Importance of women's self-reliance in workforce development

Everyday, I count myself extremely lucky to be associated with organisations like READ India. Here's a story out of the 100s we hear everyday. Faced with the devastating death of her brother during Covid19, and loss of financial resources, Sandhya Shrikrushna Salte, joined a READ India course on Food Processing in Kathoda village, Yavatmal, India. She soon launched her own home-based business, "Gopi Gruh Udyog", learnt how to use social media to promote her products, earning currently over Rs. 50,000/pm. Her success story is an inspiration to her other colleagues from the same centre. READ India recognises that women often face special barriers to education, formal employment, economic independence, perpetuating gender inequity and inequality. Which is why they have paid special attention to curating their trainings to focus on close-to-home, centre-based ones that can be provided online - the resultant activities can be completed either at the centre or at home. By equipping women with marketable skills and resources, these programs catalyse a process to break the cycle of poverty & empower women to actively participate in economic activities, promoting their social and economic wellbeing. Greater attention has been paid to women from minority communities & differently abled women so that solutions are created for a diverse group of women. READ India's skilling programs empowers women like Sandhya with necessary tools and knowledge to secure gainful employment or start their own micro-enterprises, in sectors with significant opportunities for self-employability. The impact has been profound and multifaceted: - Economic Empowerment: Partners gain skills and knowledge to access sustainable employment or start businesses, leading to increased income and financial independence. - Enhanced Social Status: New skills and economic independence improve the women's social standing, making them role models and leaders in their communities. - Improved Self-Confidence: Acquiring and applying new skills boosts women’s' self-esteem and empowers them to take on challenges. - Community Development: The program fosters self-reliance and economic empowerment, leading to individual success and broader community development initiatives. READ India put this model into practice in 2007, 17 years ago, and have created over 60 Community Library and Resource Centres (CLRCs) nationwide reaching more than 170,000 unique individuals. Lead by Geeta Malhotra and ably assisted by Smita Rai, READ has stood with 50,000+ women. The impact of Read India has been evaluated by their corporate partners, Accenture and Culvar Max. Their evaluation noted that the slow change in economic status or the growth of women’s participation in economic activities is further responsible for more respect for women, both in the community and household. On International Women's Day we stand in solidarity with all the women from READ. #skilling #womenempowerment #genderequality #IWD2025

A comprehensive guide for women striving to be self-dependent, especially within the context of Indian society. Steps to Becoming a Self-Dependent Woman: 1. Value Education : Prioritize completing your basic education, as it forms the foundation for independence and personal growth. 2. Identify Your Interests and Skills : Understand what you’re passionate about and develop the necessary skills to excel in that area. Continuous learning and skill development are crucial. 3. Communicate Your Ambitions : Involve your family members in your journey by sharing your goals and aspirations. This can help in gaining their support and understanding, which is vital in balancing personal and professional life. 4. Seek Support and Delegate : Don’t hesitate to ask for help, both at work and home. It’s important to remember that as a working woman, you’re contributing equally in both spaces. 5. Embrace Imperfection : Understand that making mistakes is part of growth. Don't be afraid to aim for higher positions; learning from experiences is key to success. 6. Balance Life and Work : Learn to strike a balance between professional and personal life. Understand that this balance is dynamic and may require more focus on one aspect at times. 7. Build a Support System : Whether it’s managing household chores or child care, ensure you have a reliable support system to manage daily tasks, allowing you to focus on your career. 8. Make Independent Decisions : While it’s okay to seek advice, ensure your decisions are in your best interest. This is fundamental to being truly independent. 9. Embrace Growth Opportunities : Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to grow professionally. When you feel ready, pursue new opportunities and advancements. 10. Be Financially Independent : Manage your own finances to ensure control over your income. Financial independence is a cornerstone of self-reliance. 11. Be Assertive and Confident : As you advance in your career, especially in male-dominated spaces, it’s important to be assertive and confident in your abilities. 12. Avoid Seeking Special Treatment : To be treated equally, start by treating yourself as an equal. This mindset fosters confidence and self-respect. 13. Know Your Rights : Be aware of your social and legal rights. Understanding these can help navigate any challenges and protect your interests. These tips offer a robust framework for women aiming to become self-dependent and achieve their career goals while maintaining a balanced life. Remember, the journey to self-dependence is personal and unique for each individual. Stay true to your values and keep pushing forward! #WomenEmpowerment #SelfDependentWoman #WomenInLeadership #FinancialIndependence #WomenSupportingWomen #CareerGrowth #EducationForWomen #BalanceForBetter #AssertiveAndConfident #KnowYourWorth #BreakingBarriers #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen #EqualOpportunities #BuildYourSupportSystem #IndependentWomen

