[Answer on women-led grassroots movements in India]

India celebrated the 25th anniversary of CIPFA movement recently, a top woman-led grassroots movement. Women serve as backbone of grassroots movements including: (1) Ecopermission - CHIPKO movement (Brithner community save Harey forest) (2) Feminist agenda - Fight against Husbuja case recent RCi Kar medical college rape (3) Against equal write - Gulabi gang (4) Financial - SNGs, Micro credit AMUL, Lijjat papad

Women remain invisible and excluded. Evidence: (i) Fewer parliamentarians, lack representation - only 14% [ADD] (ii) Proxy positions - Sarpanch pati (leading positions become dummy) (iii) 42% in STEM courses, but only 27% in STEM jobs [World Bank] (iv) Not part of family decisions - only 29% male independent decisions [NFHS-1] (v) Faced with purdah, burga etc. (causes) - (i) Patriarchal mindset - uses control women by to legitimate mens (marriage) & illegitimate mens (rape)

Systemic diminishing of potential - Hold 77% of men [World Bank]. Double chief and cheil burden

Challenges for working women: (w) Women's pees: pigmentation - Mother in law vts daughter in law (vi) Takshism of benefits given to women - Women scheme focused on kitchen. Needful improvements: (i) More representation - 106th Amendment (ii) Asset ownership - PM AWAS Vijaya (iii) Digital inclusion + Financial inclusion - SHER for financial literacy (iv) Gender budgeting. 6.8% p.c.8%