Indian women's labour participation rises from 23% to 42% in last six years: Minister Annpurna Devi
The Union Minister reiterated that women’s dignity, security, and economic empowerment remain central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047
Union minister Annpurna Devi on Saturday launched the Sexual Harassment Electronic Box (SHe-Box) portal to provide a single-window access to every woman, irrespective of her work status, and securely register complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
The initiative aims to promote awareness of PoSH provisions, strengthen compliance, enhance adoption of SHe-Box, and foster a culture of safety and dignity for women at workplaces across the country.
The portal also functions as a compliance resource hub. Workplaces can upload committee details, annual reports, and information on awareness and training initiatives, strengthening enforcement of the POSH Act.
Minister Devi emphasised that women’s safety at the workplace is not merely a statutory requirement but a reflection of the nation’s commitment to justice and equality.
She noted that with over 1.48 lakh institutions registered on the SHe-Box portal, more than 60,000 internal committees functioning actively, and female labour force participation rising from 23 per cent to 42 per cent in the past six years, India is witnessing a decisive shift towards accountability and women-led development.
Referring to the historic Gender Budget allocation of over Rs 5 lakh crore, she reiterated that women’s dignity, security, and economic empowerment remain central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
“With rising women’s workforce participation, building secure, sensitive, and opportunity-rich workspaces is essential to unlocking India’s full growth potential," the Minister said.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur underscored that workplace safety is a fundamental right. She highlighted the broader ecosystem of empowerment that has strengthened women’s participation in the economy, from the rise in women’s labour force participation to nearly 41.7 per cent in 2023–24, to 70 per cent of Mudra loans being extended to women.
Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi highlighted that ensuring women’s safety at the workplace is integral to India’s constitutional commitment to equality and justice.
He noted that legislative and institutional mechanisms such as the PoSH Act and the SHe-Box portal strengthen transparency, accountability, and trust across sectors.
A panel discussion on “strengthening compliance and creating a safe workplace culture” was also held.
