Lok Sabha Question No. 3663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Women's Representation in Leadership Roles
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3663

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP ROLES

## 3663. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

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

- (a) whether any initiatives have been taken to increase women's representation in leadership roles across Government, Corporate and Political spheres and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to address malnutrition among women and children particularly in rural and tribal areas, through schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Government of India has adopted a 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-ofsociety' approach to address issues on a life-cycle continuum basis for the holistic empowerment of women from all sections of the society, and this includes political empowerment  of  women.  Through  various  policies,  the  Government  of  India  is promoting greater participation of women in local governance and political leadership roles.

In  2023,  Parliament  of  India  passed  the  Constitution  (One  Hundred  and  Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', marking a historic milestone in its national journey to foster equitable representation of women in public life at all levels of the federal structure. This landmark legislation rotationally reserves one-third of all seats for women in the Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and in all federal State  Legislative  Assemblies,  including  Legislative  Assembly  of  National  Capital Territory  of  Delhi,  thus  institutionalizing  representation  of  women  in  politics  at  the highest levels of public decision-making.

This recent landmark is built on the foundation of more than three decades of honing women's leadership affirmative action at grassroots level by reserving one-third (33 percent)  of  the  seats  in  in  the  rural  and  urban  bodies  of  local  governance,  i.e., Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Municipal bodies, through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992). Keeping with decentralized federal structure, over two-third  states  (21  states  /  and  2  UTs  with  PRIs)  have  made  provisions  of  50% reservation for women in their Panchayati Raj Institutions. As a result, today, out of approximately 31 lakh elected representatives in local governments, nearly half (46 percent), comprising 14.5 lakh, are women - a scale of representation unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

The Government has launched the 'Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan', a comprehensive  and  targeted  capacity-building  initiative  aimed  at  strengthening Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the nation. It focuses  on  sharpening  their  leadership  acumen,  enhancing  their  decision-making capabilities, and reinforcing their role in grassroots governance. The Government has prepared specialized training modules designed specifically for capacity building of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Recognizing the onground  challenges  faced  by  women  duty  bearers  and  women  leaders  contesting elections, a comprehensive 'Primer on Law Addressing Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices' for Panchayat Elected Representatives has also been prepared.

Recently, the Government has launched Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats Initiative with an aim to establish at least one Model Gram Panchayat in each District in  the  country  that  is  both  women  and  girl  friendly,  reinforcing  the  commitment  to gender equality and sustainable rural development.

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.

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.

(b): During the 15th Finance Commission cycle, 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) located in Government buildings @ 40,000 AWCs per year have been approved for strengthening  and  upgradation  as  Saksham  Anganwadis  for  improved  nutrition delivery  and  for  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  under  Mission  Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

Under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0,  the  issue  of  malnutrition involving dimensions of food, health, water, sanitation and education of women and children, including in rural and tribal areas, is being addressed through a multi-sectoral approach by establishing cross cutting convergence amongst 18 Ministries/ Departments.

A new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for improved health, wellness  and  immunity  through  activities  like  community  engagement,  outreach, behavioral change, and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce prevalence of wasting, stunting, and being underweight.

Supplementary  Nutrition  is  provided  to  Children  (6  months  to  6  years),  Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls to beat the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach in accordance with the revised nutrition norms of January 2023, which are based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for  quality  protein,  healthy  fats  and  micronutrients  rather  than  old  norms  that  were largely calorie-specific.

Fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro-nutrients and to control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being laid on the use of millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home ration at Anganwadi centers.

Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have jointly released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and mortality including the children in rural and tribal areas.

States  and  UTs  regularly  conduct  and  report  sensitisation  activities  under  Jan Andolans during Poshan Maahs and Poshan Pakhwadas celebrated in the months of September  and  March-April  respectively.  Community  Based  Events  (CBEs)  have served as a significant strategy in changing nutritional practices and all Anganwadi workers are mandated to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

The  'Poshan  Tracker'  application  was  rolled  out  on  1st  March,  2021  to  facilitate monitoring and tracking of infrastructure and service delivery at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and beneficiaries on defined indicators. With 'Poshan Tracker', real time data on malnutrition indicators is available every month. As compared to NFHS (sample size of approx 6.1 lakh households and survey done after every 5 or 6 years only), Poshan Tracker consistently measures approx. 8.5 crore children, including in rural and tribal areas, approximately each month revealing the real time nutritional status of beneficiaries.

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