Can Govt Initiatives Empower Indian Women's Workforce Participation?

The Indian government is actively working to increase the participation of women in the workforce. Different ministries, like Labour and Employment, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Road Transport and Highways, have released advisories to enhance opportunities and ensure the safety of women employees. Recently, an event titled  Saksham Nari, Saksham Bharat highlighted collaborative efforts for women-led development.

Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bhupender Yadav chaired the event, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for women construction workers. They praised the Ministry of Labour & Employment's initiatives, including direct online payments to eliminate exploitation.

Government Initiatives for Inclusive Workforce Participation

Smriti Irani spoke about the government's commitment to digital democracy and mentioned that over 24 crore women in the country have bank accounts. She stressed the significance of providing facilities for migrant women workers and highlighted various schemes and initiatives supporting women's empowerment.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development, in collaboration with Labour & Employment, proposed constructing hostels within Central Universities for working women engaged in higher studies and jobs. Bhupender Yadav stressed the need for equal opportunities for women in the economy and outlined legislative measures to improve the living standards of women workers. He noted that women's workforce participation reached 37% in 2022, but collective responsibility is needed to further enable their participation.

The advisories cover measures from gender-neutral recruitment practices to the establishment of working women hostels and creche facilities. The government aims to address factors hindering women's workforce participation, such as childcare responsibilities and gender pay gaps. Arti Ahuja, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, outlined government initiatives implemented over the past decade, including amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act and disbursements for maternity benefits through the Employees' State Insurance.

Pandey, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, highlighted the ministry's mandate to create an ecosystem conducive to increased women's participation in the workforce. The government's initiatives aim to ensure safety, dignity, and equitable opportunities for women workers across diverse industries, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and prosperous future. It will be interesting to watch whether their coming into effect will actually empower the women in question or not.