Just after International Women's Day, the March Research Insights from The World Bank's World Bank Development Economics focus on more and better jobs for women. They highlight four recent research papers: 👩🏫 Megan Lang and Julia Seither find that a skills-based program in rural Uganda, which focused on business planning, record-keeping, and soft skills, increased women's likelihood of generating income from their own businesses by 17% after 18 months, helping them reinvest in their enterprises and maintain stable revenues during the COVID-19 lockdown. 💡 These findings highlight skills-based programs as an effective strategy for enhancing women’s economic participation and ability to withstand financial shocks. https://lnkd.in/g3Gyixmd 👷♀️ Florencia Devoto, Emanuela Galasso, Kathleen Beegle, and Dr. Stefanie Brodmann show that a public works program in urban Djibouti, designed to facilitate women's access to employment through job proximity, high wages, and flexible work arrangements, achieved a 77% take-up rate among eligible women but did not lead to sustained employment after the program ended. 📌 This underscores the need for policies that extend beyond short-term employment by expanding access to sustained job opportunities, addressing structural labor market constraints, and creating an enabling environment for women’s workforce participation. https://lnkd.in/gCXRNizF 🏠 Ivette Contreras, Lelys Dinarte, Amparo Palacios Lopez, Valentina Costa, and Steffanny Romero Esteban find that a survey experiment in El Salvador found that including a module with a list of activities in household surveys increased reported employment for women by 8.1 percentage points, as it helped them identify informal activities like preparing food or helping in a family-owned business as work, which are often underestimated in standard surveys. 📍 In low- and middle-income countries, where informal work is prevalent and employment gaps between women and men are significant, refining labor data collection is essential to designing and targeting interventions that help women and youth access better job opportunities.  https://lnkd.in/gtxJEDET 🕌 Federico Fiuratti, Steven Pennings, and Jesica Torres estimate that gender employment gaps in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) could significantly boost GDP per capita, with long-term gains averaging 50% across the region, though these gains vary widely by country and are expected to be smaller in the medium term due to slow physical capital adjustment. 🧷 This underscores the importance of reforms to facilitate female employment to accelerate economic growth in MENA, particularly in countries with the largest gender gaps. https://lnkd.in/gA5wYYER The Research Insights are available here: https://lnkd.in/geXYnXEZ

This Women’s Day, I want to share my vision of women’s empowerment—one that I wrote six years ago—emphasizing the vital role women play in shaping Pakistan’s economy. It’s time we turn this vision into reality. Women make up 51% of Pakistan’s population, yet only 22.3% are employed. Many highly educated women don’t enter the workforce, creating a twofold economic setback—lost productivity and increased financial dependency. In rural areas, women work tirelessly in farms and factories, yet lack financial independence. Globally, Canada (58%) and India (28%) have higher female workforce participation than Pakistan. We can’t afford to ignore this any longer. The solution? - Financial literacy & bank accounts for rural women - Workplace safety & security - Incentives for women-led businesses - Local awareness & mentorship Empowering women isn’t just a #social cause—it’s an #economic necessity. Let’s stand together for a stronger Pakistan. Read full article: https://lnkd.in/dyrgAqBq #WomenInWorkforce #EconomicGrowth #Pakistan #IWD #women UN Women Asia and the Pacific GHRS PVT LTD Women in Sustainable HR 30 for 2030

