National Women’s Day and our Environment

By – Dr. N. Munal Meitei
13th February is celebrated as the National Women’s Day in India to mark the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu in 1879, serves as a crucial moment to recognize women’s empowerment, gender equality and their vital role in environmental stewardship. Known as the “Nightingale of India,” Sarojini Naidu was a gifted national leader, a freedom fighter, a celebrated poet and a pioneering activist whose life inspires the ongoing efforts to empower Indian women. Indian women are often custodians of natural resources, playing crucial roles in conservation, agriculture and climate resilience, making their empowerment essential for a sustainable, “Swachh Bharat”.
National Women’s Day intersects with the environment. In the early 1960s, women and their connection with the environment was sparked by Ester Boserup’s book Woman’s Role in Economic Development. Starting in the 1980s, policy makers and governments became more mindful of the connection between the environment and gender issues. Women play an essential role in the management of natural resources, including soil, water, forests and often have a profound traditional and contemporary knowledge of the natural world around them.
Whereas women were previously neglected or ignored, there has increased in attention to the impact of women on the natural environment and, in return, the effects the environment on the health and well-being of women. During pregnancy and motherhood, their health is more at risk.During the Progressive Era signaled a shift towards greater recognition of women’s capabilities and contributions outside the home, even though societal expectations still prioritized women’s roles as wives and mothers.
Women, supporting 48.44% of the country’s 1.47 billion people are the important activists, educators, and public health and environmental conservation advocates. Women are the primary caregivers for their families and homes; their involvement in the environmental movement expanded the influence of women outside the home and into the public sphere of environmental activism, challenging traditional gender roles.
Eco feminism, integrates feminism and political ecology which analyze relationships between humans and the natural world, may be seen as a root ideology for women, environment and development. This ideology has transformed into the political sphere as women having a socially constructed connection with nature through global systems.
In India, women are at the forefront of environmental conservation, playing a critical role in addressing climate change through adaptation, mitigation and response strategies. Women farmers, particularly in rural areas, are crucial for agricultural sustainability, with states like Maharashtra having high participation of women in farming.
Women are often the backbone of community-based initiatives, such as afforestation and other forestry activities. Women are driving force in sustainability, including initiatives to reduce stubble burning and manage waste for a greener future. While driving solutions, women and girls, especially in rural communities, bear the brunt of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
The climate crisis is not gender-neutral; Indian women, particularly in agriculture& forestry, suffer disproportionately from environmental disasters and water scarcity. Investing in women’s education, financial inclusion under Jan Dhan Yojana and StartUp India initiatives, and health, directly strengthens a community’s capacity to build climate resilience.
Women are often the first to feel the impact of environmental degradation. In rural India, women spend hours walking to collect water and firewood, directly experiencing the effects of climate change and deforestation. This lived experience has transformed them into powerful advocates for the environment. Historically, movements like the Chipko -where women hugged trees to prevent them from being cut -demonstrated that women’s empowerment and environmental protection are inextricably linked. Women often lead in household waste management, biodiversity preservation, and adoption of eco-friendly practices, driving grassroots environmental action.
In today’s society, both men and women are working tirelessly to drive the economy forward. In recent years the number of women working in different fields has also increased including agriculture, manufacturing, industrial sector, service sector and many more. According to a report by Statista, 64.3% of the agricultural workers and 11.1% of the manufacturing workers are women.
Now, the government launched many schemes, initiatives and policies to empower our female farmers and for the betterment of their financial conditions. Some of the policies and schemes are Mahila Kisan Yojana, Mahila kisan Sashaktikaran Yojana, Namo Drone Didi initiative and Lakhpati Didi scheme. Indian Government and some non-profitable organizations also set up awards assigned for women such as Nari Shakti Puraskar, Mahila Kisan Awards and Women Farmer of the Year Award etc.
With India aiming for a $30 trillion economy by 2047, women’s participation is not just a diversity goal -it’s an economic imperative. While progress is evident, the real challenge remains at their workplaces and with domestic violences. The Economic Survey 2023-24 shows progress -female labour force participation rose from 23.3% (2017-18) to 37% (2022-23), thanks to improved education, skill development and empowerment initiatives.
Women participation in the Government of India’s flagship programs is revolutionizing social change in rural India. Millions of women have switched to using LPG gas distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to lower their dependence on polluting fossil fuels for cooking; ‘Rani Mistris’ have breached the traditional male bastion to construct millions of toilets in rural India; even as women across the country are mobilizing communities to rationally use tap water provided under the Har Ghar Jal program for sanitation and water conservation.
National Women’s Day, the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu is not merely about the pivotal role and the indispensable relation of women in shaping society but recognizing that a sustainable future requires women to be leaders in social and environmental protection. By empowering women, the nation directly invests in a resilient, greener and more equitable future. Women in India, particularly in rural areas, are the primary managers of natural resources, making them the silent backbone of our environmental preservation.
(The author is Environmentalist, presently working as DFO/Chandel, [email protected])