Women’s Economic Empowerment Index
India’s economic growth depends on including women fully in the workforce. Today, women contribute just 18% to the country’s GDP. Nearly 196 million employable women remain outside the labour force. While female labour force participation has improved to 41.7%, only a small fraction hold formal jobs. This gap limits India’s ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Recent steps like the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index in Uttar Pradesh show how gender data can drive change.
Gender-Disaggregated Data
India collects many economic and social statistics but rarely separates data by gender. This lack of visibility hides inequalities. Without clear data, reforms stall and exclusion deepens. The WEE Index tracks women’s participation across five key areas – employment, education and skilling, entrepreneurship, livelihood and mobility, and safety and infrastructure. It marks where women drop out and the barriers they face. This approach shifts focus from mere participation to structural challenges.
Uttar Pradesh’s WEE Index
The Uttar Pradesh’s WEE Index reveals critical gaps. For example, women make up over half of skilling programme enrolments but form a small share of entrepreneurs. Their access to credit is even lower. In the transport sector, low numbers of women bus drivers and conductors led to new recruitment strategies and improved facilities like women’s restrooms at bus terminals. These targeted actions are possible only with gender-specific data.
Integrating Gender Data Across Governance
To close the gender gap, gender-disaggregated data must be integrated into all government departments. This includes sectors like housing, transport, and micro, small and medium enterprises. Local governments need capacity to collect and use this data effectively. Tracking must go beyond enrolment to include retention, leadership roles, and quality of employment, especially after secondary and tertiary education stages where female dropout rates increase.
Rethinking Gender Budgeting
Gender budgeting should not be limited to women’s welfare schemes or finance departments. Every rupee spent across sectors like education, energy, and infrastructure must apply a gender lens. Effective budgeting depends on accurate measurement. Without data, resources may not reach where they are most needed to support women’s economic empowerment.
Scaling the Model Across States
Uttar Pradesh’s WEE Index offers a replicable model. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana aiming for trillion-dollar economies can adopt similar frameworks. District-wise gender action plans informed by data can guide budget allocation, infrastructure development, and policy reforms. This can unlock the full potential of India’s female workforce and accelerate inclusive growth.
Women’s Role in India’s Economic Future
India’s gender gap is longstanding but evolving responses are crucial. Making women visible in data and policy is the first step. The WEE Index is a starting point to move women from the margins to the mainstream. Inclusive growth requires transforming how gender is measured and addressed at every level of governance.
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