Role of Women Professionals in Achieving Viksit Bharat @2047: Special Emphasis on Veterinary and Agricultural Sectors
Shyma K.P.
Associate Professor
Department of Veterinary Parasitology,
Bihar Veterinary College
Bihar Animal Sciences University
Patna, Bihar-800014
Introduction
The vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, articulated by the Government of India, envisages transforming the nation into a developed, inclusive, resilient, and self-reliant economy by the centenary of Independence. This ambitious goal rests on accelerated economic growth, social equity, environmental sustainability, scientific innovation, and robust institutional frameworks. At the heart of this transformation lies a powerful yet often under-recognized force: women professionals.
India’s demographic dividend, cultural diversity, and expanding knowledge economy can yield sustainable development only when women participate as equal partners in nation-building. Women professionals contribute not merely as beneficiaries of development but as architects of change, shaping policies, advancing science, nurturing institutions, and strengthening grassroots systems. Among various sectors, agriculture and veterinary sciences stand out as foundational pillars of India’s economy, rural livelihoods, food security, public health, and environmental sustainability. The role of women veterinarians and women agricultural professionals is therefore pivotal in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat.
This article explores the multidimensional contributions of women professionals, with special emphasis on the veterinary sector, while also highlighting their critical role in agriculture. It underscores how empowering women professionals is not a matter of social justice alone but a strategic necessity for national development.
Women Professionals as Catalysts of Inclusive and Sustainable Development
Women professionals bring distinctive strengths to the development process, including empathy, multitasking ability, ethical leadership, community orientation, and long-term vision. Across sectors such as education, healthcare, science, administration, entrepreneurship, and technology, women have demonstrated their capacity to lead transformative change.
In the context of Viksit Bharat @2047, women professionals contribute to:
- Human capital developmentthrough education, training, and mentorship
- Economic growthby increasing workforce participation and productivity
- Social equityby advocating inclusive policies and grassroots engagement
- Innovation and researchthrough interdisciplinary and applied approaches
- Governance and institution-buildingthrough transparent and people-centric leadership
Despite persistent challenges such as gender bias, work-life imbalance, and underrepresentation in leadership positions, Indian women professionals continue to break barriers and redefine excellence. Their role becomes even more critical in sectors directly linked to rural India, where development must be inclusive, sustainable, and locally relevant.
Agriculture and Livestock: Pillars of India’s Developmental Journey
Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, supporting nearly half of the population and contributing significantly to national GDP. Closely intertwined with agriculture is the livestock sector, which provides nutrition, income, employment, draught power, and insurance against crop failure. Livestock contributes substantially to agricultural GDP and plays a decisive role in poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment.
Women are deeply embedded in agricultural and livestock production systems. They perform a significant proportion of farm operations, animal care, milking, feeding, fodder collection, and processing of animal products. However, their contributions often remain unpaid, unrecognized, and under-documented. Women professionals in agriculture and veterinary sciences bridge this gap by combining scientific knowledge with grassroots realities.
Women in Agriculture: From Farm Participation to Professional Leadership
Women agricultural professionals- agronomists, soil scientists, plant breeders, extension specialists, agricultural economists, and rural development experts- are playing an increasingly important role in transforming Indian agriculture.
Their contributions include improving crop productivity through climate-resilient technologies, promoting sustainable farming practices, enhancing soil health, reducing chemical dependency, and strengthening value chains. Women extension professionals often connect more effectively with farm women, ensuring better adoption of technologies and practices at the household level.
In the context of Viksit Bharat @2047, women agricultural professionals are instrumental in advancing:
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Nutritional security through diversified farming
- Natural and organic farming systems
- Agri-entrepreneurship and value addition
- Digital agriculture and precision farming
Their leadership ensures that agricultural development is not only technologically advanced but also socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Veterinary Sector: A Strategic Domain for National Development
The veterinary sector occupies a unique position at the intersection of animal health, human health, food safety, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. In a country with one of the largest livestock populations in the world, veterinary professionals are indispensable to achieving national goals related to nutrition, employment, and public health.
Women veterinarians contribute across diverse domains including animal disease diagnosis and control, livestock production, breeding, nutrition, extension, research, teaching, administration, and policy formulation. Their role is particularly crucial in addressing emerging challenges such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change impacts on livestock, and biosecurity threats.
