Why Empowering Rural Women Is The Key To Strengthening Indian Economy

It is unfortunate that India's labour force has shrunk in the past six years, especially among women. This represents a missed opportunity cost for the nation.

Women represent a significant potential workforce, and their exclusion from the rural area means that the country is not fully utilising its human resources.

We run our factory in a village about 60 km away from Ahmedabad, and the women working with us make up a significant portion of our workforce. These women employees are physically strong, mentally agile, and eager to learn, which is a testament to their capabilities and potential.

I strongly believe that women make better employees and eventually better leaders.

Some may disagree with this statement, and they have a valid point of view; this is my personal opinion. Nonetheless, it has always been evident that empowering women in the workforce has numerous benefits, not just for the individuals themselves but also for their families, communities, and the nation as a whole.

Unfortunately, even today and according to my personal observations, more than 70 percent of women in rural areas still rely on their father's or husband's financial support, and they need permission from their families to go to work. This highlights the deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and gender inequalities that still exist in many parts of India. However, providing women with access to education and guidance can be a powerful tool for empowering them to become self-sufficient and contribute financially to their households, communities, and countries.

Also, the importance of 50-50 involvement by men and ">women in achieving economic empowerment cannot be denied. At our factory, on a day-to-day basis, I see wonderful girls working in our plant who are very smart and very talented, but they are forced to leave their jobs at times in order to be marriage-ready. It is disheartening to see even today that talented and smart women are forced to leave their jobs to prioritise marriage and families.

This highlights the need for greater awareness and advocacy around the importance of women's economic independence and the right to make their own choices. I would be pleased to initiate or support campaigns that promote women's financial independence. By working together, we can help create a more just and equitable society where women are able to realise their full potential and contribute to the growth and development of their families and communities.

At The Baker’s Dozen, too, we are actively taking steps to create a more gender-inclusive workplace. Hiring more women and training unskilled employees to become skilled employees are great ways to promote gender equality and support women's economic empowerment.

We try to offer healthy and appropriate work schedules that go a long way towards helping them balance their personal and professional lives. And this is particularly important given that many women are still expected to shoulder the majority of caregiving responsibilities for children and elderly family members.

Our policy of rehiring female employees without looking at our vacancy chart is a great example of this supportive and inclusive culture. Women who had to leave for personal reasons are always welcome to come back. By investing in these kinds of initiatives and creating a workplace that is supportive of women's economic empowerment, we can not only help individual women succeed but also contribute to the larger goal of promoting gender equality and sustainable development in India.

Aditi Handa is the co-founder & Head Chef, The Baker’s Dozen. Views expressed by the author are their own.

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