Women now lead some of India’s biggest banks, IT companies, and political parties. The 33% reservation in legislatures is a historic step. Yet, structural barriers persist.
Women’s labor force participation has declined to 24%, among the lowest globally. The reasons are complex — safety concerns, lack of childcare, social pressures, and skill mismatches.
We need bold action: subsidized quality childcare in workplaces, flexible work arrangements as a right, strict anti-discrimination enforcement, and most importantly, changing societal attitudes about women’s work and worth.
Education, while improving for girls, must translate into meaningful career opportunities. The gap between female literacy and female employment is a national tragedy that we must address urgently.