Beyond ‘Beijing’, Unlocking a Feminist Future in India

Context

• The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, remains one of the most comprehensive global blueprints for advancing women’s rights.
• It laid out a road map for accelerating gender equality across 12 critical areas of concern, including education, health, economic empowerment, and political participation.
• Over the past three decades, India has made significant strides in these dimensions, driven by sustained policy efforts, grassroots activism, and the resilience of women and girls.
• Now it becomes imperative to examine India’s progress in gender equality, highlighting achievements in health, education, and economic empowerment while acknowledging the persistent challenges of gender-based violence.

India’s Achievements in Advancing Women’s Rights

• Health and Maternal Care: A Significant Leap Forward
  • One of India’s most notable achievements in advancing women’s rights has been in the field of healthcare, particularly maternal and reproductive health.
  • Government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have significantly improved maternal health care, leading to an increase in institutional deliveries to 95%.
  • Furthermore, maternal mortality has decreased from 130 to 97 deaths per 100,000 births between 2014 and 2020, demonstrating progress in ensuring safer childbirth.
• Expansion of Reproductive health services
  • The expansion of reproductive health services has given women greater autonomy over their bodies.
  • Over half of married women (56.5%) now use modern contraceptives, empowering them with greater control over family planning.
  • The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the world’s largest government-funded healthcare program, has provided millions of women with access to critical medical treatment, further strengthening India’s commitment to women’s well-being.
• Education and Empowerment: A Path to Inclusion
  • Education has been at the heart of India’s gender equality agenda.
  • The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative has played a crucial role in improving the child sex ratio and increasing school enrolments for girls.
  • The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has introduced reforms aimed at increasing retention rates and expanding opportunities for women in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
  • However, safety concerns in higher secondary education persist, necessitating further efforts to create a secure learning environment for girls.
• Economic Empowerment of Women: Bridging the Digital Divide
  • Economic independence is central to gender equality, and India has made remarkable progress in this area.
  • Through initiatives like the National Rural and Urban Livelihood Missions, nearly 100 million women have been integrated into financial networks via self-help groups, creating entrepreneurship and financial autonomy.
  • The expansion of digital financial services, particularly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has enabled more women to participate in the digital economy.
  • Moreover, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihood Mission has facilitated access to credit, financial literacy programs, and entrepreneurship opportunities for millions of rural women.
  • In addition, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan has trained over 35 million rural women in digital literacy, ensuring their inclusion in the evolving digital landscape.
• Gender-Responsive Budgeting
  • Recognising the importance of financial investment in women’s empowerment, India has embraced gender-responsive budgeting.
  • The share of the Gender Budget in the total national budget has increased from 6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26, with $55.2 billion allocated toward gender-specific programs.
  • These financial commitments highlight India’s dedication to sustaining and expanding its progress toward gender equality.
• Women in Leadership: A Catalyst for Change
  • The active participation of women in leadership roles has been instrumental in driving India’s progress on gender equality.
  • Young women are emerging as leaders in climate action, digital entrepreneurship, and governance.
  • Initiatives like the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) Project, which supports women in STEM, and the G20 TechEquity Platform, which has trained thousands of young women in emerging technologies, reflect this transformation.
• Political Representation
  • Political representation has also seen a boost.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, which guarantees 33% representation for women in legislatures, builds on the success of local governance initiatives that have empowered 1.5 million women leaders, creating the world’s largest cohort of women in political leadership. 

Persistent Challenges in Addressing Gender-Based Violence

• Despite progress in many areas, gender-based violence remains a pressing issue.
• The Beijing Declaration emphasised the need to eliminate violence against women, yet many continue to face abuse and discrimination.
• In response, India has established 770 One Stop Centres, providing medical, legal, and psychological support to survivors of violence.
• Legal reforms have also strengthened protections for women. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, implemented in July 2024, enhances legal frameworks for women’s safety and justice.
• Innovations such as Odisha’s blockchain-based system have expedited support services for survivors, ensuring confidentiality and efficiency in assistance.
• Additionally, partnerships between the United Nations Population Fund and institutions like the Rajasthan Police Academy have enhanced gender-responsive policing, improving trust in law enforcement and increasing access to justice.
• While these measures represent progress, further efforts are needed to eliminate gender-based violence completely.

A Roadmap for the Future

• As India marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, it reaffirms its commitment to gender equality as a national and global priority.
• While significant progress has been made in health, education, and economic empowerment, challenges such as gender-based violence and workplace discrimination persist.
• Strengthening collaborations, investing in young women’s leadership, and addressing systemic barriers will be crucial in accelerating progress.

Conclusion:

• The Beijing Platform for Action continues to serve as a guiding framework for India’s journey toward gender equality.
• With sustained government efforts, strong partnerships, and an unwavering focus on women-led development, India is setting a global benchmark for inclusive and sustainable growth.
• Now, more than ever, these efforts are vital in shaping a more equitable and just world.

Q1. What is the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action?
Ans. It is a global blueprint adopted in 1995 to accelerate gender equality, focusing on 12 critical areas such as education, health, and economic empowerment.

Q2. How has India improved maternal healthcare?
Ans. India has increased institutional deliveries to 95% and reduced maternal mortality from 130 to 97 deaths per 100,000 births through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan.

Q3. What is the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative?
Ans. It is a government program aimed at improving the child sex ratio and increasing school enrollment for girls in India.

Q4. How has India supported women’s economic empowerment?
Ans. India has connected nearly 100 million women to financial networks through self-help groups and expanded digital financial services via platforms like UPI.

Q5. What steps has India taken to combat gender-based violence?
Ans. India has established 770 One Stop Centres for survivors and introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 to strengthen legal protections for women. 

Source:The Hindu