Gender Equality,key to country growth

"As one of the fastest growing economies of the world today, India is uniquely placed to deliver on its commitments to inclusive and sustainable development," Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India Chetan Sanghi said in his statement to the 62nd Session of Commission on Status of Women at UN yesterday.

"Gender equality and emancipation of rural women is recognised as a key driver of inclusive growth and social progress in India," he added. Sanghi cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that India is moving from women development to women-led development, and said that "the discourse on women's empowerment is progressing from viewing women as recipients of welfare benefits to mainstreaming their concerns and engaging as partners and active agents of change in social, economic, cultural and political processes."

He further stressed that while significant improvements have been achieved in the lives and well-being of women globally over the past few decades, rural women across the world continue to face multiple and intersecting challenges.

"Asymmetrical division of labour, rights and assets coupled with their low participation in decision-making processes render them vulnerable to discrimination and violence," he said. Sanghi voiced India's commitment to strengthen cooperation in advancing the goals of gender equality and empowerment of all women to ensure that women and men are accorded equal treatment and enjoy the same opportunities.

The CSW, which will run through March 23, is the UN's largest gathering on gender equality and women's rights, and the single largest forum for UN Member States, civil society organisations and other international actors to build consensus and commitment on policy actions on this issue.