Gold held by Indian women! Is it of any use?

I’ve been reading a lot today about how Indian women hold an immense amount of gold. It made me wonder – does this actually help the economy in any way? From what I understand, most of this gold sits in cupboards and is only taken out for special occasions or emergencies. So, in a way, it feels like a non-productive asset. But I’ve also heard about gold loans and schemes like Sovereign Gold Bonds that supposedly channel this gold into the economy. Still, I can’t help but think – if so much gold is locked away, wouldn’t it make more sense if it were invested elsewhere, like in businesses or real estate? Or is gold serving a bigger economic purpose that I’m missing? Curious to hear your thoughts! Does gold hoarding benefit India, or is it just a shiny NPA sitting at home?