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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a significant budget allocation of ₹3 trillion for schemes benefiting women and girls in the Union Budget. This initiative aims to boost women’s participation in the workforce by setting up working women hostels and crèches in collaboration with industries.

Empowering women in the Workforce

The government will partner with industries to create working women hostels and establish crèches, facilitating higher participation of women in the workforce. “We will facilitate higher participation of women in the workforce by setting up working women hostels in collaboration with industries and the establishment of crèches,” Sitharaman said during the budget presentation. Additionally, women-specific skilling programs will be organized, and market access for women self-help group (SHG) enterprises will be promoted.

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The government plans to create partnerships to organize women-specific skilling programs and enhance market access for women SHG enterprises. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen women's empowerment and ensure their active participation in the economy. The labor ministry's advisory handbook highlights a significant increase in women’s workforce participation from 22% in 2017-18 to 35.9% in 2022-23. Despite this progress, there is ample scope for further improvement through effective implementation of existing policies by employers.

Promoting gender equality

Earlier this year, the central government launched inter-ministerial efforts to promote gender equality and greater women participation in the workforce. Initiatives included enforcing statutory provisions, releasing national minimum standards and protocols for crèches, and building more working women hostels. A joint event titled “Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat” saw the Labour Ministry launch an advisory to employers to promote gender equality and women workforce participation.

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The Union Budget’s focus on women-specific schemes and initiatives demonstrates a strong commitment to empowering women and ensuring their active participation in the workforce. With these measures, the government aims to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment for women across the country.