Women’s Equality Day is annually celebrated on August 26 across the United States of America (USA) to honour the women of America for gaining the constitutional right to vote.
- The day honours the ‘Nineteenth Amendment 1920’ of the constitution of the USA to give equal voting rights to women.
Background:
i.United States Congress Representative Bella Abzug introduced the bill to commemorate the 26th August of every year as Women’s Equality Day in 1971.
ii..In 1973 , the United States Congress and Richard Nixon , the 37th President of the United States formally recognised the 26th August of every year as Women’s Equality Day and issued the first Official proclamation of the day.
About 19th Amendment of USA:
The 19th Amendment of the USA Constitution prohibits the United States and its states from denying the right to vote on account of sex .
About Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index 2022:
i.The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022.
ii.The gender gap is the difference between women and men as reflected in social, political, intellectual, cultural, or economic attainments or attitudes.
- In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.
Rajasthan govt launches ‘Mahila Nidhi’, loan scheme for women entrepreneurs
On 26 August 2022, the Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot launched ‘Mahila Nidhi’, a loan scheme for the social and economic development of women through loans.
- It was launched on the occasion of Women’s Equality Day (26 August).
- Rajasthan became the second state in the country after Telangana, where Mahila Nidhi has been established,
About Mahila Nidhi:
i.The CM announced to establish ‘Mahila Nidhi’ through Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Council in the Rajasthan budget 2022-23.
ii.The scheme provided easy credits to women for business expansion and starting new businesses.
iii.It will provide support to women self-help groups to get loans from banks, increase the income of poor and marginal women, and social and economic progress of women through skill development.
