Lok Sabha Question No. 4746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Women Participation in Workforce
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4746

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2025

## WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN WORKFORCE

## 4746.  SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the declining participation of women in the country's workforce despite various gender empowerment schemes, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the female workforce participation during the last three years; and
- (c) whether the Ministry has conducted any study to identify policy gaps, if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a)  to  (c):  The  official  data  source  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  Periodic Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  which  is  conducted  by  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year. As per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) on usual status for females of age 15 years and above during 2021-22 to 2023-24 are as follows:

| Year    |   LFPR (in %) |
|---------|---------------|
| 2021-22 |          32.8 |
| 2022-23 |          37   |
| 2023-24 |          41.7 |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The PLFS data indicates an increasing trend of participation of Females in Labour Force over the years in the country.

There are a number of schemes and policy initiatives being implemented by various Ministries/  Departments of the Government of India across the country to promote women's participation in the paid workforce.

Recognizing the transformative potential of start-ups, the Government has introduced several  initiatives  to  support  and  nurture  entrepreneurship,  including  women's entrepreneurship. More than 73,000 start-ups, representing nearly half of the 1,57,066 start-ups supported by the government under the Start-up India Initiative, have at least one-woman director, underscoring the crucial role women play in driving innovation and economic growth.

The  Government  has  made  enabling  provisions  in  the  Companies  Act,  2013, mandating companies to have at least one woman Director.  As a result, today, nearly 11.6 Lakh Women Directors are associated with Public and Private companies.

Employment generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the  priority  of  the Government. Government implements various schemes to boost the FLFPR as well as  the  overall  LFPR  like  Stand  Up  India,  MUDRA  Yojna,  Start-up  India,  Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  (CGMSE),  Pt.  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Grameen Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY),  Rural  Self  Employment  and  Training  Institutes (RSETIs),  provides  employment/  self-employment  and  credit  facilities.  The  Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) which is a major credit-linked subsidy  programme  aimed  at  generating  self-employment  opportunities  through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector. Majority of the beneficiaries under these schemes are women.

Envisioning Self Help Groups (SHGs) as vehicles of change, today nearly 10 crore women  associated  with  90  lakh  SHGs  are  transforming  the  rural  landscape economically.  The  Government  implements  schemes  like  Namo  Drone  Didi  and Lakhpati  Didi  specially  aimed  at  enhancing  the  technical  capabilities  and  financial stability for women, particularly in rural areas.

To enhance the employability of female workers, the Government, under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY), is providing training to them through a network of  Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes. In addition, and Prime Minister's Internship Scheme also provides skill development and vocational training to women.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements 'Palna' component under Mission  Shakti  for  all  States/  UTs,  under  which  providing  day  care  facilities  and protection to children is the main focus area. Under Palna, Ministry has extended free services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèches (AWCC). As on date, 11,395 AWCCs across 34 States/ UTs have been approved, as per proposals received from various States/ UTs. The Ministry also provides financial assistance to States and UTs for operation and maintenance Working Women's Hostels (WWH). The Government also provides capital grant to States for construction of WWH under the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)'.

A number of provisions have also been incorporated in the labour laws for congenial work environment for women workers, such as paid maternity leave, child care leave, equal wages etc.

In addition, Ministry of Labour and Employment in January, 2024 issued an 'Advisory for Employers to Promote Women Workforce Participation'. This advisory inter-alia mentions the need for balance between employment and care responsibilities for both men and women including family friendly measures such as paternity leave, parental leave, family emergency leave and flexible working arrangements.

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