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News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Uttar Pradesh's Silent Revolution: Women Lead The Workforce Surge
Last Updated: Since Yogi Adityanath took office, the female labour force participation rate in Uttar Pradesh has surged from a dismal 14 per cent to 36 per cent Between 2017 and 2024, a silent revolution has been taking place in India's largest and most populous state. A movement that has not registered amidst the raucous headlines that emerge from Uttar Pradesh. It is the silent revolution of more women entering the workforce. In these intervening years, since Yogi Adityanath took office, the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) has surged from a dismal 14 per cent to 36 per cent. While it's still below the national average of 45 per cent, it is nonetheless a dramatic breakthrough and is expected to continue to rise, powering the $1 trillion economy goal set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index, a key barometer that tracks these figures, says that a sustained policy effort under CM Yogi Adityanath, which has placed women at the centre of government policy priorities, has made the difference. When CM Yogi took office in 2017, he inherited a legacy of goondaism in the streets and perilous safety standards for women. So endemic was it to society that a bloody riot was sparked by an episode of sexual harassment prior to his taking office for the first time. Women's safety was not a case of isolated incidents, but circumstances that created powder keg situations in the state — not to mention the negative public sentiment that existed about the state and female safety. Very early in his tenure, Yogi made this a compelling priority, noting presciently that once female safety was established, only then would other empowerment schemes take root, including economic independence. It has been on the foundation of this policy to first ensure female safety that the FLFPR figures of female participation in the workforce have seen such a jump. The Mission Shakti Scheme introduced by CM Yogi ensured that safety went hand in hand with employment. For example, if the new regulations permitted women to work night shifts, then employers had to ensure that safety guidelines were followed. According to an official UP notification (2022) — all employers must obtain written consent from female workers before assigning them to the night shift. Furthermore, there should be a minimum of four women at the workplace, and facilities like pick-up and drop from the residence must be provided, as well as bathroom facilities and safe lighting in the workplace. The minutiae confirm how seriously women's safety is taken. Apart from employment opportunities, the government has also encouraged opportunities for self-employment and income generation. There are over 10 lakh self-help groups that engage more than 1 crore women in micro-enterprises. Fifty-three per cent of the registrations on the e-Shram portal are women, and they form 34.65 per cent of the state's construction workforce. There are numerous personal narratives that attest to these developments on the ground, like night-shift factories near Lucknow and Kanpur that have seen increasing female participation in production lines. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, which is seeing rapid infrastructure development, construction clusters are employing thousands of workers, and a sizeable number are women. However, it would be a mistake to view this development only through the lens of data points. This shift underlines a far more significant move: a change in social expectations and dynamics. Employment ensures greater mobility for women, and financial decision-making gives them agency. It is heartening to note that in Uttar Pradesh, these changes are being observed in semi-urban and rural areas. However, there are still challenges. While the increase in participation is heartening, it is still dominated by the unorganised sector and seasonal work — a circumstance prevalent nationwide. But Uttar Pradesh, by showing such a remarkable jump in participation and led by CM Yogi, is well poised to move into the next stage. While admittedly some of the conditions are sociological and need to be addressed by society and the family unit, the government's encouragement and support of female employment — and hence empowerment — is undeniable. With its large demographic advantage and area, the state, often referred to as a trouble spot in the past and a reflection of India's failure to realise its post-Independence promise, seems to finally be turning the tide. Powered by none other than the women of the state, taking one steady step at a time. Advaita Kala is a best-selling novelist and award-winning screenwriter. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 06, 2025, 18:27 IST News opinion Opinion | Uttar Pradesh's Silent Revolution: Women Lead The Workforce Surge Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
14% to 36%: Govt initiatives help increase participation of UP women in labour force
1 2 3 Lucknow: The participation of women in Uttar Pradesh's labour force increased from 14% in 2017-18 to 36% in 2023-24, according to the recently released Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index report. A govt spokesperson said: "Over the past seven years, the state govt made continuous efforts to create a safe, respectful, and productive work environment for women. From improving women's safety and launching the Mission Shakti programme, to giving women priority in govt jobs, allowing them to work night shifts, and increasing job opportunities in industries, women have been placed at the centre of all policy decisions. " The WEE report states that India's female labour force participation rate in 2023-24 was 45%, while in UP it was 36%. In 2017-18, when BJP came to power in the state, UP's rate was 14%, against the national average of 25%. The official said that a major reason for the progress was Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's efforts in ensuring that the several pro-women schemes launched by the Centre were implemented properly in the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo "UP govt took several landmark decisions to enhance women's participation in the industrial workforce and empower them economically. Recently, the govt allowed women to work in all 29 categories of factories that were earlier classified as hazardous and prohibited for female workers across the country. Initially, conditional permission was given for only 12 categories," the spokesperson said. He added that the state govt also permitted women to work night shifts, provided employers arrange proper safety, transportation, food, and rest facilities for them. As per the labour and employment department, women now account for 53% of registrations on the e-Shram portal, and 34.65% of workers in the construction sector are women. The govt also helped form over 10 lakh self-help groups, connecting more than 1 crore women with income-generating activities, which boosted women's entrepreneurship and self-reliance across both urban and rural areas.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Women Economic Empowerment Index to guide gender-inclusive policies in state, says Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday was presented with the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index, a landmark report by the Planning Department and Udayati Foundation designed to assess how government schemes benefit women and drive gender-inclusive, evidence-based policymaking across Uttar Pradesh. Describing it as a 'historic step', the CM said the index will promote dignity and self-reliance among women statewide. Covering all 75 districts, the WEE Index measures performance on five key parameters: entrepreneurship, employment, education and skill development, livelihood, and safety and transportation infrastructure. It provides insights into which districts are effectively extending benefits to women and where targeted interventions are required. The chief minister directed that the WEE index be integrated into the Chief Minister's Control Room for real-time monitoring. 'All departments must treat the index as a foundational tool for policymaking and tracking outcomes. Departments should formulate actionable plans based on the index, prioritizing women's empowerment in their respective areas. District-level strategies must be developed to localize the impact of state schemes,' the CM directed. The presentation highlighted districts like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi, where women have reportedly been benefited from government initiatives. However, districts such as Shravasti, Sambhal, Mahoba, Balrampur, and Sidharth Nagar were flagged for urgent intervention. CM Yogi directed that targeted campaigns be launched under the ODOP Margin Money Scheme in Banda, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Mahoba, Shravasti, and Sitapur to ensure greater inclusion of women. To expand women's participation in the workforce and governance, the CM Yogi asked that recruitment drives for home guards and teachers follow the example set in police hiring, giving priority to women. He also stressed the need to boost women's enrollment in technical institutes, vocational programs and skill-training centers, and to establish 'Re-enrolment Units' in every district to bring back women who have dropped out of courses. Yogi highlighted the importance of paramedical institutes to support women's careers in healthcare and the service sector. He further advocated increasing women's roles in public transport as drivers and conductors, backed by specialized training and support facilities.
