Women contribute substantially to economy: experts

Kolkata, Mar 7 (UNI) The occasion could not have been more opportune for discussing the "contribution of women to socio-economic change in India" than on the eve of women's day.

The discussion was organised by 'Pragati,' the ladies wing of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI).

Addressing the conference, UBI's executive director Sunanda Lahiri said in the present day, women are actively participating in all fields of life and contributing substantially to the economy as a whole. Out of 17.8 lakh crores of GDP, the contribution of women is 3 lakh crores, she added emphasing on the role of women towards the economic growth of the country.

Though women are independent and successful in different activities of the society but in certain sectors they still face disparity. While 37.7 per cent of the work force in agricultural sector is women, their contribution in male dominated sectors like finance, real estate and banking is still meagre, she added.

When asked about UBI's plan of introducing new schemes for women, she said the bank had already introduced a scheme called "Nari Sankalp Prakalp" in 2006. Under the scheme, individual working woman or a house wife jointly with her husband, working son, daughter having regular income is offered a credit line (term loan) for buying gold ornaments, diamonds, precious stones for individual use or any other consumer durables or household goods from a single dealer or more in one or more strokes within a period of three months from the date of sanction.

She also added that there is less risk involved when lending money to women borrowers.

Economics Professor Ishita Mukherjee said until women in rural sector had the access to information and credit they can not prosper.

Renowned elocutionist Bratati Bandopadhyay, who peppered her speech by reciting peoms, said women should not be treated as beneficiary but as a participant in the economic developement.

Other speakers present on the occassion were president of BNCCI Shanta Ghosh, assistant editor of a Bengali daily Swati Bhattacharya.

UNI