Lok Sabha Question No. 2129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Women’s Representation in Various Sectors
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2129

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION IN VARIOUS SECTORS

## 2129. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  India  has  emerged  as  a  global  leader  in  gender  representation  in various sectors, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken certain steps to foster female participation in various professions, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that women are under-represented in police, armed forces and other non-conventional sectors;
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  to  increase  women's  representation  in  these sectors; and
- (e) the number of women recruited during the last three years in police and armed forces of States/ UTs, State/ UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d) : India is witnessing a rapid transition from women's development to womenled development with the vision of a new India where women are equal partners in fast paced and sustainable national development.

India is presently one of the only 15 countries in the world with a woman Head of  State.  Globally,  India  has  the  largest  absolute  number  of  elected  women representatives  in  local  governments. India  has  10%  more  women  pilots  than  the global  average.  Globally,  according  to  the  International  Society  of  Women  Airline Pilots, around 5 per cent of pilots are women. In India, the share of women pilots is significantly higher - over 15 per cent. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls in Primary and Secondary Education is almost at par with that of boys. The presence of girls/ women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is 43%, which is one of highest in the world.

One of the key indicators to measure healthy gender balance in society is 'Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)'. The latest reports of Health Management Information System (HMIS) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) reveal that SRB is showing improving trends and has increased from 918 to 933 at national level during 2014-15 to 2022-23 (provisional)  with  a  net  change  of  15  points. Several  initiatives  taken  by  the Government have contributed to  the  improvement  in  sex  ratio,  including  focussed approach for societal attitudinal change towards the girl child that has aided a shift in patriarchal mind-set that perceived the girl child as a burden towards a perception of girls as valuable members of the family and the society. 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme  has  played  a  key  role  in  change  of  mind-set.  The  number  of  women participating  in  major  household  decisions  is  increasing.  National  Family  Health Survey 5 (NFHS 5) says 88.7% women participate in major household decisions today as against 84% five years ago.

Government of India has taken various schematic and legislative interventions and made enabling provisions to ensure women's participation in various professions. In order to enhance the employability of female workers, under Skill India Mission, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial  Training  Institutes,  National  Vocational  Training  Institutes  and  Regional Vocational Training Institutes.

The  greatest  leap  forward  for  women  empowerment  and  representation  of women  in  the  highest  political  offices  in  the  country  has  been  the  notification  by Government of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (Constitution One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 on 28 September, 2023, for reservation of one-third of seats for women in the House of People (Lok Sabha) and in the State Legislative Assemblies including Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi.

Multiple initiatives for increasing participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) have been undertaken. Vigyan Jyoti was launched in 2020 to balance low representation of girls in different streams of  Science  and  Technology  from  9th  to  12th  standards.  The  Overseas  Fellowship Scheme started in 2017-18, provides opportunities to Indian Women Scientist and Technologists  to  undertake  international  collaborative  research  in  STEM.  Several women scientists have played significant roles in India's maiden Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or Mangalyaan, including building and testing the scientific instruments at the Space Application Centre.

In order to encourage employment of women, a number of enabling provisions have  been  incorporated  in  the  recently  enacted  Labour  Codes  viz.  the  Code  on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Occupational Safety, Health and  Working  Conditions  Code,  2020  and  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  for creating congenial work environment for women workers.

National  Agriculture  Market  or  eNAM  is  an  online  trading  platform  for agricultural commodities, scheme "Kisan Call Centres" answering farmers' queries on a  telephone  call  in  their  own  dialect,  mobile  applications  like  Kisan  Suvidha,  Agri Market, National Crop Insurance Portal, UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for NewAge  Governance).  These  digital  innovations  are  helping  women  overcome  or compensate the barriers they face in accessing markets. Farmers' welfare schemes like  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana,  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, etc. continue to nurture an enabling environment for women farmers. Through the initiatives Government is improving farm women's access  to  productive  resources  including  agricultural  extension  services  thereby bringing overall improvement in the lives of rural women.

National Cooperative Development Corporation is playing a significant role to uplift women cooperatives as large number of women are engaged and involved in cooperatives dealing with activities related to food grain processing, plantation crops, oilseeds processing, fisheries, dairy & livestock, spinning mills, handloom and power loom weaving, Integrated Cooperative Development Projects, etc.

