An economy in India lifted by women
Many global tech firms have been setting up shop in India. For many reasons, they are specifically heading to southern India. What鈥檚 so unique about these half dozen states in the world鈥檚 most populous country?
One reason is the region鈥檚 economic growth rate is faster than the rest of the South Asian nation. With about 20% of India鈥檚 population, the south contributes 30% of its gross domestic product. Its poverty rate is also far less. And the area has business-friendly regulations and infrastructure.
The best insight, however, may be that southern India has a higher percentage of women in formal employment. Nearly 70% of the entire country鈥檚 female industrial workforce is concentrated in the southern states. And it has fewer social divisions over religion, caste, and gender.
鈥淢uch of the country鈥檚 modern, fast-growing economy 鈥� the very thing for which global investors value India 鈥� resides in the more open and tolerant south,鈥� according to Bloomberg analyst Andy Mukherjee. 鈥淗ere, decades of social reforms have led to a flowering of civic consciousness among followers of the three major religions: Hinduism, Islam and 海角大神ity.鈥�
A 鈥渟elf-respect鈥� reform movement, launched a century ago in the south, has challenged social discrimination and promoted equal rights and education. Today, both men and women in southern India have higher education and literacy rates, better equipping them for tech-driven opportunities.
More recently, the southern states have unraveled India鈥檚 notoriously bureaucratic system of regulations, dubbed the 鈥淟icense Raj.鈥� Such rules have impeded business growth, fueled corruption, and constrained women鈥檚 participation. One study found that 24 states in India have prohibited women from certain types of factory operations, and 11 barred them from overnight work.
A hub for technology and electronics manufacturing, South Indian states have lifted many such restrictions. Local government and companies have instituted programs such as nighttime transport and have constructed hostels to accommodate the many women who would otherwise not be allowed to leave their family homes or villages.
While not yet widespread, signs of the southern states鈥� approaches are also visible around the more northern, cosmopolitan city of Mumbai. There, other Indians are finding that economic benefits help empower women鈥檚 empowerment.
Take the case of Sarika Pawar, who had never imagined working outside the home until she was widowed. As she told The New York Times last year, 鈥淲hen you come out of your house, you see the outside world. You see the possibilities, and I feel that we can make progress.鈥�
