New Delhi witnessed a powerful declaration on Saturday as Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi emphasized that ensuring safety for women at workplaces transcends mere legal obligations. It stands as a profound testament to the nation’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
Addressing the National Conference on Safety, Health, and Equal Environment at Workplace (SHE-BOX), the minister highlighted remarkable strides made under the initiative. Over 14.8 lakh institutions are now registered on the SHE-BOX portal, with more than 60,000 internal committees actively functioning. In a heartening trend, women’s participation in the labor force has surged from 23% to 42% over the past six years, signaling a transformative shift towards accountability and women-led development in India.
Devi pointed to the historic budget allocation exceeding ₹5 lakh crore, underscoring that women’s dignity, safety, and economic empowerment form the cornerstone of Vision Viksit Bharat 2047. ‘A truly developed India is one where every woman can work and lead without fear,’ she asserted.
Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur reinforced this by terming workplace safety a fundamental right. She shared impressive statistics: women’s labor force participation reached 41.7% in 2023-24, 70% of Mudra loans went to women, 44% of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries were women, and over 10 crore women are linked through 90 lakh self-help groups.
Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi echoed these sentiments, stressing that safeguarding women at work is integral to India’s constitutional pledge for equality and justice. Legislative measures like POSH Act and the SHE-BOX portal are fortifying transparency, accountability, and trust across sectors.
Earlier, Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik detailed the portal’s expansive progress, with over 1.5 lakh workplaces integrated and district-level committees activated nationwide. With 42% women in the workforce—80% in informal sectors—sustained efforts are crucial for comprehensive coverage and protection.
These developments paint an optimistic picture of India’s journey towards gender parity, but the goal remains clear: every woman must feel secure, respected, and empowered in every sphere of life.