ICA-AP Regional Workshop on Enhancing the Role of Women in Cooperative Business 03-07 June, 2013

1. ICA-AP Regional Workshop onEnhancing the Role of Women inCooperative Business03-07 June, 2013 Presented by - K. K. Ravindran Managing Director National Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Banks’ Federation Ltd., Mumbai, India

2. India at a glance • Total population - 1.21 billion • Percentage of world population – 17.5 % • Women population 587 million (48.5%) • Male population 624 million (51.5%) • Human sex ratio – 940 females per 1000 males • Total geographical area – 3,166,414 sq km • Percentage of total area of earth - 2.4 % Source:- Census of India – 2011

3. India at a glance • GDP of India – 1.873 trillion USD (nominal) 4.684 trillion USD (PPP) • Sectoral distribution of GDP Agriculture – 13.9 % Industry – 29.8 % Services – 56.3 % • Work force participation of women Rural sector - 26.1 % Urban sector - 13.8 %

4. India at a glance • Literacy rate - 74.04 %, with male literacy rate at 82.14 % and female at 65.46 % • Universal female literacy in Kerala & Mizoram • Birth rate - 22.22 births/1,000 population • Death rate - 6.4 deaths/1,000 population • Life expectancy – 69.89 years Male – 67.46 years, Female – 72.61 years • Approximately 10% households headed by women • 35% of households below poverty line headed by women.

5. Cooperative movement in India • Formal beginning in 1904 with the enactment of Cooperative Credit Societies Act. • Emergence of PACS as multi purpose cooperatives offering a wide range of services in the rural sector – credit, marketing & storage, consumer & public distribution, leasing of machinery & implements etc. • Today cooperatives constitute an important segment in all sectors of the economy with substantial market share in sectors like agricultural credit & rural finance, sugar, dairy, fertilizers etc.

6. Cooperative movement in India • Number of Cooperatives – 5,50,000 • Membership of Cooperatives – 249.248 million • Villages Covered by Cooperatives – 97 % • National Level Cooperative Federations – 21 • State Level Cooperative Federations – 386 • District Level Cooperative Federations – 3,111 Share of Cooperatives in National Economy • Agricultural Credit Disbursed by Cooperatives – 19 % • Fertiliser Distribution  – 36 % • Sugar Production – 46.6 % • Direct Employment Generation – 1.22 million • Self-employment opportunities generated – 15.47 million

7. Women Empowerment Women’s position in society • In the ancient India women are believed to have occupied high position in the family and society. • However, medieval period in Indian history is marked by certain customs and practices undermining women’s position like child marriage, sati, sexual exploitation of temple women called devadasis, polygamy practiced by Hindu Kshatriyarulers and pardha system brought by Muslim conquerors. • BhakthiMovement in the 14thcentury tried to restore women’s status and questioned many of the oppressive practices. • Sikhism established by GuruNanakin the early 16th century preached equality between men and women and allowed women to lead religious assemblies.

8. Women’s position in society British rule since 18th century brought modern ideas supporting equal rights for women. British Government brought laws to prohibit sati and child marriage and also encouraged women’s education. Constitution of India guarantees to all women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State [Article 15(i)], equality of member (Article 16) and equal pay for equal work [Article 30(d)].

9. Women empowerment Economic • Women empowerment by ensuring equal opportunities in economic and social spheres received high priority in public policy after independence of the country in 1947. • Women involvement in economic activities got a big push through large number of women Self Help Groups since 90’s. • Government of India proposes to set up a National Women Bank this year to be managed by women for financing women enterprises. Political • 50% reservation for women in Panchayat and local self government institutions. • 1/3rd reservation in Parliament proposed.

10. Land and property rights • In most Indian families, women do not have any property in their name and do not get a share of parental property. • There are also laws discriminating against women when it comes to land and property rights. • Hindu Personal Laws of 1956 which is applicable to Hindus, Budhists, Sikhs and Jains give women rights to inheritance. • However, sons had an independent share in the ancestral property while daughters’ share was based on the share received by their father. • Thanks to amendment of Hindu Laws in 2005. Women now have the same right as men to ancestral property.

11. Government passed Muslim Women's (Protection of Rights upon Divorce) Act after Supreme Court verdict of Shah Bano case in 1985 giving them rights to property and maintenance. Christian women still do not have equal rights in divorce and succession though a Bill to provide such rights has been drafted which, however, is yet to be made law.

12. Women in Cooperatives • Equal right for membership in cooperatives. • Constitution (97th amendment) provides for reservation of one seat for woman in the Board of Directors of all cooperatives. • Most of the State Acts have incorporated this provision. • Ownership of resources relevant to the cooperative enterprise is the major constraint. • Active participation in States where, • women have equal right to inherit family property. • rate of literacy and education is comparatively high. • women are increasingly employed in organised sector.

13. Success Stories of Women Cooperatives There are large number of women cooperatives in various States, owned and managed by women and predominantly meant for women. • Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) & SEWA Bank, Ahmedabad , Gujarat. • The Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, Mhaswad, Satara, Maharashtra. • JijamataMahilaSahakari Bank Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra. • SRI Matha Mahila Sahakari Bank, Bangalore, Karnataka. • PratibhaMahilaSahakari Bank, Jalgaon, Maharashtra. • Didi Bank, Jharkhand.

14. Women EmpowermentAgriculture & Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) • ARDBs promote women participation in their management and women entrepreneurship in agriculture & allied activities and Non-farm sectors. • Ownership/possession of land is a necessary condition for membership in ARDBs. Since the title of land is generally in the name of male member of the family, direct membership of women in ARDBs is low compared to other cooperatives. • In spite of the above, the number of women financed by ARDBs has been steadily increasing over the years especially in rural non-farm sector activities. • In 2011-12, ARDBs advanced Rs. 3,676 million to about 28,866 women entrepreneurs in rural sector which accounts for about 10 % of loans issued during the year.

15. Outstanding award winning Success Story of High Tech Green House Project set up by a woman in Punjab (India) The project has generated employment opportunities to the residents of the near by area and playing a very instrumental role in providing employment. Presently 15 persons are employed on regular basis and 40 persons on daily wages.

16. High Tech. Green House Project

17. Thank You