Plans To Boost Women’s Participation In Mumbai's Economy By 2034 Set Into Motion

Mumbai women economic participation soon to get boost: Maharashtra's Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment Aaditya Uddhav Thackeray chaired a meeting for the Advisory Committee on Gender. The meeting focussed on gender inclusion and rethinking urban planning interventions, which is a "long-term strategy in Mumbai’s functionality is vital for the pace of the changing times", as per Thackeray.

After the meeting, Thackeray shared on Twitter that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Developmental Plan 2034 will focus on bringing in conscious infrastructural and accessibility changes to boost women’s participation in the city’s economy for the first time.

Gender inclusion and rethinking urban planning interventions as a long-term strategy in Mumbai’s functionality is vital for the pace of the changing times. As Guardian Minister, chaired a meeting taking a step in this direction with the Advisory Committee on Gender. pic.twitter.com/bHDydkscg5

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 13, 2021

Thackery, who is a Member of Legislative Assembly from Mumbai, further added in his Twitter thread that the plan will include specific targets like multipurpose housing for working women, rental housing, skill development centers, safer subways, mobile toilet facilities, women-only BEST buses, daycare centers in Municipal buildings on pilot basis, Mahila Bhawan, nursing homes, etc.

This isn't the first time the state authorities have taken measures keeping in mind the welfare of women and the transgender community. In December 2020, the state cabinet had approved the draft bill of proposed "Shakti Act" that proposed strict punishment to perpetrators in heinous crimes committed against women and children. The proposed draft also speedy trials, bringing down the investigation period from two months to 15 working days and trial period of such cases to 30 working days from two months. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, close to 36 special courts will be set up, each with a special public prosecutor, to deal with cases registered under the proposed Shakti Act. Read more on that here.

The same year, the Maha Vikas Aghadi made news for allocating rupees five crore to the Transgender Welfare Board. While the board had been set up in 2018, no members were appointed to it by the social justice department immediately. Aside from allocating funds to the board last year, the Maharashtra government had also announced formation of six separate expert committees to be set up in Konkan, Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad.