Workplaces must work for women

India’s journey toward becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 rests on one undeniable truth: women’s empowerment is indispensable to national development. In the last decade, the country has witnessed a transformation in women’s workforce participation, driven by a mix of data-backed progress, legislative reform, and social interventions that together place Nari Shakti at the core of economic growth. The female labour force participation rate (LFPR) has surged from 23.3 percent in 2017–18 to 41.7 percent in 2023–24, and the worker population ratio has almost doubled in the same period. Monthly trends show steady growth, with female LFPR reaching 33.7 percent in August 2025. The data tell a clear story—more women are joining, staying, and thriving in India’s workforce than ever before.

The numbers alone, however, do not capture the full picture. Behind this surge lies a conscious national effort to dismantle structural barriers and foster inclusive workplaces. India’s policies are not only about welfare; they are about building systems that recognise women as equal stakeholders in development. From the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act of 2017, which doubled paid maternity leave to 26 weeks and mandated crèches in larger workplaces, to the POSH Act of 2013 that institutionalised Internal Complaints Committees to combat sexual harassment, India has strengthened its legal backbone for gender justice. These laws do more than protect—they empower women to pursue careers without fear or forced compromise.

Further, the Equal Remuneration Act and the Code on Social Security (2020) reinforce the principle of equal pay and expand maternity and health benefits to a wider spectrum of workers, including those in informal and platform-based sectors. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code goes a step further by allowing women to work night shifts with their consent and mandating safe transport and annual health checkups. Such reforms recognise that equality requires both legal rights and workplace infrastructure that responds to women’s real-world needs.

Complementing this legal framework are wide-ranging government initiatives that weave empowerment into everyday life. Programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have equipped millions of women with market-ready skills—women constitute about 45 percent of the programme’s participants. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has extended credit to women micro-entrepreneurs, who now make up about 68 percent of its beneficiaries. Stand-Up India has opened over 2 lakh accounts for women entrepreneurs, while Start-Up India counts more than 75,000 women-led ventures under its recognition framework. These figures are not just statistics; they represent a silent revolution in economic self-reliance.

The shift is equally visible in the formal economy. In 2024–25 alone, 26.9 lakh net female subscribers were added to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), a sign that more women are entering stable, social-security-covered employment. India’s trajectory within the BRICS group underscores this momentum—it has recorded the largest gain in female labour force participation over the past decade, while several peers saw stagnation. The policy lesson is clear: sustained government focus on safety, credit, and skills yields measurable gains in women’s economic inclusion.

At the heart of this ecosystem is Mission Shakti, launched on April 1, 2024, which integrates safety, security, and empowerment under one umbrella. Its two verticals—Sambal (safety) and Samarthya (empowerment)—address both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term opportunities. Sambal includes One Stop Centres for survivors of violence, the 181 Women Helpline, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Nari Adalats for local grievance resolution. Samarthya offers social and economic rehabilitation through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (providing wage compensation for maternity), Sakhi Niwas (accommodation and daycare for working women), Palna (childcare via Anganwadi centres), and SANKALP Hubs for information and scheme facilitation. Together, they form a continuum of support—from safety to self-sufficiency.

The SHe-Box portal run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development is another example of digital governance reinforcing women’s rights. It enables real-time monitoring of sexual-harassment complaints and maintains a public repository of Internal and Local Committees across sectors. Such measures build trust in institutions and signal that inclusivity is being embedded into governance itself.

The public sector, meanwhile, is becoming a model employer by adopting gender-responsive practices—crèches in government offices, flexible work options, wellness programmes, and leadership initiatives for women officers. These measures illustrate how inclusion can be institutionalised rather than left to individual discretion. As women ascend to leadership roles in bureaucracy and politics, they influence policies that further mainstream gender priorities, creating a reinforcing loop of empowerment.

Yet, challenges persist. The informal economy, which employs nearly 90 percent of working women, still struggles with wage parity, childcare, and social-security coverage. Cultural expectations surrounding caregiving continue to limit women’s mobility, particularly in smaller towns. The digital economy—while opening new opportunities through remote work and gig platforms—also exposes women to risks like income volatility and cyber harassment. Bridging these gaps demands investment in safe public transport, digital literacy, flexible working models, and gender-sensitive workplace design. Corporate India, too, must move beyond tokenism to measurable accountability in hiring, promotions, and pay equity.

The vision of Viksit Bharat imagines at least 70 percent of women participating in the workforce by 2047 —an aspirational goal that symbolises not just inclusion but leadership. Empowerment here is multidimensional: it encompasses education, economic independence, digital access, and representation. Each woman entering the labour force today multiplies the developmental dividend—raising family incomes, improving children’s education, and strengthening communities.

India’s experience shows that when policies align with the realities of women’s lives, transformation follows. The intersection of legal reform, social innovation, and technology is rewriting the narrative of gender and growth. Women are emerging not just as beneficiaries of progress but as its architects—entrepreneurs creating jobs, scientists driving innovation, and administrators shaping governance. This evolution from welfare to empowerment marks a turning point in India’s developmental journey. 

As the nation advances toward 2047, the empowerment of women stands as both the means and the measure of progress. The leap from a developing to a developed India will not be judged by GDP figures alone but by how equitably opportunity is shared. Building inclusive workplaces—safe, fair, and growth-oriented—is the cornerstone of this transformation. By unlocking the full potential of Nari Shakti, India is doing more than empowering its women; it is empowering the nation itself.

The author is a gender rights advocate and independent journalist who writes on gender justice, education, and child rights