Challenges

• Low R&D investment as % of GDP compared to other countries.
• Low private sector contribution to R&D.
• Weak link between higher education, industry, and research.
• Low ‘Land to Lab’ time for technology commercialization.

Government Initiatives

• Streamlining patent grants (average time reduced from 72 months to 5-23 months).
• Increased scholarships for PhD and Post-Doctoral research.
• Launch of National Research Foundation (Anusandhan).
• Rs 1 lakh crore corpus for research and innovation.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Transition from Women’s Development to Women-Led Development

• Vision: Equal partnership of women in growth and national progress.
• Government Interventions: Legislative measures to enhance women’s participation in various professions.

India’s G20 Presidency and Global Recognition

• G20 Presidency 2023: Prioritized ‘women-led development.’
• Nobel Prize 2023: Awarded to Prof. Claudia Goldin for her work on gender differences in the labor market.

Issues Affecting Women

• Basic Necessities: Sanitation, piped water, menstrual hygiene.
• Safety and Nutrition: Proper nutrition, economic, and political equality.
• Individual Identity: Ensuring a sense of personal identity.

Government Initiatives

• Gender Budget: Increased from ₹97,134 crore (FY14) to ₹3.10 lakh crore (FY25).
  • Share in Union Budget: Increased to 6.5% in FY25.

Social Empowerment

• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Improved Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) from 918 (2014-15) to 930 (2023-24).
• Maternal Mortality Rate: Declined from 130/lakh live births (2014-16) to 97/lakh live births (2018-20).
• Institutional Delivery: Increased from 78.9% (2015-16) to 88.6% (2019-21).

Nutritional Security

• Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Targets malnutrition in women and children.
• Focus: Micronutrient sufficiency, awareness on infant feeding practices, and treatment of malnutrition.
• Saksham Anganwadis: Equipped with advanced facilities for early childhood care and education.

Access to Basic Necessities

• Swachh Bharat Mission: Construction of toilets.
• Ujjawala Yojana: Provision of clean cooking gas connections.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: Tap drinking water connections.

Safety Measures

• Sakhi Centres: Offer medical, legal aid, police facilitation, shelter, and counseling.
• Women’s Helpline ‘181’: Provides emergency and scheme-related assistance.

Education and Skilling

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan & Right to Education Act 2009: Achieved gender parity in school enrolment.
• Higher Education: Female GER higher than male GER for five consecutive years.
• Skilling Schemes: Increased participation of women in PMKVY, JSS, ITIs, NSTIs, and NAPS.

Women in STEM

• World Bank Data 2018: 42.7% of STEM graduates in India are female.
• WISE KIRAN: Boosts women’s participation in STEM fields.
• Vigyan Jyoti: Encourages girls’ enrolment in science and technology courses.

Breaking Male Bastions

• Provisions: Women as fighter pilots, commandos, Central Police Forces, and admissions in Sainik Schools.

Political Empowerment

• Nari Shakti Vandan Abhiniyam, 2023: Empowers women’s political participation.
• Panchayat Reservations: 46% of elected representatives are women.

Transformation of Feminine Identity

• Independent Identity: Steps to strengthen women’s identity, such as the issuance of ration cards in women’s names and joint ownership in PM Awas Yojana.
• Jan Dhan Yojana: Reached over 25 crore unbanked women.
• SHGs: Nearly 10 crore rural women collectivized.

Economic Empowerment of Women

• Increased Women Labor Force Participation:
  • Female LFPR rose from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23.
  • Rural women drive this trend, mainly in agriculture.
  • Need to shift focus to higher value-addition sectors like agro-processing.
  • Example: Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, where employment changed girls’ perception from liability to breadwinner.
• Importance of Care Economy:
  • Developing care economy crucial for realizing full potential of educated female workforce.
• Financial Inclusion:
  • PM Jan Dhan Yojana opened 52.3 crore bank accounts (55.6% women) by May 2024.
  • Average deposits increased from ₹1,065 in March 2015 to ₹4,398 in May 2024.
• Rural Microfinance:
  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM covers 89 million women in 8.3 million SHGs.
  • Impacts include women empowerment, reduced social evils, better education, and increased participation in village institutions.
  • 5 crore CRPs (Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis, etc.) drive SHG implementation.
  • Successful models: Kudumbashree (Kerala), Jeevika (Bihar), Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahila Mandal (Maharashtra), Looms of Ladakh.
• Entrepreneurship:
  • Women receive 68% of PM Mudra Yojana loans and 77.7% of Stand-Up India beneficiaries.
  • Over 53% of PMGDISHA beneficiaries are women.
  • India has 13.5-15.7 million women-owned businesses (17-20% of total).
  • Potential to increase to 31.5 million by 2030.

