India’s progress on gender equality has increased in recent years, with increased investment and focus on women’s leadership at grassroots levels but social norms, limited labor participation and gaps in safety mechanisms hinder full gender equality, UN Women officials say.
In an interview, Daniel Seymour, Director of UN Women’s Strategic Partnerships and Susan Jane Ferguson, UN Women’s Country Representative in India, shared details about the steps the country is taking and the challenges that remain.
The discussion highlighted India’s increased investment in women’s development and gender-responsive policies, yet emphasized that entrenched social norms and limited funding continue to hinder overall progress.
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“India’s progress is significant, but closing the remaining gaps requires targeted efforts from both the public and private sectors,” Ms. Ferguson said.
India has seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in the gender-responsive budget allocation, which has risen to 6.8%, according to the Gender Budget Statement (GBS), Union Budget of India 2024-25.
“This increase in public funds is important in changing women’s lives, especially if it addresses the specific needs of women and girls,” said Ms. Ferguson, emphasizing that the continuation and expansion of this budget is important to close the remaining gaps in areas such as health and education. , and economic opportunities.
Despite the increase in public investment, Ms. Ferguson noted that private sector investment remains critical to fully achieving these goals.
“We are working closely with Indian businesses to promote investment in women’s empowerment programs,” she added, highlighting the role of private sector support in increasing access to finance for women-owned businesses.
He said that progress can also be seen in women’s leadership at grassroots levels, where women seem to be more represented in panchayats and local government institutions.
Mrs. Ferguson pointed out that other states have achieved gender equality at these levels, and the passage of 33% reservation for women in Parliament is expected to have a revolutionary impact on India’s national political landscape.
“India’s strong participation in grassroots politics is a global best practice, however continued efforts at the national level, including enforcement of new reservations, are needed to ensure greater representation of women at the national level,” noted Ms. Ferguson.
However, both officials highlighted that gender-based violence (GBV) remains an ongoing issue in India, affecting women’s safety and freedom. Despite India’s strict legal framework, Mr. Seymour noted, strict regulations and cultural norms prevent effective implementation.
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“While the laws are in place, we continue to see social norms that allow violence and abuse not only in India but around the world,” he said.
Ms. Ferguson pointed out that UN Women is working with state governments, such as Madhya Pradesh, to train police and launch community policing initiatives focused on women’s safety.
The government has a number of important initiatives such as women-led police stations and “red police stations” specifically for women; helplines and ‘One Stop Centres’. The UN Women India office is helping to strengthen this support. A key area of ​​UN Women’s work in India involves addressing systemic barriers to women’s workforce participation.
Although the Local Women’s Participation Rate has increased to around 37% in India, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation’s 2022-23 Timeline Survey, challenges remain. “With the right investments in childcare, safe transportation, and workplace protection, women can achieve greater economic opportunities,” said Ms. Ferguson.
In Tamil Nadu, for example, UN Women has been working to create safe workplaces in the garment industry, working with governments, businesses, unions, civil society organizations and communities to address workplace harassment.
Such measures, Ferguson explained, are important to support the millions of women who depend on these industries. Climate change and gender equality in India was another area of ​​focus.
“India will be among the countries most affected by climate change because of the large population and the current climate. We know that climate change has a negative impact on women,” emphasized Ms. Ferguson.
With research showing that extreme heat and climate disruption will have a major impact on India, UN Women is partnering with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to incorporate gender-focused approaches in disaster response.
“From disaster planning to providing safe spaces to temporary shelters, including women in decision-making ensures that climate resilience benefits everyone,” said Mr Seymour. She also explained that including women in the renewable energy sector can promote inclusive growth, as they are often the pioneers of sustainable practices in the industry.
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On the international stage, Mr. Seymour emphasized the importance of India’s role in promoting gender equality globally. “India has always been a supporter of gender equality in international forums.”
“And as one of the world’s largest democracies, India has a strong opportunity to be a leading voice, share its successes and lessons learned widely, and address the challenges it has encountered,” he said.
Ms. Ferguson summarized, “India’s progress on gender equality is encouraging. Much has been achieved, closing the remaining challenges will require a holistic approach that addresses social norms, systemic barriers, economic barriers, and effective involvement of both the public and private sectors.”
Published – October 27, 2024 01:24 pm IST