The  Government  of  India  implements  'Mission  Shakti'  which  has  two  subschemes,  'Sambal'  and  'Samarthya'.  Under  'Sambal',  components  such  as  Beti Bachao  Beti  Padao,  One  Stop  Centre,  Women  Help  Line  and  Nari  Adalat  are  in operation. Under the 'Samarthya', sub-scheme, the components are Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Shakti Sadan, Hub for Empowerment of Women, Sakhi Niwas i.e. Working Women Hostel, Palna-Anganwadi cum Creches.

Under the Government's flagship  scheme  Deen  Dayal Antyodaya  Yojana  National  Rural  Livelihood  Mission  (DAY-NRLM),  nearly  90  lakh  women  Self  Help Groups (SHGs) having nearly 10 crores female members are transforming the rural landscape with regard to women's economic empowerment.

Most of the nearly 4 Crore houses sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana or the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme are in the name of women. All this has increased the participation of women in financial decision making. 'Vocal for Local' has a lot to do with women's empowerment, as the power of most local products is in the hands of women.

The Government has made enabling provision for increasing the representation of women in various professions that were earlier considered to be male domain. In respect of Armed forces several provisions such as granting permanent commission to women including in combat roles such as fighter pilots, allowing entry of women in National  Defence  Academy  (NDA)  [First  Batch  has  been  inducted  in  the  course commenced in June 2022], admission of girls in Sainik schools, etc. have been made. In Indian Air Force (IAF), Women officers are inducted in all the branches and streams. IAF  for  the  first  time  has  inducted  women  in  other  ranks  as  Agniveervayu  under Agnipath Scheme. At present, 154 Women candidates are undergoing training. The Army, Navy  and  Airforce  have taken several steps for increasing  women's participation  in  Armed  Forces.  These  include  increased  publicity on  various media platforms  including  Youtube  and  Social  Media,  conduct  of  motivational  talks  by Women Officers, undertaking visits to co-educational and girl's schools and colleges etc.

The  Government  has  also  taken  various  initiatives  which  may  encourage participation of more women in Government service. These, inter-alia, include availing Child Care Leave (CCL), leaving headquarters and proceeding on foreign travel during CCL, Special Allowance @Rs. 3000 per month to women employees with disability for child care, special dispensation for women officers of All India Service of North

East cadres, leave upto 90 days to the female Government Servants who have been allegedly  sexually  harassed,  exemption  of  fee  from  competitive  examination  for women, posting of husband and wife at the same station, etc. The States/ UTs have also  been advised  to increase  the number of  women  bus drivers,  conductors  and tourist guides.  Further, the Government has also issued advisories to all the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the representation of women to 33 per cent of the total strength of the police personnel in the States/ UTs. All the States/ UTs have  also  been  requested  to  create  additional  posts  of  women  Constables/  SubInspectors (SI) by converting the vacant posts of Constables/ Sub-Inspectors. The aim is  that  each police station should have at least 3 women SI and 10 women Police Constables for providing service round the clock.

Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  has  issued  advisory  to  all scheduled  airlines and  major  airport operators  of India to participate in the International  Air  Transport  Association  (IATA)  25  by  2025  initiative  which  is  an industry-wide  diversity  and  inclusion  project  that  aims  to  increase  the  number  of women in senior positions by either 25% against currently reported metrics or to a minimum representation of 25% by 2025. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has enabled female  participation  in  sensitive  domains  fundamental  to  the  functioning  of  the organization  such  as  Air  Traffic  Control,  Fire  Services,  Airport  Operations.  Further waiver in fee is granted to female candidates in Direct Recruitment exercise conducted by AAI.

There is increased presence of women in public life. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election for the first time in the country since independence, 81 women were elected as  Members  of  Lok  Sabha.  There  are  over  1.45  million  or  46%  women  elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (against mandatory representation of 33%). The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) to the Constitution of India had made reservation of 1/3 seats in the Panchayats and Municipalities for women.

(e) As  per  data  compiled  by  Bureau  of  Police  Research  and  Development (BPR&D) regarding women police personnel in State/UT Police, the number of women police  personnel  as  on  1st  January  2020  is  2,15,504,  as  on  1st  January  2021  is 2,17,026 and as on 1st January 2022 is 2,46,103.

The number of women recruited in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) & Assam Riffles (AR) is 6149, 2301 and 5316 during the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 (till date) respectively.

