Gandhinagar : During the inauguration of the G20 EMPOWER summit in Gandhinagar, Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, highlighted the profound transformation in the perception of women catalyzed by India's G20 Presidency.
She underscored the shift from viewing women as recipients of benevolence to recognizing their role as equals, standing shoulder to shoulder and head to head with men in contributing to the advancement of both the nation and society. Irani expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for elevating the women-led agenda to a prominent position during India's G20 leadership.
Furthermore, she emphasized that India's presidency has not only amplified women's voices at the grassroots level but has also successfully spotlighted the revolutionary changes taking place within India's self-help group (SHG) sector. Under India's leadership, the EMPOWER alliance has brought forth diversity, responsibility, and an openness to differing perspectives on the global stage.
The significance of the self-help group revolution has been acknowledged during India's G20 presidency. Presently, approximately 8 million SHGs manage a staggering monetary value of 34 billion dollars annually, impacting an ecosystem that encompasses around 80 million women. Irani noted that these women, often unheard amidst discussions of financial futures, have been recognized by the Prime Minister as the foundational force behind India's grassroots economic strength.
Irani conveyed her optimism regarding the potential impact of TechEquity, a digital inclusion platform launched during the summit, extending its benefits to women worldwide, particularly in education and as a facilitator for career advancement, notably within STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The platform's purpose lies in empowering women to enhance their digital literacy, financial understanding, and technical skills through training programs and resources accessible on the platform.
She emphasized that the aspiration of women is not to diminish any privileges held by men, but rather to ensure that their individual contributions to both the economy and societal frameworks are acknowledged on par with those of men. Drawing from their experiences of disenfranchisement and the removal of supposed privileges, women seek to prevent others from enduring similar struggles.
Irani further articulated that the prevailing sentiment among women today is a call for recognition not solely out of necessity, but due to their status as valuable investments. "Do not prioritize us out of mere lack of alternatives, but because we represent significant opportunities," she remarked.
The summit attracted a participation of more than 263 domestic delegates and 70 international delegates from 13 G20 countries, four guest nations, and eight international organizations. This inclusive gathering included representatives from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UK, the US, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Spain, the UAE, and international bodies like WTO, ISA, UN Women, UN, UNICEF, ILO, World Bank, and ADB.