On the occasion of International Women’s Day-2025, Dr. Pankaj Shukla, President of the Association for Sustainable Rural Empowerment (ASRE) and Chairman and Managing Director of Gramya, reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities of women in rural India, with a particular focus on Madhya Pradesh.
Dr. Shukla emphasized that empowering women in rural areas is critical for fostering sustainable development and addressing poverty in these regions. “Women are the true agents of change in rural India. By empowering them, we are not just uplifting individual lives, but we are creating a ripple effect that benefits entire communities and the nation as a whole,” he stated.
Women in rural Madhya Pradesh continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Over 60% of rural women are engaged in agriculture, yet the majority do not own the land they till.
According to the National Family Health Survey, only 13.9% of rural women in Madhya Pradesh have land ownership rights. This lack of land ownership significantly hinders their financial independence, decision-making power, and access to resources. In fact, rural women who do not own land have 40% lower access to financial services and income-generating activities than their male counterparts.
Moreover, despite their crucial role in sustaining the economy, women in rural Madhya Pradesh face alarming rates of gender-based violence and child marriage. Research shows that nearly 30% of girls in Madhya Pradesh are married before the age of 18, and only 40% of rural women have access to secondary education.
Furthermore, the state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in India, with 188 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly double the national average. These challenges not only limit the potential of women but also hinder the broader economic and social development of rural communities.
Gramya, in partnership with ASRE, is working to address these disparities by providing rural women with the tools and resources necessary to succeed. Through various initiatives, the organization is focused on promoting women’s economic empowerment, improving healthcare access, and expanding educational opportunities for girls and young women.
Dr. Shukla emphasized the importance of creating policies that break down the barriers preventing women from fully participating in the economy and leadership roles. He also highlighted the need to tackle the gender pay gap, promote women’s participation in peacebuilding, and increase their access to land ownership, which has been shown to increase agricultural productivity by 25%.
Furthermore, Dr. Shukla pointed to the growing importance of digital literacy and access to technology, noting that many rural women face significant obstacles in these areas. With only 26% of rural women in India having access to the internet, Gramya is focused on ensuring women in these communities can participate in the digital economy.
By providing access to digital tools, rural women can better access education, employment, and business opportunities. He also called for continued efforts to combat violence against women and girls, stressing the need for better legal frameworks and support systems to protect women and help survivors heal.
As part of Gramya’s commitment to rural women’s empowerment, the organization is launching several new initiatives aimed at fostering leadership, entrepreneurship, and financial independence for women in rural Madhya Pradesh.
These include community-based digital literacy programs, leadership training, and a network of women entrepreneurs, aiming to support over 10,000 women across the state by the end of 2025. Dr. Shukla concluded by saying, “When women are empowered, entire communities thrive. The future of India depends on ensuring that women and girls are given equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to society.”
Gramya and ASRE call on all stakeholders—government, private sector, and local communities—to unite in making gender equality a reality and to continue working together for a brighter, more inclusive future for women and girls in rural India.