The number of women recruited during the last three years in Armed Forces is as under:

## (A)    Army:

Officers : The present of strength of women officers in Indian Army (excluding Medical, Dental and Nursing) is 1732. In the Corps of Military Police, the enrolment of women has started in the year 2019. A total number of women as Other Ranks in service is 206. State/ UT wise data of women candidates selected for various officer entries is not being maintained. The selection of officers is based on All India Level merit, after the  examination  conducted  by  Union  Public  Service  Commission  (UPSC).  For technical graduates, there is a provision of direct entry after Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The number of women inducted as officers in the Army during the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 is 75, 90 and 100 respectively.

Junior  Commissioned  Officers  (JCOs)  /  Other  Ranks  (ORs): 101  women candidates were recruited in Recruiting Year 2019-20. The recruitment for Recruiting Year 2020-21 and 2021-22 could not be carried out due to COVID-19 pandemic.

## (B)    Navy

The strength of women officers (excluding medical and dental officers) in the Indian Navy as on 08.12.2023 is 642. The number of women in Medical and Dental Branches is 171. The strength of women Agniveers in Indian Navy as on 08.12.2023 is 1124. The State/ UT wise number of women officers and women Agniveers recruited during the  last  three  years  in  Indian  Navy  is  at ANNEXURE -I  and  ANNEXURE  -II, respectively.

## (C)    Airforce

The  State/  UT  wise  number  of  women  officers  (excluding  Medical  and  Dental) commissioned  in  IAF  during  the  last  three  years  (2020,  2021  and  2022)  is  at ANNEXURE -III . Further, a total of 155 Women Agniveervayu have been enrolled for the first time in June 2023. The State/ UT - wise details are at ANNEXURE - IV .

*******

## ANNEXURE - I Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of Lok Sabha Un-starred Question No. 2129 for answer on 15.12.2023.

## Women  Officers  in  Indian  Navy,  State/  UT-wise  and  Year-wise  as  on  08 December 2023

| S. No.   | State/ UT                 | 2020   | 2021   | 2022   | 2023   |
|----------|---------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1        | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |        |        | 1      |        |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh            | 2      | 2      | 1      | 4      |
| 3        | Assam                     |        | 1      | 1      |        |
| 4        | Bihar                     | 2      | 2      | 3      | 3      |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh              |        |        | 1      |        |
| 6        | Delhi                     | 1      | 2      | 2      | 4      |
| 7        | Goa, Daman and Diu        |        | 2      |        | 1      |
| 8        | Gujarat                   |        | 3      | 1      |        |
| 9        | Haryana                   | 3      | 4      | 8      | 7      |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh          |        | 2      | 1      | 2      |
| 11       | Jammu and Kashmir         |        |        | 2      | 1      |
| 12       | Jharkhand                 |        |        |        | 1      |
| 13       | Karnataka                 | 1      | 7      | 7      | 4      |
| 14       | Kerala                    |        | 7      | 5      | 5      |
| 15       | Madhya Pradesh            | 1      | 3      | 4      | 7      |
| 16       | Maharashtra               | 4      | 9      | 9      | 12     |
| 17       | Orissa                    |        | 2      |        |        |
| 18       | Punjab                    | 2      | 4      | 1      |        |
| 19       | Rajasthan                 | 1      | 5      | 4      | 8      |
| 20       | Tamil Nadu                | 1      | 6      | 5      | 7      |
| 21       | Telangana                 | 1      | 2      |        | 2      |
| 22       | Uttar Pradesh             | 4      | 8      | 10     | 16     |
| 23       | Uttarakhand               | 3      | 1      | 1      | 6      |
|          | Total                     | 26     | 72     | 67     | 90     |

ANNEXURE - II

Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of Lok Sabha Un-starred Question No. 2129 for answer on 15.12.2023.

