Page 2 - Women Empowerment

Opposition slams exclusion of women journalists from Afghan FM presser

The opposition on Saturday termed the absence of female journalists from a press conference of visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi "unacceptable" and an "insult to women", and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the "emptiness" of his slogans on 'Nari Shakti'. The Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) said the act was "highly discriminatory" and urged the government to take the matter up with the Afghan Embassy to ensure that such gender- based exclusion in media briefings does not occur in the future. Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Modi over the absence of female journalists from the presser, saying by allowing "exclusion" of women scribes from a public forum, the prime minister is telling every woman in India that he is "too weak to stand up for them". In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Mr Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling ..

Coal India's first all-women-operated central store unit opens at SECL

The company spokesperson said that store operations will be conducted through a modern SAP-based digital management system, ensuring efficiency and transparency

One for the girls: Poor sex ratio underlines Delhi's social regression

Strengthening legal deterrents in this manner may be necessary to ensure that loopholes in the law banning sex-selection tests are closed

₹10,000 direct transfer for 7.5 mn women as PM Modi launches Bihar scheme

The ₹7,500-cr scheme, launched ahead of the Bihar polls, will provide ₹10,000 each to 7.5 million women, aiming to boost self-employment, livelihoods, and financial empowerment

Statsguru: The paradox of women's empowerment, leadership in South Asia

South Asia, therefore, has been central to the story of women in top leadership, but the numbers remain small even today

Govt committed to empowering women, Ladki Bahin to continue: CM Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government won't stop the popular Ladki Bahin' programme and instead is committed to creating one crore Lakhpati Didis', who will earn Rs 1 lakh every year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday. The government will also provide employment opportunities to women by setting up women-led credit societies in villages, he said after launching the statewide Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan' at Kingaon in Phulambri taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The campaign aims to ensure that every village receives the benefits of the central and state schemes. Maharashtra will not prosper unless villages in the state register progress, he said. It is not possible until the poor, labourers, and villages prosper, he said. The CM asserted that the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana', under which eligible women beneficiaries receive monthly assistance of Rs 1,500, won't be discontinued. Some people claimed that the Ladki Bahin scheme will be scrapped. Our siste

How HR can Shape the Future of Business

HR is now a strategic voice shaping people, culture, and business. In this episode, Urvi Aradhya, CHRO at K Raheja Corp, shares insights on comebacks, leadership, diversity, and the future of HR.

Cash transfers narrow gender gaps but don't alter babies' growth outcomes

The study was based on the evaluation of a maternal cash transfer programme in Jharkhand. Around 480 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), representing 90 per cent in the state, were selected

Haryana to implement 'Lado Lakshmi Yojana', women to get ₹2,100 monthly aid

Ruling BJP on Thursday fulfilled its major poll promise, with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announcing the rollout of the 'Lado Lakshmi Yojana' from September 25 under which eligible women will be given Rs 2,100 monthly assistance. Saini announced the decision after a meeting of the Haryana cabinet. The cabinet took a decision to implement the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, Saini said. This scheme will be implemented from September 25, on the day of Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary, he said. Under this scheme, all eligible women beneficiaries will get Rs 2,100 financial assistance every month, Saini said. From September 25, women aged 23 years and above will get benefits of this scheme.Be it married or unmarried, both categories will get benefit of the scheme, he said. In the first phase of this scheme rollout, we have decided to include those families whose annual income is below Rs 1 lakh, Saini said. In coming time, this scheme will be expanded in phases to include

60% women in energy sector seek gender-based policies: IESA report

About 60 per cent of women respondents in the energy sector have called for gender-responsive policies to boost the country's 500 GW renewables target by 2030, a report by industry body India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) said. The study, conducted across 26 states highlighted the urgent need for strong policy and regulatory frameworks to foster participation of women in India's energy sector, an IESA statement said. The report revealed that 60 per cent of women in energy sector sought gender-responsive policies to boost India's 500 GW clean energy target by 2030. With robust government schemes and initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar, PM KUSUM, and National Green Hydrogen Mission, the industry is striving towards unlocking the full potential of women's engagement in the sector. IESA President Debmalya Sen said in the statement, "Women are not just participating in the energy transition -- they are leading it from the frontlines." The IESA is a premier industry body dedicated to

Govt must fix demand side issues to grow women's participation in workforce

This exhortation stems from a realisation that, at around 33 per cent (World Bank, 2024), India's female labour force participation (LFPR) ranks low globally

