Addressing the Issues of Half Population and Economic Development in India

Right from our birth we remember our mother whenever there is a pain of any kind. Our mother is not there, she is in heaven but hardly a single day passed when we do not remember our mother. This is true at least in our country without any discrimination on the lines of caste, education, religion, region, occupation, socio-economic status, language etc. The beauty of a mother is that she does not expect in return from her children, although she has made several sacrifices for the welfare of the family. These services are unilateral like transfer payments in national income accounting. Her services are considered voluntary (out of love, blessings, affection, and duty) that is why they are taken for granted. These are considered as non- economic activities and are not counted in GDP. Of course, they are valuable. In normal times they look after their small farms, manage their cattle and other livestock. They contribute to agriculture operations, they are also small manufacturers doing weaving, garments making or embroidery. All domestic services are rendered by them right from cooking to child care. We have several pen portraits of struggle and deprivation a million times and one gets to see the invisible face of hunger and that is really a face of woman from the most disadvantageous section of the society. They are poor and poverty has its multi-dimensional approach. Some women volunteers and NGOs are there to help. They talk about women empowerment, gender sensitization, inclusive growth, women education, awareness etc. Several Institutions and Agencies Government and Non-Government and persons have come on the Scene but still much has to be done for the development of Women. Dr Raghuvansh Parsad who died at the age of 74 was the teacher of Mathematics but was quite aware of ground realities of India and he was the person, who did a lot as a Minister of Rural Development.