## Women  Agniveers  in  Indian  Navy,  State/  UT-wise  &  Year-wise  as  on  08 December 2023

| S .No.   | State/ UT                |   2022 |   2023 |
|----------|--------------------------|--------|--------|
| 1        | Andaman & Nicobar Island |      0 |      1 |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh           |      4 |     16 |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh        |      0 |      0 |
| 4        | Assam                    |      4 |      3 |
| 5        | Bihar                    |     18 |     52 |
| 6        | Chhattisgarh             |      9 |     10 |
| 7        | Delhi                    |      0 |      8 |
| 8        | Goa                      |      1 |      0 |
| 9        | Gujarat                  |     11 |      4 |
| 10       | Dadra & Nagar Haveli     |      2 |      0 |
| 11       | Daman & Diu              |      0 |      0 |
| 12       | Haryana                  |     12 |     64 |
| 13       | Himanchal Pradesh        |      4 |     14 |
| 14       | Jammu & Kashmir          |      6 |      4 |
| 15       | Ladakh                   |      0 |      0 |
| 16       | Jharkhand                |      0 |      6 |
| 17       | Karnataka                |      6 |     16 |
| 18       | Kerala                   |     11 |     37 |
| 19       | Lakshadweep              |      0 |      0 |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh           |     14 |     52 |
| 21       | Maharashtra              |     72 |    172 |
| 22       | Manipur                  |      0 |      0 |
| 23       | Meghalaya                |      2 |      0 |
| 24       | Mizoram                  |      0 |      0 |
| 25       | Nagaland                 |      0 |      0 |
| 26       | Odisha                   |      2 |     18 |
| 27       | Punjab                   |     12 |     23 |
| 28       | Chandigarh               |      0 |      1 |
| 29       | Rajasthan                |     19 |     73 |
| 30       | Sikkim                   |      0 |      0 |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu               |     30 |     10 |
| 32       | Puducherry               |      1 |      1 |
| 33       | Telangana                |      2 |      5 |
| 34       | Tripura                  |      1 |      0 |
| 35       | Uttar Pradesh            |     19 |    238 |
| 36       | Uttarakhand              |      4 |     22 |
| 37       | West Bengal              |      7 |      7 |
| 38       | Nepal                    |      0 |      0 |
| Total    | Total                    |    273 |    857 |

## ANNEXURE - III

Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of Lok Sabha Un-starred Question No. 2129 for answer on 15.12.2023.

Nominal Roll of Women Officers (excluding Medical/ Dental Branch) in Indian Air Force (IAF), State/ UT-wise in last three years

| S. No.State   | S. No.State       | 2020   | 2021   | 2022   |
|---------------|-------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1             | Assam             |        | 1      | 2      |
| 2             | Bihar             | 1      | -      | 3      |
| 3             | Chandigarh        | -      | 2      | 2      |
| 4             | Chhattisgarh      | -      | -      | 2      |
| 5             | Delhi             | 7      | 11     | 7      |
| 6             | Gujarat           | -      | 3      | -      |
| 7             | Haryana           | 7      | 18     | 13     |
| 8             | Himachal Pradesh  | 1      | 1      | -      |
| 9             | Jammu and Kashmir | 1      | 1      | -      |
| 10            | Jharkhand         | -      | -      | 1      |
| 11            | Karnataka         | 1      | 2      | 5      |
| 12            | Kerala            | 2      | 5      | 5      |
| 13            | Madhya Pradesh    | 3      | 3      | 4      |
| 14            | Maharashtra       | 6      | 8      | 14     |
| 15            | Orissa            | 1      | 1      | 1      |
| 16            | Punjab            | 5      | 8      | 6      |
| 17            | Rajasthan         | 3      | 5      | 4      |
| 18            | Tamil Nadu        | 2      | 3      | 2      |
| 19            | Telangana         | -      | 1      | 2      |
| 20            | Uttar Pradesh     | 6      | 14     | 18     |
| 21            | Uttarakhand       | 1      | 7      | 6      |
| 22            | West Bengal       | -      | -      | 1      |
|               | Total             | 47     | 94     | 98     |

ANNEXURE - IV Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of Lok Sabha Un-starred Question No.

2129 for answer on 15.12.2023.

Nominal Roll of Women Candidates ( Agniveervayu ), State/ UT-wise

| S.No.   | State/ UT         |   Total Female Candidate |
|---------|-------------------|--------------------------|
| 1       | Bihar             |                        6 |
| 2       | Chhattisgarh      |                        1 |
| 3       | Delhi             |                        1 |
| 4       | Haryana           |                       25 |
| 5       | Himanchal Pradesh |                        3 |
| 6       | Jharkhand         |                        5 |
| 7       | Madhya Pradesh    |                        3 |
| 8       | Punjab            |                        1 |
| 9       | Rajasthan         |                       29 |
| 10      | Uttar Pradesh     |                       77 |
| 11      | Uttarakhand       |                        4 |
|         | Total             |                      155 |