{"id":2342,"date":"2025-09-10T06:14:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T06:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2342"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:53:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T18:53:36","slug":"role-of-women-and-womens-organization-brics-and-instc-indian-diaspora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/role-of-women-and-womens-organization-brics-and-instc-indian-diaspora\/","title":{"rendered":"Role of Women and Women\u2019s Organization & BRICS, and INSTC, Indian Diaspora"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

1. “Despite claims of \u2018Nari Shakti\u2019 and women-led development, women in India continue to face violence in the domestic sphere and invisibilisation of their unpaid work. Discuss.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syllabus:<\/strong>
General Studies I: Role of Women and Women\u2019s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The slogan of \u201cNari Shakti\u201d<\/em><\/strong> and claims of women-led development<\/em><\/strong> contrast sharply with the ground realities of women\u2019s lives in India. Violence within homes and invisibilisation of unpaid work remain pressing challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Domestic Violence:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFHS-5<\/strong> reveals that 30% of women<\/strong> report intimate partner violence, but only 14% approach police<\/strong>. Cultural pressures force women to remain in abusive marriages, normalising violence in the domestic sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Dowry Deaths:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 2017\u20132022<\/strong>, about 35,000 women died due to dowry-related burnings<\/strong> (~7,000 per year), exposing the persistence of regressive practices despite legal prohibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Unpaid Domestic Work:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time Use Survey 2024<\/strong>: 93% of women<\/strong> spend 7 hours daily on unpaid household chores, while 70% of men do none<\/strong>. This creates a double burden for women, limiting leisure, rest, and self-development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Caregiving Responsibilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

41% of women<\/strong> perform unpaid caregiving work (2.5 hours daily), compared to 21% of men<\/strong> (~1 hour).This reinforces gendered stereotypes and reduces women\u2019s participation in paid employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Lack of Policy Recognition:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASHA, anganwadi, and mid-day meal workers<\/strong> are labelled as volunteers<\/em> and paid honorariums, not minimum wages.Their essential services in health and child care remain undervalued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Economic Loss:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SBI (2023)<\/strong> estimated unpaid domestic work by women equals 7% of India\u2019s GDP<\/strong>, highlighting its invisible but crucial contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Cultural and Ideological Barriers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition to criminalising marital rape<\/strong> in the name of \u201cIndian culture\u201d reflects regressive attitudes Such ideologies perpetuate women\u2019s subordination in both the home and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Way Forward:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1. Strengthen Legal Safeguards
<\/strong>Ensure strict implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
Example:<\/strong> Fast-track courts for dowry deaths and domestic violence cases, like the Nirbhaya fast-track courts<\/strong> for sexual offences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Criminalisation of Marital Rape
<\/strong>Recognise marital rape as a crime to uphold women\u2019s dignity and bodily autonomy.
Example<\/strong>: Many countries such as the UK and South Africa<\/strong> have criminalised marital rape, showing India lags behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Recognition of Unpaid Work
<\/strong>Time Use Surveys should inform policies to account for unpaid care work in national income.
Example:<\/strong> State Bank of India (2023)<\/strong> estimated unpaid work by women could equal 7% of GDP (\u20b922.5 lakh crore annually)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Equal Pay and Labour Rights
<\/strong>Treat ASHA, Anganwadi, and Mid-day Meal workers<\/strong> as government employees with minimum wages.
Example:<\/strong> In Kerala<\/strong>, Anganwadi workers receive higher honorariums and social security benefits compared to other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Gender-sensitive Public Services
<\/strong>Expand universal childcare and elderly care facilities.
Example:<\/strong> Iceland and Scandinavian countries<\/strong> provide state-supported childcare, enabling higher female workforce participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Cultural Transformation
<\/strong>Launch campaigns encouraging men to share domestic work.
Example: \u201cShare the Load\u201d campaign by Ariel (India)<\/strong> challenged gender stereotypes in household chores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Empowerment through Representation
<\/strong>Ensure effective implementation of the Women\u2019s Reservation Act, 2023<\/strong> in legislatures and Panchayati Raj institutions.
Example:<\/strong> Women sarpanches in states like Rajasthan and Bihar<\/strong> have demonstrated positive governance outcomes in health, sanitation, and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Examine how South-South cooperation, platforms such as BRICS, and projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) can reshape the global order in favour of the Global South.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syllabus: <\/strong>
General Studies II : Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India\u2019s interests, Indian Diaspora.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Western-led global order is increasingly facing crises of legitimacy and effectiveness. In this backdrop, the Global South is asserting greater agency through collective platforms. Initiatives like South-South cooperation, BRICS, and INSTC<\/strong> reflect this shift. They aim to build a more multipolar and equitable international system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Countering Western Dominance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRICS challenges the monopoly of Western powers in global finance, technology, and governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong> New Development Bank<\/strong> offers alternatives to IMF\/World Bank<\/strong> loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Promoting Multipolarity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collective platforms like BRICS enlarge the strategic space for Global South countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example:<\/strong> BRICS expansion in 2023<\/strong> includes energy-rich<\/strong> and emerging economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Economic Independence through Connectivity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)<\/strong> reduces dependence on Western-controlled trade routes. Links India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia \u2192 enhancing resilience of regional economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. De-dollarisation and Financial Sovereignty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRICS promotes local currency trade, reducing reliance on the US dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example<\/strong>: India\u2013Russia oil trade increasingly settled in rupee\/dirham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Technological and Developmental Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

South-South exchanges foster indigenous science, technology, and knowledge sharing.
Example:<\/strong> India\u2019s IT and digital payment systems<\/strong> aiding African countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Strategic Autonomy & Regional Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooperation strengthens sovereignty against external interventions.
Example:<\/strong> Iran resisting unilateral sanctions; India maintaining independent foreign policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Cultural and Civilisational Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient civilisations like India and Iran provide values of peace, diversity, and sustainability. These can shape a more humane and inclusive world order. Combining economic projects INSTC<\/strong>,financial initiatives BRICS, NDB, de-dollarisation<\/strong>, and civilisational values<\/strong>, the Global South can move towards a multipolar, participatory and just international system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n