Tamil Nadu's MGNREGA efficiency outpaces bigger and poorer states

Over several financial years, the data shows that Tamil Nadu has received and utilised more funds than many larger and poorer states

Govt aiming to take number of 'Lakhpati Didis' to 20 mn by Aug 15: Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said 1.5 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didis in India and his ministry is aiming to take the figure to 2 crore by August 15. 'Lakhpati Didi' refers to a woman member of a Self-Help Group (SHG) who earns an income of Rs 1 lakh or more per year. Chouhan visited the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Directorate of Groundnut Research in Junagadh town of Gujarat, where he reviewed its activities and interacted with farmers and Lakhpati Didis of SHGs, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a release. In his address, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolve to make every woman a Lakhpati Didi. "Why should any woman remain poor? This campaign is being run across India. Till now, 1.5 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didis and my department is constantly taking steps to make 2 crore women Lakhpati Didis by August 15," he said. In Junagadh, there are women ...

'Scooty Didi' from Chhattisgarh gets national praise for inspiring story

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also lauded Enu's efforts in empowering rural women and said "daughters like her truly embody the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat"

Indian Bank hands over sanction letters worth ₹1,011 cr to over 3,000 women

Public sector Indian Bank has handed over sanction letters worth Rs 1,011 crore to over 3,000 women, extending financial support to Self Help Groups across Tamil Nadu. Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, Secretary M Nagaraju presented the cheques to the beneficiaries at a Mega Self Help Group Credit Outreach Programme held at Tamukkam Convention Centre, here. In his brief address, Nagaraju emphasised that access to capital for livelihood activities is crucial. "Such initiatives not only reduce the dependence on sources of informal credits but also help inclusion into the formal financial ecosystem," he observed. "More than 3,000 women from various self-help groups across Tamil Nadu were part of the event. Sanction letters to the tune of Rs 1,011 crore were handed over during the mega SHG credit outreach programme," the Chennai-based bank said in a press release on Sunday. Indian Bank Managing Director and CEO Binod Kumar, Executive Directors Ashutosh Choudhury, S

MP CM announces Rakhi gift, hikes Ladli Behna scheme aid to ₹1500 from Oct

Nearly 1.27 crore women in Madhya Pradesh who are beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme will receive Rs 250 as a Rakhi gift, and their monthly assistance will be hiked to Rs 1,500 from October, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said. Currently, eligible women receive Rs 1,250 per month under the scheme. "The Raksha Bandhan festival symbolises the unbreakable bond of love between a brother and sister...With Rakhi (festival) on August 9, it is only fitting for brothers to offer gifts to their sisters. Our government will ensure Rs 250 reaches every Ladli Bahna (before August 9) as a token of affection," Yadav said on Saturday. He was speaking at a state-level event held at Nalwa village in Ujjain district, where financial assistance was disbursed to beneficiaries of various schemes. The government was committed to gradually increasing the monthly assistance under the Ladli Behna scheme to Rs 3,000, the chief minister further said. "By Bhai Dooj (October 23) after Diwali, the monthly

₹1,543 crore transferred under Ladli Behna Yojana scheme: MP CM Yadav

His remarks came while addressing a programme organised for Ladli Behna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Social Security Pension Scheme

FM Sitharaman lauds Meghalaya's inclusive growth, women's empowerment

Reflecting on her visit to the aspirational district of Ri-Bhoi and her engagements in Shillong, she highlighted how Meghalaya's development journey reflects the spirit of PM's vision of Viksit Bharat

Centre unveils portal to boost gender budgeting across ministries, states

Gender budget allocation increased by 4.5 times from Rs. 0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26, WCD minister says

NDA govt redefined women-led development in last 11 years: PM Modi

A day before his government marks its first anniversary in third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has redefined women-led development in its 11 years in power. In all sectors, including science, education, sports, start ups and the armed forces, women are excelling and inspiring several people, Modi said on X. He cited a number of welfare programmes which, he noted, have benefitted women immensely. Various initiatives, from ensuring dignity through Swachh Bharat to financial inclusion via Jan Dhan accounts, the focus has been on empowering the women, he said. If 'Ujjwala Yojana' brought smoke-free kitchens running on gas cylinders to the poor households, 'MUDRA' loans enabled lakhs of women entrepreneurs to pursue dreams on their own terms. Houses under the women's name in PM Awas Yojana too have made a remarkable impact, he added. 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' (save daughter, educate daughter) programme ignited a .