A global alliance to bridge the gender equity gap

• India's development journey prioritises equality and inclusion, as demonstrated by the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration at the G-20 summit under India's presidency.
• The declaration focuses on areas such as socio-economic empowerment, bridging the digital divide, climate action, and food security, advocating for women-led development.

Government's Focus on Gender Equality

• The Indian government has long emphasised mainstreaming gender equality.
• Initiatives like the Women's Reservation Bill, allocating funds under the gender budget illustrate this commitment.
  • The government allocated nearly $27 billion under the gender budget in 2023-24.

Progress in Female Empowerment

• India has seen improvements in female labour force participation and enrollment in higher education, particularly in STEM fields.
  • As per the Periodic Labour Force Surveys, there has been an increase in India’s female labour force participation rate, from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23.
  • Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28% in the last 10 years.
  • In terms of enrolment in STEM courses, the share of women is a significant 43%, one of the highest enrolment rates in the world.
• Within rural India, there is a participation of over nine crore women in 83 lakh self-help groups, improving the socio-economic conditions in rural areas.

Global Recognition and Partnerships

• Global leaders are acknowledging India's success stories, leading to meaningful collaborations and platforms like the We-Lead Lounge.
  • We-Lead Lounge was set up by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Confederation of Indian Industry at Davos.
• The Alliance for Global Good, supported by various stakeholders including the World Economic Forum, aims to drive inclusive development globally.

Alliance for Global Good - Gender Equity and Equality

• India launched the “Alliance for Global Good - Gender Equity and Equality” at the World Economic Forum in January, this year to accelerate socio-economic causes globally.
• The Alliance seeks to develop practical solutions in areas such as education, healthcare, skill development, agrotech, and enterprise development.
• It aims to leverage India's expertise and leadership to address global gender disparities.
• It presents an opportunity for industries worldwide to
  • Learn from India's practices
  • Invest in proven initiatives and enable them reach scale
  • Collaborate to make inclusion a fundamental aspect of business conversations.
• The Alliance aims to be a significant player in addressing gender-related issues globally, resonating with principles like "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and "Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayaas, Sabka Vikaas".