Despite the narrative of India's declining poverty, a crucial question emerges: Are we leveraging the full potential of our women in driving the nation's economic growth? The recent Niti Aayog report marks a milestone with a decrease in multidimensional poverty. Yet, we must ask: how are we integrating women—half our population—into this growth? #Educating women is not just a social good but a strategic move for national progress. In a country with persistent gender gaps in education and workforce participation, women's education becomes even more vital. It empowers them with skills and confidence to join the workforce, start #businesses, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. The link between women’s education and GDP growth is clear. Studies show increased female participation accelerates economic #development. Women also reinvest more into families and communities, amplifying positive outcomes. Yet, many women still face barriers to even basic education, limiting their potential. Overcoming these requires joint efforts from government, industry, and civil society—through gender #equality initiatives, skill development, and safe workspaces. Corporate India must also step up—offering equal opportunities and supporting women #entrepreneurs. An often-overlooked issue is women exiting the workforce post-maternity due to inadequate support. This impacts both business and the economy. Policies like flexible work hours, work-from-home options, and childcare support are vital—not just for employee wellbeing but for economic resilience. As we aim for a $5 trillion economy, women's inclusion isn't optional—it's essential. Government initiatives have helped, but there's more ground to cover in true economic empowerment. Let's prioritize women's education nationally, offering opportunities to learn, earn, and lead. This will help us build an inclusive economy that mirrors our nation's strength and #diversity. #deluxbearings #success #economicgrowth #womenatwork #inclusivegrowth

Women already power a significant part of textile garmenting operations. Across many organised setups, representation ranges between 20–30%. Their presence is particularly strong in precision-driven functions such as stitching, where focus, discipline, and output stability consistently strengthen production outcomes. Earlier, extensive material handling limited wider participation in spinning units. With automation increasingly managing movement and logistics, those constraints are reducing. Today, skill and process orientation matter more than physical strength. When machines handle movement, capability drives production. This shift presents a meaningful opportunity. The next step requires deliberate design: • Clear career progression pathways • Continuous skill development • Leadership exposure at the shop-floor level Inclusion in manufacturing is a strategic choice. It strengthens quality standards, operational discipline, and long-term stability. This year’s Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” reminds us that when organisations invest in opportunity, training, and leadership pathways for women, the returns are visible in stronger teams, better performance, and more resilient systems. Women’s Day offers a moment to reflect, but the larger responsibility lies in building systems that enable capabilities to grow. Performance improves when opportunity is designed well. #IWD26 #InternationalWomensDay #GiveToGain #WomenInManufacturing #InclusiveGrowth #Leadership

🔷 Judicial Clarity on Alimony & Financial Independence 🔷 A recent courtroom decision has sparked important conversations around alimony, financial responsibility, and self-reliance. In a high-value divorce claim reportedly involving ₹18 crore, a house, and a luxury car, the Hon’ble Chief Justice emphasized a powerful message: “Earn yourself. Live independently.” This statement goes beyond a single case — it reflects a broader social principle: ✅ Financial independence strengthens dignity. ✅ Self-reliance builds confidence. ✅ Empowerment comes from capability, not dependency. Marriage is a partnership, and separation is a legal process governed by facts, fairness, and law. Courts evaluate each case on merit, balancing rights and responsibilities. However, the larger takeaway for society — especially for young professionals — is clear: 💡 Invest in skills. 💡 Build your own financial foundation. 💡 Focus on career growth and self-development. Independence is not just economic — it is emotional, intellectual, and professional. As educators, mentors, and leaders, we must encourage the next generation to become capable, confident, and self-sufficient individuals. What are your thoughts on financial independence in modern relationships? Let’s discuss respectfully. 👇 #FinancialIndependence #SelfReliance #WomenEmpowerment #LegalAwareness #ProfessionalGrowth #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #SocialPerspective