Kamal Ghorui
On the eve of International Women’s Day, India’s growing push towards women’s financial empowerment is drawing attention to the changing role of women in the country’s economy. From gaining access to skill training, and hands on support to run small enterprises to operating agricultural drones, women are increasingly stepping into new financial roles and becoming active participants in India’s development story. Backed by a series of government initiatives over the past decade, more women across rural and urban India are gaining access to savings, credit, skills and markets, helping them build independent livelihoods and support their families. From savings schemes for the girl child to credit support, self-help groups (SHGs), entrepreneurship programmes and technology-driven livelihoods, policy efforts have focused on bringing more women into the economic mainstream and ensuring inclusive growth where no woman is left behind.One of the key initiatives supporting financial security for girls is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. The savings scheme allows families to invest for a girl child’s education and future, offering an interest rate of 8.2% per annum along with tax benefits. According to government data, deposits under the scheme have crossed Rs 3.33 lakh crore as of December 2025. In rural areas, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has brought together more than 10 crore women into self-help groups (SHGs), providing access to credit, skill training and livelihood opportunities. The network has become one of the world’s largest women-led community platforms, with repayment rates above 98%. Technology is also being introduced to expand income opportunities. Under the NaMo Drone Didi initiative, women from SHGs are being trained to operate agricultural drones used for spraying fertilisers and pesticides, enabling them to earn through drone rental services while promoting precision farming. Entrepreneurship initiatives are also gaining ground. Programmes such as the Lakhpati Didi campaign aim to help women SHG members achieve annual household incomes exceeding Rs 1 lakh through sustainable enterprises. Meanwhile, the Government e-Marketplace’s Womaniya initiative is enabling women-led businesses to supply goods and services directly to government buyers. Complementing these efforts are financial inclusion schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, and Stand-Up India, which provide banking access and collateral-free loans for women entrepreneurs.