Towards Equality of Asset Ownership

• Importance of female asset ownership: Crucial for financial security, economic opportunities, resource control, and reduced domestic violence.
• Disparity in land ownership: Only 14% of landowners in 9 Indian states are women.
• Challenges for women landowners: Limited access to single titles, smaller and inferior land quality.
• Government initiatives: PM Awas Yojana mandates female ownership of constructed houses.
• Need for societal change: Attitudes of both men and women need to shift, along with supportive infrastructure.
• Goal: Substantive equality in asset ownership for women-led development.

RURAL ECONOMY: DRIVING THE GROWTH ENGINE

Enhancing Quality of Life in Rural India

• Government focus: Holistic rural development through decentralized planning, credit access, skilling, women empowerment, social security, infrastructure, etc.
• MGNREGA: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
  • Progress: Increased person-days, average person-days/household, women participation.
  • Reforms: Geotagging, electronic payments, Aadhaar-based payments, social audits.
  • Evolution: From wage employment to asset creation (individual beneficiary works).
  • Convergence: Integrated with other schemes (nutrition, fodder, horticulture, etc.) for maximum impact.

Factors Affecting MGNREGA Work Demand Across States

• MGNREGA demand doesn’t directly correlate with rural distress.
• MGNREGA evolving from last resort to asset creation and income generation.
• Supply-side issues:
  • No significant variation in fund release time across states.
  • Differences in projected annual labor budgets based on rural poor population.
• Demand-side issues:
  • State institutional capacity for fund utilization.
  • States with lower per capita income have weaker institutions, less fund usage, and lower employment per capita.
  • States with higher institutional capacity execute costlier works and have better planning.
  • Differences in registering demand.
  • Increased leakages and irregularities in fund utilization.

Rural Governance: A story of digital transformations at the grass roots

Digitisation Initiatives for Improved Rural Governance in India

• Importance: Improves program delivery and empowers individuals.
• Focus: Reducing the distance between villages and administration.
• Key Initiatives:
  • e-Panchayat: Automates workflow for 2.71 lakh Panchayats, benefits 30 lakh elected members and 10 lakh functionaries.
    • AuditOnline: facilitates online audits and record keeping.
  • e-Gram SWARAJ: Launched in 2020, provides a digital platform for Panchayats.
    • Features: Gram Panchayat profile, finances, development plans, real-time payments.
    • 52 lakh Gram Panchayats uploaded development plans for FY24.
  • Bhu-Aadhaar (ULPIN): 14-digit land parcel ID for better land management.
    • Rolled out in 29 states, generated 14.94 crore ULPINs.
    • Enables land banks and Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS).
  • SVAMITVA Scheme: Provides land ownership records to rural households.
    • Aims to enable property monetization, reduce disputes, and facilitate village planning.
    • Drone survey completed in 2.9 lakh villages, 1.66 crore property cards issued in 1.06 lakh villages.

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

India’s Progress Towards SDGs

• Government’s commitment: Embracing, adopting, and championing SDGs for improved welfare.
• Steady progress: Despite global challenges, India made significant strides towards 2030 Agenda.
• Targeted interventions: PMAY, Ujjwala, Swachh Bharat, Jan Dhan, Ayushman Bharat, PM-Mudra, Saubhagya, Startup India led to rapid improvements.
• SDG India Index:
  • Overall score improved from 57 in 2018 to 71 in 2023-24.
  • Significant progress in Goals 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11.
• State and UT performance:
  • Scores range from 57 to 79 for States and 65 to 77 for UTs.
  • 32 States/UTs scored between 65 and 99 in 2023-24, up from 22 in 2020-21.

CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD

• Reformed welfare approach: Empowerment, efficiency, private sector participation.
• Basic necessities: Saturation as first step for economic participation.
• Digitisation: Force multiplier for healthcare, education, and governance.
• Education: NEP 2020 for foundational literacy and numeracy.
• Healthcare: Ayushman Bharat saving lives and preventing debt.
• Mental health: Destigmatization, community participation, and human resources needed.
• Women-led development: Social, economic, and political empowerment.
• Rural development: Enabling programs, self-help groups, RSETI as skill development hubs.
• Implementation: Governance and unity of purpose crucial for program success.
• Human development: Core of economic development, requires continuous effort.