If we consider only TN’s population, the %age of women out of the total manufacturing workforce would be way higher, and definitely higher than 60%.
And I say that this is wild because even in China, women in the manufacturing work floor make for 45% of all headcount!
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And this isn't by accident.
The state has for long had policies which incentivise industries to employ women, including subsidies for training and infrastructure.
And then, there is the 'Thozhi' hostel scheme run by Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women providing safe and affordable accommodations for working women near industrial clusters.
Parallely, the state also spends ~Rs 3k crore a year to ensure free bus travel support for women.
These alleviate two of the major barriers to women's employment - mobility and safety 🙌🙌
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Parallely, the state also runs a scheme called Pudhumai Penn which benefits girls studying in Govt run and aided schools in three ways.
1> Monthly basic income from Class 6th onwards until the completion of undergraduate, diploma, or ITI courses
2> Given these girls come from financially weak households, that income ensures girls are not a liability on the household, removing hurdles to their higher education, and also delaying marriage
3> And in many cases, these girls, not having been a liability for years, end up also earning and often supporting the family with their wedding expenses
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But, actually, all the things I mentioned are an outcome of societal upbringing 🙌🙌
-> From the inception of the Dravidian movement in the early 20th century, the state has been a leader in women’s education and employment
-> This cultural legacy continues to influence TN's policies, making it a beacon for gender equality in the workforce within India
Consider Maharashtra and Gujarat. Women account for just 11% and 6% of women on the manufacturing floor.
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And this has also led to follow-on employment.
With women working outside, there's been a noticeable increase in demand for domestic help, creating jobs for others and distributing economic benefits further into society.
This has not only made women's employment more sustainable but has also boosted the local economy.
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And the impact on per capita income is evident 🙌🙌
TN ’s per capita income (~Rs 2.4 lakh in FY24), is among the highest in India - 4.5x of Bihar’s and 3x of UP’s.
Increased earning potential of women in TN lifts the stat, also driving up household incomes, spend on education, health, food and discretionaries.
Result? The state’s growing only faster, despite being at a much higher base.
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