SRINAGAR: India is witnessing what the government described as a decisive shift from “women’s development” to “women-led development”, according to a detailed statement tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The information came in response to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Dr M Dhanapal, who sought clarity on the country’s progress on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and access to education, health care and economic opportunities.
Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said the Centre has adopted a “multi-pronged, life-cycle continuum approach” to expand women’s political, social, economic and educational empowerment. She said the most significant recent step was the enactment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, which provides one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies, including Delhi.
The government highlighted the rollout of the four Labour Codes—on wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety—which came into effect on November 21, 2025. These codes prohibit gender-based discrimination, mandate equal pay, and allow women to work across all sectors and shifts, including night duties and underground mining, subject to consent and safety safeguards.
On workplace safety, Thakur said the government has operationalised the SHe-Box portal, a centralised platform for filing and tracking sexual harassment complaints. Available in 22 languages, the portal links complaints directly to the Internal Committees or Local Committees concerned and mandates every workplace to designate a nodal officer for real-time updates.
The government said the overhauled criminal codes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—have consolidated offences against women and children and introduced new provisions on organised crime, sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang rape and harassment. Mandatory minimum punishments have been prescribed for several serious offences, and provisions such as e-FIR and zero FIR have been designed to make reporting crimes easier for women.
Thakur also cited expanding opportunities for women in STEM through schemes like Vigyan Jyoti, the Women Scientist Scheme and overseas fellowships. Wider institutional support is provided under Mission Shakti, which includes One Stop Centres for survivors of violence, the nationwide 181 women’s helpline, Sakhi Niwas accommodation for working women, childcare facilities through Palna, and awareness work under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Financial inclusion schemes such as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, scholarships for girls, provision of sanitary napkins under Jan Aushadhi, and mandates for 3 per cent procurement from women-owned MSMEs were also listed as part of the government’s strategy.
The Centre pointed to a stronger skills and livelihoods push through Skill India, PM Kaushal Kendras, PMGDISHA, and large-scale self-help group networks under DAY-NRLM, which now covers nearly 10 crore rural women. Schemes such as PM Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India, PM SVANidhi, Start-up India, MGNREGS and NULM have women as major beneficiaries.
On health, the government said over 141 medical packages under Ayushman Bharat are exclusively designed for women. More than 150,000 Health and Wellness Centres now deliver primary care, while Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras stock around 40 women-specific items, including Suvidha sanitary napkins sold at Re 1 per pad.
The reply concluded by noting the launch of a Guide on Gender-Inclusive Communication in 2023 to encourage language practices that promote equality and challenge deep-rooted biases.
The Minister said these combined interventions represent a comprehensive framework aimed at enabling women to play a central role in India’s social and economic transformation.
-x-
