The Big Picture - Women in Workforce

Women workforce in the country fell to 18 per cent in 2019 from 37 per cent in 2006, non- government organisation Azad Foundation said on the International Women’s Day on Sunday. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report this year ranks India at 149th position out of 153 countries on economic participation and opportunity. According to the Foundation, the Global Gender Gap Report estimates that raising women’s participation in the labour force can increase India’s GDP significantly. The declining women’s labour force participation, gender pay gap, high rates of informal work with lack of social security are seen as impediments to the goal of gender equality and empowerment of women in India. Over the last few years more women have taken up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses and are aspiring to enter the workforce. However dropout rates among women is also high, particularly around marriage, maternity and motherhood. There are options like working from home, creches and so on, yet a lot more needs to be done. On this edition of The Big Picture we will analyse the importance of women in the workforce. Guests - V. Rajyalaxmi, Sociologist, Janki Devi Memorial College, DU, Rhea Mazumdar Singhal, CEO, Ecoware Solutions Private Limited, Aditi Tandon, Special Correspondent, The Tribune, Anchor - Frank Rausan Pereira Producer - Sagheer Ahmad