The goal of India to develop into a 30 trillion economy by the year 2047 is pegged on the successful integration of women into the workforce. Currently, the contribution of women to the GDP of the country is only approximately 18 per cent and close to 196 million of the workable women are not in the labour force. Although the participation of female labour force has increased to 41.7 per cent, a very low proportion of women are employed in formal and secure jobs. This disparity in structure underscores the immediate need to implement measures like the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index, the first to be introduced in Uttar Pradesh.
The Importance of Gender-Disaggregated Data.
India also gathers large amounts of economic and social statistics, however, gender is a category that is usually neglected. The absence of sex-disaggregated data would make inequalities go unnoticed, and it would be more difficult to make the reforms targeted. The WEE Index is a groundbreaking index because it depicts the position of women in five major domains:
-
Employment
-
Training and skills development.
- Entrepreneurship
- Livelihood and mobility
- Safety and infrastructure
The index provides more information on the issues of the system by measuring not only participation but also obstacles and exit points.
Lessons of WEE Index of Uttar Pradesh.
The example of Uttar Pradesh proves the usefulness of gender-specific information. Although, more than one half of skilling programme enrolment is comprised of women, not all the women are entrepreneurs and have limited access to formal credit. The same case could be seen in the transport sector where glaring areas of no women worked as bus drivers or conductors. This information gave rise to specific interventions, such as female-friendly recruitment campaigns and more amenities such as bathrooms at bus stops.
Gender Data Across Governance.
To be effective, gendered information should be integrated in all the government departments, including transport and housing as well as the MSMEs. Local bodies are also in need of training in order to not only collect, but also use this information in designing programmes. Notably, the interest should be on more than enrolment numbers to monitor the leadership, retention and quality of jobs especially those in higher education or professional jobs where women are likely to quit.
Beyond Gender Budgeting
The conventional gender budgeting has been largely restricted to welfare mechanisms. Nonetheless, all investments in infrastructure, education, or energy should be examined using a gender prism. Consistent and accurate data makes sure that the resources are directed to the maximum impact point, bridging structural gaps instead of aiding them.
Scaling Up Across States
The WEE Index is a replicable template to other states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana that are aiming at trillion dollar economies. Gender action plans at the district level based on the available data would be important in ensuring that budgets, infrastructure projects and policies are adjusted to the demands of women.
Women in the Centre of Indian Future.
The issue of gender disparity in India in terms of economic participation has been a long-standing issue, and
Month: Current Affairs - September 18, 2025
Category: current affairs daily