A Deep Dive into How India’s Groundbreaking Schemes are Uplifting Women at Every Stage of Life and the policies fueling education, entrepreneurship, and long-term security
By Surya Pillai
For decades, women and girls in India lived within a system that offered limited access, limited mobility, limited education, limited financial security—and almost no formal recognition of their contributions. Progress was slow even in Tier 1 cities; in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, the constraints were even more severe.
The women-centric schemes introduced by the Indian government were not born out of luxury—they were born out of necessity. These policies now form one of the world’s most extensive empowerment frameworks, addressing girl child education, safety, healthcare, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, financial independence, and long-term social security.
To understand the scale of progress, it is essential to look at where Indian women stood before these interventions.
Before the Schemes: The Reality Women Lived With
Prior to targeted government initiatives, especially in rural and semi-urban regions, women faced deeply embedded structural limitations:
High dropout rates among girls, with early marriage disrupting education.
Unpaid or low-paid labour dominating women’s employment.
Little to no access to banking services, credit, or formal financial systems.
Widows and elderly women depending entirely on families for survival.
No retirement savings or safety nets, and minimal access to institutional healthcare.
The issue was never a lack of talent or ambition—it was the absence of systems.
Over the past decade, this narrative has been rewritten through dedicated, large-scale government schemes specifically designed to uplift women at every life stage.
Major Government Schemes for Women: A Holistic Breakdown
1. Girls’ Education and Safety Schemes
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
Created to correct India’s declining child sex ratio and emphasise girls’ education, BBBP has strengthened enrolment, reduced dropout rates, and elevated public awareness about the value of the girl child.
CBSE UDAAN Scheme
Provides free engineering entrance coaching to girl students, encouraging higher participation in STEM and technical fields.
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)
Offers financial assistance to encourage secondary education for girls, especially from SC/ST communities, reducing early marriage risks.
Nirbhaya Fund
Supports large-scale safety infrastructure including panic buttons, CCTV networks, safe city projects, and 24×7 women’s helplines.
Together, these schemes dismantle the old barriers of restricted access, unsafe mobility, and educational disadvantage.
2. Financial Inclusion & Entrepreneurship Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
One of the world’s biggest financial inclusion initiatives—bringing millions of women into formal banking for the first time.
Stand-Up India Scheme
Offers loans between ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to women entrepreneurs, helping them scale businesses previously limited by lack of collateral.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
Empowers women-led microbusinesses—tailoring units, beauty services, food ventures, handicrafts, small retail, and more—with collateral-free loans.
Mahila E-Haat
A digital marketplace enabling women entrepreneurs to sell products directly to consumers, expanding demand and profitability.
STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women)
Provides training in agriculture, livestock, crafts, textiles, hospitality, and other sectors to enhance employability.
A decade ago, a talented woman without collateral had no pathway to entrepreneurship. Today, she has opportunity—and independence.
3. Health, Nutrition & Safety Nets for Women
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
Promotes institutional deliveries, significantly reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Provides maternity benefits to support pregnant and lactating mothers.
POSHAN Abhiyaan
Addresses malnutrition, anaemia, and low health indicators among women and children using technology-driven nutrition monitoring.
Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)
Provides free health coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family annually, improving access to quality care for crores of women.
One Stop Centres (Sakhi Centres)
Offer immediate medical, legal, psychological, and shelter support to women facing violence.
Healthcare that was once inaccessible and unaffordable is now supported by robust public systems.
4. Savings & Retirement Schemes for Long-Term Security
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
One of the highest-interest, safest savings schemes for the girl child, ensuring long-term financial security.
National Social Assistance Programme (Widow Pension)
Provides essential pensions to widows without financial support.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Encourages low-income women to build retirement savings through small monthly contributions.
These schemes bridge one of the biggest historical gaps—lifelong financial vulnerability.
Where Indian Women Stand Today: A Visible Transformation
The cumulative impact of these initiatives is clear:
More girls in school than ever before
Higher female enrolment in STEM and professional courses
Rapid rise in women-owned micro and small enterprises
Increased digital literacy among women
Improved maternal health outcomes
More women owning assets and property
Wider access to credit, bank accounts, and formal financial services
Women who once relied on others to survive are now building their own safety nets and shaping their futures.
The Road Ahead: Why Continued Momentum Matters
Despite immense progress, challenges remain:
Wage gaps and uneven employment opportunities
Persistent safety concerns
Limited mobility and infrastructure in rural areas
Low representation of women in leadership and governance
Schemes can create infrastructure—but society must transform mindsets.
Women’s empowerment is not a coincidence. It is a consequence of policy, perseverance, education, and a national vision that recognises:
When women rise, the whole economy rises.
Conclusion: A New India, Powered by Women
India’s future looks more promising as its women stand taller than ever before. The last decade of women-centric schemes has laid strong foundations—systems that acknowledge their potential, protect their rights, and promote their ambitions.
She rises—and these schemes are the ladders lifting her at every stage of life.