Over the years, women have played a key role in whatever challenges the world has faced. From being frontline workers in a pandemic-ridden world to governing countries through such difficult times, they have been instrumental during the world’s fight against the coronavirus.

On the National Girl Child Day that is celebrated on January 24 every year, we take a look at women who played a key role in India’s fight against the coronavirus. 

In India, at the most basic level are the Anganwadi and ASHA workers and ANMs (Auxiliary nurse midwives), who have selflessly been in the frontline and visited the remotest areas of India to check for any suspected cases of the virus. They also spread the necessary awareness of COVID-19 symptoms and the precautionary guidelines. 

According to a media report, Nivedita Jha, the president of Bihar Mahila Samaj said, “Be it an Anganwadi or ASHA worker, a Jeevika member or an ANM, women have contributed more than ever before in this COVID-19 pandemic. They are now going door-to-door, recording people’s travel history, noting symptoms and, where needed, even helping trace contacts.”

Also Read: All about India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, the world’s largest exercise

Women self-help groups, which existed way before the virus started spreading, picked up a significant pace during the initial pandemic-induced lockdown in India. In this difficult period of isolation, the women SHGs took the reins of over 90% of the districts in India and produced facemasks, ran community kitchens, delivered essential food supplies, sensitised people about health and hygiene and helped combat misinformation.

According to a media report, Gayatri Acharya, the World Bank’s representative for India’s National Rural Livelihood Mission said, “The women’s movement that started as a leap of faith some 15 years ago has proved to be an invaluable resource in these difficult times. Our partnership with the Indian government in building social capital among the rural poor has paid off in spades.”

Women’s participation in solving the crisis dives deep into key governmental positions also. Swati Srivastava, Shanti Gunashekharan, Annam Visala and Rubina Bose are Deputy Drug Controllers of India who worked in close coordination with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for the vaccine rollout.