Women Veterinarians: Strengthening Animal Health and Rural Livelihoods
Women veterinarians are increasingly visible in government services, academic institutions, research organizations, and private practice. Their presence has transformed veterinary service delivery, especially in rural and peri-urban areas.
Through disease surveillance, vaccination programs, and herd health management, women veterinarians contribute to improving livestock productivity and reducing economic losses for farmers. Their empathetic approach often enhances farmer trust, particularly among rural women livestock keepers who may hesitate to interact with male professionals.
In achieving Viksit Bharat @2047, women veterinarians play a critical role in:
- Enhancing milk, meat, and egg production
- Improving reproductive efficiency and genetic potential of livestock
- Reducing mortality and morbidity through preventive healthcare
- Strengthening farmer income and livelihood resilience
Contribution of Women Veterinarians to Food and Nutritional Security
Livestock-derived foods such as milk, meat, eggs, and fish are essential sources of high-quality protein, micronutrients, and vitamins. Women veterinarians contribute directly to nutrition security by improving animal productivity, ensuring food safety, and reducing post-harvest losses.
Their involvement in quality control, residue monitoring, hygienic milk production, and meat inspection safeguards public health. In a country grappling with malnutrition and hidden hunger, the veterinary sector- guided by women professionals, becomes a cornerstone of nutritional well-being.
Women Veterinarians and the One Health Approach
The One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is central to India’s future development strategy. Women veterinarians are natural leaders in operationalizing One Health due to their interdisciplinary training and community-oriented outlook.
They contribute to controlling zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis, rabies, tuberculosis, avian influenza, and emerging parasitic and vector-borne diseases. Their role in surveillance, diagnostics, and awareness generation is critical for national biosecurity and pandemic preparedness.
In the journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047, women veterinarians strengthen:
- Public health systems
- Disease preparedness and response
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Environmental health and biodiversity conservation
Women in Veterinary Education, Research, and Innovation
Women veterinarians as educators and researchers shape the future workforce and generate knowledge essential for national progress. Their contributions in teaching ensure capacity building of students with scientific competence, ethical values, and societal commitment.
In research, women veterinarians contribute to advancements in parasitology, microbiology, pathology, genetics, nutrition, biotechnology, and epidemiology. Their work supports evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and technological self-reliance- key pillars of Viksit Bharat.
By mentoring young scientists, especially women students, they create a multiplier effect that accelerates national development.
Leadership and Policy Advocacy by Women Professionals
Women professionals in veterinary and agricultural sectors are increasingly assuming leadership roles as administrators, deans, directors, policymakers, and professional society office-bearers. Their participation in decision-making ensures that policies are grounded in field realities and social equity.
Women leaders advocate for farmer-centric schemes, gender-sensitive extension services, animal welfare legislation, and sustainable development goals. Their ethical leadership strengthens institutional credibility and public trust.
Entrepreneurship and Self-Reliance: Women Driving Atmanirbhar Bharat
Women professionals contribute significantly to Atmanirbhar Bharat, an integral component of Viksit Bharat @2047. In agriculture and veterinary sectors, women-led enterprises in dairy processing, feed production, diagnostics, vaccine development, organic farming, and agri-startups generate employment and innovation.
By supporting women farmers and self-help groups, women professionals enable grassroots entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.
Challenges Faced by Women Professionals
Despite remarkable progress, women professionals continue to face challenges including gender stereotypes, unequal access to leadership opportunities, infrastructure constraints, and work-life balance issues. Addressing these challenges through supportive policies, institutional reforms, mentorship programs, and societal sensitization is essential to fully harness their potential.
Way Forward: Empowering Women for Viksit Bharat @2047
Achieving Viksit Bharat @2047 requires a holistic approach that places women professionals at the centre of development. Strengthening education, research funding, leadership training, and professional networks for women in agriculture and veterinary sciences will yield long-term dividends.
Investing in women professionals is not merely an act of empowerment; it is an investment in national prosperity, resilience, and sustainability.
Conclusion
The vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 cannot be realized without the active, visible, and empowered participation of women professionals. Women veterinarians and agricultural professionals stand at the frontline of rural transformation, food security, public health, and sustainable development. Their scientific expertise, leadership, compassion, and commitment make them indispensable architects of India’s future.
As a woman veterinarian, one embodies not only professional excellence but also the spirit of service, resilience, and nation-building. By recognizing, supporting, and amplifying the role of women professionals, India moves closer to its dream of becoming a developed, inclusive, and globally respected nation by 2047.
