Margaret Thatcher in her speech on the Women in a Changing World once stated, “The battle for women's rights has been largely won. The days when they were demanded and discussed in strident tones should be gone forever. And I hope they are. I hated those strident tones that you still hear from some Women's Libbers.” She wasn’t entirely wrong when she said that. Yes, a lot of us have the liberty to choose our education, our vocation, heck.. even our life partners. In India, too! Oh yes. And we say that strictly tongue-in-cheek.
Jokes apart, she wasn’t entirely right either. The battle that was fought by some of our women predecessors was perhaps to set things in balance. And the scales, even if they tip even a little in favour of either side – are still imbalanced and must be set right.
No, we are not talking about women’s liberation here. We too believe those of us who can read this are liberated enough to help themselves. But the battle for equality has only just begun. And we as New Media firmly believe – Gender is over. There is no man, woman, or third gender so far as rights and duties are concerned. Physical and emotional strengths and suitabilities aside, it only matters what you bring to the table, now. Who you are, what you were born as, how you identify yourself – no one cares. Shouldn’t that have always been the case?
Sure, in an ideal world. But we aren’t living in one. So let's cut the BS and get straight to the brass tacks. Certain aspects of public policy and financial fortification can now go deeper into our roots and start repairing the balance at the very core – this time, not just making one particular gender equal to the other but neutralizing the whole difference forever, for nought.
Let's take a look at what we gathered as suggestions from the industry:
A ready reckoner of all schemes:
There needs to be a common repository, a one-window dissemination of schemes for women that the state and central governments have announced and implemented – A ready reckoner of sorts so that women entrepreneurs and Self-help groups can easily refer to it. Industry associations like ASSOCHAM, and media houses like ours are more than willing to compile and help the Government popularize it, in the way the junta understands it today – social media, simple communication, and dedicated frontline workers.
Simplification of filing for schemes:
A Swayampurna Mitra or a dedicated government officer must be allocated at every Panchayat office (if not already) to take these applications, file them online and give an acknowledgement number for online checking of application status. If not sanctioned, the response must come directly to the SHG or individual women entrepreneurs about the reason for rejection. If sanctioned confirmation must come on their cell phone number via SMS
Zero Taxation till a base level:
Women entrepreneurs must be eligible to file for zero taxation till an income limit of Rs. 7 lacs on their pan number without providing their husband or father's pan number or tapping into their tax limit. A dedicated finance officer should be there at every panchayat to file for this tax so that income tax returns are also filed regularly for accounting purposes.
End the co-applicant requirement for independent businesswomen:
Husbands or fathers should not be required as co-applicants on loans or schemes for women where they have been running a full-fledged Business for over 1 year and generating Revenues. Collateral-free loans must be given to women entrepreneurs who have good project ideas.
GST registrations made simpler from the point of incorporation :
GST registration should be made simpler for all women-owned businesses and a single provisional GST number should be provided till they reach the turnover of Rs. 20 lacs where filings of GST are required with lesser stringent norms and regularity. No penalties if filings are not done since portals nonetheless have all records of GST transactions. If only GST credit is sought, filings must be done in time. After turnover crosses 20 lacs, Normal GST rules apply.
Financial support for women-led Self-help groups:
Financial support & easy loan schemes for women SHGs - They must be given interest-free & collateral-free loans for new projects and topping up older projects. Single window clearances for schemes like ODOP, OSOP, and FME without the hassle of multiple touchpoints and department clearances. Reporting of the progress must also be online and further fund sanctions should be through similar windows.
Non-tech-based Incubators:
Startup investors have lately become so tech-oriented that traditional businesses seem to have lost their fancy. The government must step in to keep grassroots, traditional and impact-oriented businesses growing and thriving with non-tech incubators that support innovation on the traditional scale.
Trainings for women artisans under government-run skill development centres
There is a need for initiatives like training, and marketing support to women artisans both from urban and rural areas of the state. To make women self-reliant skill development training must be organised. After successful completion of the same, these women must be linked with Banks for the provision of loans to enable them to run their small businesses/enterprises. Startups and marketplaces that source local produce and then give them domestic and international visibility and prices must be onboarded as certified partners to enable them to get dedicated supply chains and tech-savvy partners for their products.
The National Social Assistance Program
The NSAP was initiated to assist widows, the elderly and the specially-abled. An increase in social spending can see higher allocations to this program, but how many of us know how to access this smoothly? There must be targets for banks to front-ending this scheme and actively push for the deployment of these funds to their account holders falling under these categories.
A segment for women farmers and agricultural workers
The farmers are a special category already. Women farmers and agricultural workers can be allocated a dedicated cell that provides them with raw materials, crop protection schemes, loans for seasonal farming, market assistance in the form of both physical and online marketplaces such as the ONDC and Government e-procurement that helps them go from farm-to-table for their consumers with limited turnaround times, onboarding of digital marketing agencies (functioning on Government subsidy) as empanelled partners so these agriculturists can be helped with their online presence, could be some of initiatives to fuel this form of vocation amongst women.
The First budget of the Amrit Kaal, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman had said last year when she presented the Financial budget for FY 2023-24, “This is the first budget in Amrit Kaal, this budget hopes to build on the foundation laid in the previous budget and the blueprint laid for India@100, we envision a prosperous and inclusive India in which the fruits of development reach all.”
The saying is easier said than done and we as industry understand that it's not a child’s play to run a nation of our magnitude. And we are election-bound – so the interests of both those who lead as well those who are led will have to be combined to deliver a visionary budget – both now in the interim as well as post-elections.
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