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The government's 'Har Ghar Jal' initiative has resulted in nearly 9 crorer women moving away from the chore of fetching water on a daily basis and entering the workforce, highlighted a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).
The report also highlighted that the 'Har Ghar Jal' program has effectively reduced the need for women to spend long hours in collecting water from far-fetched areas. Tap water at their doorstep has led to a noticeable shift in their daily routines, enabling them to contribute more to the agricultural workforce. "Har Ghar Jal' has initiated a revolution with an estimated decline in 9 crore female population fetching water from outside premise resulting in significant increase in women participation in Agri & allied activities at all-India level" said the report. The initiative, aimed at providing safe drinking water to households, has saved time for millions of women in the country who previously had to fetch water from outside, allowing them to engage more in agricultural and allied activities. This, in turn, has led to a significant increase in women's participation in agriculture and related activities at the national level. The report further noted that across India, an 8.3 percentage point decline in households fetching water from outside the premises has led to a 7.4 percentage point rise in female participation in agriculture and allied sectors. Most states have witnessed a reduction in the percentage of households depending on external water sources, which has directly contributed to the increase in working women in agriculture. "Barring a few states, in all other states declined in percentage of households fetching water outside premise significantly lead to increase in working females in Agriculture & Allied activities" the report added. However, the report pointed out that states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra have made the most progress, lifting around 10 crore people out of water deprivation over the past decade. The Har Ghar Jal initiative has proven to be a catalyst for social change, empowering women by freeing up their time and allowing them to play a greater role in the economy, particularly in rural areas. This shift not only enhances gender equality but also boosts agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. (ANI)
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