Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur highlighted India’s progress in women-led development and gender equality during the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) held at the United Nations Headquarters.
Delivering India’s national intervention during the general discussion on March 10, the minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to gender equality and improved access to justice, aligned with the principles of the Beijing Platform for Action.
India’s Progress in Women-Led Development
Thakur said India’s development philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” has helped promote inclusive growth and women’s empowerment across multiple sectors.
She highlighted that over 100 million women organised into nearly nine million Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are transforming rural economies through entrepreneurship and community leadership.
The minister also noted that:
- Women lead over 1,000 start-ups supported by Atal Incubation Centres
- More than eight lakh women directors are associated with active companies in India
To address the digital gender divide, she said over 25 million rural women have received digital training under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan.
She added that sustained policy interventions have increased India’s female labour force participation rate to 41.7%.
Growing Participation of Women in Governance
Highlighting women’s role in governance, Thakur referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
At the grassroots level, she noted that more than 1.4 million women serve in Panchayati Raj institutions, accounting for 46% of elected representatives.
Welfare Initiatives Supporting Women and Children
The minister also highlighted several welfare programmes supporting women and children:
- Around 39,000 children benefit from crèche facilities under the Palna Scheme
- Girls’ enrolment in education is now nearly equal to that of boys
- Over 72% of the 29 million rural houses built under government housing programmes are owned wholly or jointly by women
In healthcare, Thakur said more than 208 million women are covered under the Ayushman Bharat, which offers 141 dedicated healthcare packages.
She also highlighted initiatives aimed at improving access to justice, including legal awareness programmes, free legal aid, Nari Adalats and 334 Gram Nyayalayas. Through the Tele-Law Programme, nearly four million women have received pre-litigation legal advice.
Thakur reiterated that women-led development remains central to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Bilateral Meetings on the Sidelines of CSW-70
On the sidelines of the event, the minister held bilateral meetings with international leaders to strengthen cooperation on gender equality.
She met Aurore Bergé, where both sides discussed collaboration on inclusive artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to promote gender equality.
Thakur also interacted with the leadership of UN Women, including Executive Director Sima Bahous. She highlighted India’s partnership with UN Women during the G20 Summit 2023 India, particularly in advancing the Women-20 (W20) agenda.
The minister also met Rechie Valdez to discuss collaboration following the India–Canada Relations Roadmap launched in October 2025, including potential partnerships in early childhood education, health and cognitive development.
Reception Hosted by India at the United Nations
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations hosted a reception in New York in honour of the minister during CSW-70.
The event brought together ministers and senior representatives from countries including Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Israel, Saint Lucia and Serbia, along with delegation heads from Australia, Namibia and New Zealand.
Participants exchanged policy ideas and best practices, reaffirming their commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women globally.
Delegations from around 75 countries participated in the discussions at CSW-70, reflecting the global focus on expanding opportunities for women and girls worldwide.
