Govt bets on women-led growth to drive development agenda

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday said that women-led growth will be central to the country’s development ambitions, even as policymakers and industry leaders called for stronger ecosystems to support women in innovation and entrepreneurship.Speaking at a summit organised by the women’s empowerment arm of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse said India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 would depend on greater participation of women and youth in economic activity.“India’s youth and women together form the backbone of a progressive nation. Empowering them with opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship is key to nation-building,” she said.The three-day event, held in the national capital, brought together policymakers, industry representatives and global stakeholders to discuss cross-border collaboration and women’s leadership in science and business.Speakers at the summit underlined the need to move beyond discussions on inclusion to enabling access to finance, markets and decision-making roles. Debjani Ghosh, distinguished fellow at NITI Aayog and former Nasscom president, said the focus must shift from diversity metrics to influence and outcomes. “While diversity and inclusion have laid the foundation, the real measure of progress now lies in how many policies we (women) shape and how many key decisions we (women) influence. The focus must shift to impact, leadership and outcomes.”Ruby Sinha, president of BRICS Women Empowerment division said the Summit is a call to action as far as women empowerment is concerned. “It is our collective responsibility to build stronger ecosystems, enable greater access, and invest in women-led innovation.”Former minister Meenakshi Lekhi said the next phase of growth would require women to play a larger role in diplomacy, innovation and global engagement. Officials also highlighted the need for institutional support, including flexible work structures and childcare, to improve workforce participation.The summit also saw the signing of a partnership with Brazil’s micro and small business support agency SEBRAE to boost cooperation among women-led enterprises across BRICS economies.