‘Don’t get caught up in jargons’: Nirmala Sitharaman says patriarchy did not stop Indira Gandhi from becoming Prime Minister

While talking about women empowerment in India, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman questioned the claim that patriarchy holds women back from achieving their goals.

Speaking to students at CMS Business School on November 9, Sitharaman emphasized that patriarchy does not necessarily hinder the success of women, citing India’s first female Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an example.

Sitharaman discussed various initiatives taken by the government to promote innovation and create opportunities for youth. He talked about the government’s latest initiative to provide one crore internship opportunities to youth between the ages of 21 and 24, aiming to equip them with skills and increase employability.

When asked about the concept of women empowerment, Sitharaman criticized the Left’s framework of patriarchy and said it was a structure designed to push certain ideologies. “Don’t get caught up in fancy jargon. If you advocate for yourself and present your ideas logically, patriarchy won’t stop you from achieving your dreams,” he advised.

At the same time, he acknowledged that greater support and facilitation for women was needed, emphasizing that there was still room for improvement in the effective empowerment of women.

Regarding innovation in India, FM expressed confidence in the steps taken by the Modi government to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs. “We don’t just support innovation with policies; “At the same time, we ensure that these innovations reach the markets,” he said.

As an example, he drew attention to the support provided to MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), which are given priority in government procurement. Sitharaman explained that 40% of all government procurement now comes from MSMEs, contributing to the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, which now has over 2 lakh startups, including 130 unicorns. He emphasized that despite these advances, the full potential of these opportunities has not yet been realized.

Sitharaman also highlighted India’s ongoing digital banking transformation, noting the success of initiatives such as Jan Dhan Yojana that expand financial inclusion. He explained that government-funded digital infrastructure allows even the most marginalized populations to access banking services without the additional costs often imposed by private players in other countries.

“Technology will need to be constantly updated to ensure we do not become irrelevant,” he said, emphasizing the importance of keeping up with developments.

He also spoke about the ‘Fund of Funds’, a program launched by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) under which the government has donated Rs 10,000 billion to support small businesses and innovative ideas. He said the initiative was supported by private equity funds incentivized by government concessions.

Sitharaman also discussed the government’s plan to offer one crore internship opportunities for youth who may be considered “unemployed” due to lack of skills. He encouraged current students to help spread awareness and bring more young people to the platform so they can gain the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.

(With inputs from PTI)