Yet another year of the new century is about to close in a few days and as usual, observers of the social and economic scene in India, are busy wrapping up the year's gain and losses — especially for Indian women, who most certainly form one of the fastest changing communities in the world today.

More Indian women are working to earn their own incomes than ever before. More are educated and aware of the events unfolding around them than ever before. In short, they are equal citizens who realise their power and want to participate fully in shaping the future of India as it gears up for unprecedented growth in the coming years. "The past five or six years have seen fantastic economic growth in India," says Neela Mehta, a fund house manager, "At least in urban India, women seem to have forgotten their earlier insecurity in employment, in ownership of assets, in building their personal wealth and in their position in society and family. They are confident decision makers in their homes as well as at their workplaces. Millions of women are in the employment market. India has  not only one of largest female workforces in the world, but also the second highest number of women entrepreneurs."

The picture in rural or small town India is also changing at a faster rate than before. The reach of the media — chiefly satellite television — has created a kind of common 'want or wish' culture throughout the country. Banks across the board offer small and big loans to women to achieve a better life. The incredibly-designed ads on television and in print media, which are specifically aimed at rural or small town women, are increasing impressively, reflecting the proliferating female consumer base in the country. One drive into the countryside shows that college girls in rural areas now carry cell phones and walk to their destinations with more confidence and self assurance. Though crimes against women have increased, there is more security and more progress.

Proud events
This being the general scenario, it is but natural that 2007 has thrown up several proud events for women. First and foremost, the year is to be marked with gold letters in the history of Indian women because the first lady President, the constitutional head of the nation, was elected this year. Pratibha Patil, a quiet politician of the Congress Party, who has held several assignments for decades, finally achieved the highest office of the nation by reaching the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi.

This, in addition to the fact that last year, the US Forbes Magazine nominated Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Congress Party, as the third most powerful woman in the world. Yet another woman who made scintillating news in politics was Mayawati, who swept the polls in Uttar Pradesh and then trained her eyes on the whole of India by holding massive rallies in Delhi, Mumbai and other prominent cities. Mayawati's phenomenal win in the state elections meant that a woman can now count on achieving the highest power even in states that are notorious for their macho attitudes. Sheila Dixit, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Jayalalitha, Mamta Bannerjee and many others held on to their political leadership and made waves for one reason or the other.

Economic sphere
In the economic sphere, too, Indian women marked the pages of recent history during 2007 with golden dots. Rani Jadhav, a quiet, reticent woman from the IAS, took office as the first-ever chairperson of India's biggest port authority — the Mumbai Port Trust, proving that an Indian woman can handle a volatile job with total efficiency. In Mumbai too, the glittering financial capital of India, Shubha Raul became the Mayor, proving once again that women can hold their own in any job.

Shubha is one among a million women who wield power in India's local self government bodies. All such bodies presently have an impressive number of women. This is because the Constitution of India reserves 33 per cent of the seats in all local bodies and municipalities for women. According to UNICEF reports, this ensures that Indian women are able to participate in civic governance and innovate sure-fire methods to ensure a better life for rural communities, especially women and children. At the moment more than one million women are holding such political positions in India.

Admitting over one million women into the sphere of governance has been hailed as India's pioneering experiment, the first of its kind in the world. It is hoped that in time, this would not only bring about faster change in the sprawling countryside of India, but also improve the representative structure of Parliament.

Worldwide success
In other fields too, Indian women have notched international successes. Indira Nooyi, CEO of Pepsico has been named one of most powerful women in business. Nearer home, Kiran Muzumdar Shaw of Biotech has been named the richest woman in India. Sulajja Firodia Motwani is the managing director of Kinetic Motor Co. Kiran Desai has won the Man Booker Award for her book 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Sunita Williams has become a name to be reckoned with by travelling in space. In India as well as many other countries, women are ruling financial institutions. Our own Naina Lal Kidwai, Chanda Kochar, Lalita Gupte and many others are examples. Kiran Bedi was appointed the Director General of the Directorate of Police Research & Development.

In the media, women film-makers and script writers have brought a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. This year, Bollywood has proved that a woman director-choreographer and that too a pregnant one, can create a film that beats even Hollywood films in the money stakes.

Farah Khan, director of Om Shanti Om, has proved that she can fetch unprecedented profits for a film written and directed by a woman!

It has been said that all the power a woman can have is no use without money!  Here too, there are rays of hope. A recent survey of HNWI (high net worth individuals) by Meryll Lynch Financial Advisory Services in the Asia Pacific region declared that there has been a rise of 19.3 per cent in the number of people whose personal wealth exceeds $ 1 million — they now number 83,000. The survey said that India has now emerged as the fastest growing wealth creator in the Asia-Pacific area and that of its high net worth individuals, almost 17 per cent are women!

Governance

These are impressive achievements by any standards. But does the woman's presence in the political, economic and social power structures of India benefit us? How can they help to change India? International research says that more women in governance ensure a much better deal for children. Education, health, childcare, facilities for growth in family life and provision of equal opportunities are important for women. 

Three years away from completing the first decade of the 21st century, Indian women are poised to stand tall and pull along their less fortunate sisters, who are lagging behind in the race towards self reliance, economic freedom and equal rights with dignity.

The year 2007 has been good and 2008 will be even better, say Indian women!