Indore (Madhya Pradesh): To align with global standards of development, Development Alternatives senior adviser Prof Amitabh Kundu said, India must address the critical issue of unequal empowerment - a reality that starkly contrasts the natural survival advantage of newborn females with the nation’s skewed sex ratio and gender-based disparities in infant mortality.
He made the utterance at a special lecture organised by the School of Economics, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya on Friday. The lecture focused on the theme "Unequal Empowerment: Economic, Social and Gender Dimensions".
Prof Kundu said that a significant step toward rectifying this imbalance and fostering national progress would be the strategic increase in women’s employment, particularly in rural manufacturing.
This approach, he noted, not only grants women economic agency — leading to improved health and education outcomes for their families but also stimulates a strong form of poverty-induced growth.
“By harnessing the full potential of its female population, India can transform a social deficit into an economic driver, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous future,” he said.
Earlier, School of Economics head Prof Kanhaiya Ahuja introduced the theme, particularly emphasising the economic, social and gender dimensions at the core of the discussion.
The session served as a comprehensive platform for discussing critical issues and strategies related to the economic, social and gender dimensions, marking a significant contribution to the discourse on these crucial themes.
