In this Women’s issues must not be sidelined but should be an integral part of policy-making and governance. On this International Women’s Day, let us go beyond symbolic gestures and move beyond rhetoric
As a woman in politics and an advocate for women’s voices nationally and internationally, I extend my warmest wishes on this International Women’s Day. This occasion serves not just as a celebration but also as a moment of reflection on the progress we have made and the long road ahead in achieving true gender equality.
This year’s Women’s Day comes a short month after the Delhi elections, marking a historic moment with the appointment of the city’s fourth female Chief Minister and first-ever female Leader of Opposition. We also witnessed an unprecedented voter turnout, with women surpassing men—60.9 per cent against 60.2 per cent—in exercising their democratic rights. Delhi also saw the highest number of women contesting the election this time, making up 14 per cent of the total candidates. However, the same did not translate into elected representatives, with only 7 per cent of the seats going to women, the lowest in a decade.
Before we see these figures as a sign of progress towards women’s equal representation in the democratic process, I must remind you of the Women’s Reservation Act passed in 2023 to ensure 33 per cent representation of women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Despite getting full support across party lines, this Act remains in limbo, awaiting the completion of the census and delimitation exercises before getting implemented.
The census was postponed from 2020 and has been indefinitely delayed since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As a result, the aspiration of 33 per cent representation remains a distant dream, while the reality continues to hover around 10-14 per cent. This pattern is visible across states that recently held their elections—women comprised 9 per cent of candidates and 8 per cent of elected representatives in Maharashtra, 10 per cent of candidates and 14 per cent winners in Haryana, and 11 per cent of candidates with 15 per cent representation in Jharkhand.
Even as we fight for greater representation in politics, the discourse around women remains regressive, with many politicians making misogynistic comments about how women should dress, behave and conduct themselves. Women continue to be blamed for their harassment, while structural issues of gender-based violence remain unaddressed. India still lacks a marital rape law, and progressive legislation such as Maharashtra’s proposed Shakti Bill—designed to curb crimes against women and children—was returned without the Centre’s assent. A society where women’s safety and dignity are up for debate cannot claim to be on the path to equality. The gender gap in representation extends beyond politics into the corporate world. Even after tokenistic efforts to mandate having at least one woman on company boards, the progress on parity has been slow.
Women held just 18 per cent of board seats in India in 2023, lagging the global average of 23 per cent. Of this, the number of women chairing company boards stands low at 4 per cent. The situation is even worse at the highest executive levels—only 6 per cent of CEOs globally are women, with India standing at a meagre 5 per cent. Middle management, the crucial pipeline for future leadership, has also declined, with women’s representation falling from 18-19 per cent in 2019 to 14-16 per cent post-pandemic.
India’s total share of female employees in senior and middle management is only 12.7 per cent, significantly lower than neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka (24.6 per cent) and Thailand (34.7 per cent). The situation is no better for women entrepreneurs. India ranks 57th out of 65 on the Index of Women Entrepreneurs, and only 20 per cent of businesses are led by women. The funding gap is particularly stark—just 0.3 per cent of India’s venture capital funding went to women-led startups in 2021.
This funding disparity is not just an Indian problem; globally, women-led startups receive only a fraction of venture capital. In the US, despite women owning almost 40 per cent of businesses, they receive only 2 per cent of VC funding. Europe presents a similar picture, with male-led startups consistently securing the lion’s share of investments. Gender bias in the investment process is well-established. Experiments have shown that identical startup pitches are more likely to receive funding when delivered by a male voice than a female one.
Investors ask male founders about growth potential, while female entrepreneurs are questioned about personal commitments—marital status, children and whether their business is merely a “lifestyle venture.”
These biases are deeply ingrained and systemic, stalling women’s progress at every level. It is, therefore, not surprising that our artificial intelligence systems, the technology of the future, turn out to be gender-biased as well. AI is only as unbiased as the data it is trained on. The gender disparities in our society are mirrored in AI decision-making, reinforcing rather than challenging existing inequalities.
If we want a more equitable future, we need to change our thinking at the fundamental level—ensuring women’s inclusion is not just a tokenistic effort but a structural, sustained commitment across politics, business and governance and shift towards women-led development and change.
In the wake of these sobering realities, we must also recognise the steps that can drive real change.
The Government must ensure the timely implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act. Companies need to go beyond filling quotas and focus on mentoring and promoting women in leadership roles. Investors and venture capitalists must address their biases and provide fair funding opportunities to women entrepreneurs. Education and skill-building programmes must empower young women to take on leadership roles in various sectors.
Moreover, it is necessary that we, as a society, foster an environment where women feel safe and supported in the workplace, in politics, and public spaces. Sexual harassment and workplace discrimination must be addressed with stronger legal protections and zero-tolerance policies, and public representatives should reflect these values.
Women’s issues must not be sidelined or treated as secondary concerns but should be an integral part of policy-making and governance. On this Women’s Day, let us go beyond symbolic gestures. The numbers tell a sobering story, but they also offer a clear roadmap for change. It is time to turn these statistics into tangible action and move beyond rhetoric to create a world where women are equal stakeholders in every sphere of life.