India has accelerated its path toward gender equality in recent years, making substantial investments in grassroots women’s leadership and enacting gender-responsive policies.
However, social norms, limited workforce participation, and gaps in safety measures still hinder full gender parity, according to officials from UN Women.
In a discussion with Daniel Seymour, UN Women’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Susan Jane Ferguson, Country Representative for UN Women in India, they provided insights into India’s gender equality advancements and the obstacles that remain.
Progress in gender-responsive policies
The UN representatives praised India’s increasing dedication to gender-responsive budgeting, which has grown to 6.8 per cent according to the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) in the Union Budget 2024-25.
This increase in funding is pivotal in transforming women’s lives, targeting women and girls’ needs in areas such as health, education, and economic opportunities.
“This increase in public investment is crucial to transforming women’s lives, especially when directed toward specific needs of women and girls,” remarked Ferguson, stressing that further budget expansions are necessary to close remaining gaps across various sectors.
While public investment is essential, Ferguson noted that private sector support remains vital to achieve these goals entirely.
“We are actively collaborating with Indian businesses to enhance investments for women’s empowerment initiatives,” she said, highlighting the private sector’s critical role in increasing access to financing for women-owned businesses and supporting women-led initiatives.
Women’s leadership at the grassroots level
Ferguson noted that one of India’s most promising advancements is women’s leadership in local governance. Women have increasingly taken on roles in panchayats and other grassroots institutions, with some states achieving gender parity at this level.
Ferguson further highlighted that the passage of the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament is set to create transformative change within India’s national political framework.
“India’s strong participation in grassroots politics is a global best practice, yet continued efforts at the national level, including enforcing the new reservation, are needed to ensure more robust female representation at the national level,” she noted.
Barriers in gender-based safety and social norms
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a prevalent issue in India, presenting a persistent obstacle to women’s safety and overall freedom. Despite the existence of a comprehensive legal framework addressing GBV, the enforcement and social norms often impede effective implementation, Seymour explained.
“While the laws are in place, we continue to see social norms that enable violence and harassment, not just in India but globally,” Seymour stated.
UN Women has been working in collaboration with state governments, such as Madhya Pradesh, to train police officers and initiate community policing projects to enhance women’s safety in their communities.
The government has also introduced various schemes, such as women-led police stations and “pink police stations” dedicated to women, in addition to support systems like helplines and One Stop Centres for survivors of violence.
Ferguson noted, “UN Women India office facilitates strengthening these support measures to ensure that women across the country can access the resources they need for safety and security.”
Labour force participation and economic barriers
Another significant challenge India faces in achieving gender parity is the limited female participation in the workforce.
While the Female Labour Force Participation rate has increased to approximately 37 per cent according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s Periodic Labour Force Survey for 2022-23, substantial barriers remain.
Ferguson pointed out that more investment in services like childcare, secure transportation, and workplace safety is required to enable women to enter and sustain their positions in the workforce.
She highlighted UN Women’s work in Tamil Nadu, where they are partnering with the government, businesses, unions, and civil society to create safer workplaces in the garment industry, an essential sector for female workers.
“Such initiatives are crucial to support the millions of women who rely on these industries for their livelihoods,” Ferguson explained.
Impact of climate change on gender equality
Climate change, another pressing issue, also has significant implications for gender equality. Ferguson underscored that India, with its vast population, is among the countries most affected by climate change, and women are disproportionately impacted.
Seymour mentioned that UN Women has been working with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to integrate gender-sensitive approaches into disaster response planning. He noted that involving women in decision-making roles in climate resilience planning can benefit entire communities.
“From disaster planning to providing safer spaces in temporary shelters, involving women in decision-making ensures that climate resilience benefits everyone,” Seymour said.
He also emphasised that increasing women’s participation in the renewable energy sector could drive inclusive growth, as women often bring sustainable practices to these industries.
India’s global role in gender equality
On an international scale, Seymour highlighted India’s vital role in advancing gender equality. “India has always been a supporter of gender equality in international forums.
And as one of the world’s largest democracies, India has a powerful opportunity to be a leading voice, to share its successes and lessons learned more widely, and address the challenges experienced along the way,” he said.
Ferguson concluded by summarising India’s significant achievements in gender equality while acknowledging the work that lies ahead. “India’s progress in gender equality is inspiring. So much has already been achieved, closing the remaining challenges will require a holistic approach that addresses social norms, systemic hurdles, economic barriers, and the active involvement of both public and private sectors.”
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