Date: 2026-03-11Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
MoS for Women and Child Development Smt.Savitri Thakur delivers India’s national intervention during General Discussion at 70th Session of CSW-70 at UN Headquarters in New York
**Executive Summary**
This document reports on India's national intervention delivered by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) in New York on March 10, 2026. The intervention highlighted India's progress in women-led development and reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and access to justice, aligning with the Beijing Platform for Action.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Women's Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship**
* Over 100 million women organized in nearly 9 million Self-Help Groups have transformed the rural economy through grassroots leadership and entrepreneurship.
* Women are leading over 1,000 start-ups supported by Atal Incubation Centres.
* More than 8 lakh women are directors in active Indian companies.
* Over 25 million rural women have received digital training under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PM-DISHA).
* **Gender Equality in Public Life**
* India's Female Labour Force Participation Rate has increased to 41.7% due to sustained policy interventions.
* The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam reserves one-third of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
* Over 1.4 million women, constituting 46% of elected representatives, serve in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* **Social Development and Welfare Initiatives**
* Approximately 39,000 children benefit from quality crèche facilities under the Palna scheme.
* Girls' enrollment in education is nearly at par with boys.
* Over 72% of 29 million rural houses constructed under the affordable housing scheme are wholly or jointly owned by women.
* Under Ayushman Bharat, 141 healthcare packages cover over 208 million women cardholders.
* **Access to Justice**
* India's approach to justice includes legal awareness, free legal aid, and grassroots dispute resolution through Nari Adalats and 334 Gram Nyayalayas.
* The Tele-Law programme has provided pre-litigation advice to approximately 4 million women.
* **National Commitment**
* Women-led development is central to India's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
* Access to justice is foundational for realizing all other rights.
* India reaffirms its commitment to strengthening inclusive systems for all.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:**
* **Women and Children in India:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from enhanced economic opportunities, increased participation in public life, improved access to education, healthcare, housing, and legal services.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly mentioned in the document; beneficiaries of government initiatives.
* **International Community and UN Bodies:**
* **Impact:** Informed about India's progress and commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, potentially influencing global discussions and collaborations.
* **Action Required:** Acknowledge India's contributions and commitments presented at CSW-70.
* **Government of India (Ministry of Women and Child Development and other relevant ministries):**
* **Impact:** Publicly recognized for its policies and initiatives promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing and strengthening programs related to women-led development and access to justice.
* **Delegations from approximately 75 countries:**
* **Impact:** Exposed to India's national perspective and achievements on gender equality and women's empowerment.
* **Action Required:** Consider India's approach and commitments in their national strategies and international dialogues.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70): The UN body whose 70th session was attended by India's Minister, where the intervention was delivered.
Beijing Platform for Action: A UN resolution referenced as a framework for India's commitment to gender equality.
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: An Indian law providing for reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.
Palna scheme: An Indian scheme providing crèche facilities for children.
Ayushman Bharat: An Indian healthcare scheme under which dedicated packages for women are provided.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
MoS for Women and Child Development
Smt.Savitri Thakur delivers India’s national
intervention during General Discussion at 70th
Session of CSW-70 at UN Headquarters in New
York
MoS highlights India’s progress towards women-led
development and reaffirms country’s commitment to
advancing gender equality and strengthening access to
justice
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 1:59PM by PIB Delhi
Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, delivered India’s national
intervention during the General Discussion at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW-70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 10th March, 2026.
In her address, the Minister highlighted India’s progress towards women-led development and reaffirmed
the country’s commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening access to justice in alignment
with the Beijing Platform for Action.Underscoring that India’s development philosophy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas has guided its vision of
inclusive growth, she noted that over 100 million women, organised into nearly 9 million Self-Help
Groups, have transformed the rural economic landscape by fostering grassroots leadership and
entrepreneurship.
She further highlighted that women are leading over 1,000 start-ups supported under Atal Incubation
Centres, while more than 8 lakh women directors are associated with active Indian companies. More than
25 million rural women have also been trained in digital services under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin
Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PM-DISHA), contributing to bridging the gender digital divide.
The Minister noted that sustained policy interventions addressing critical areas of concern under the
Beijing Platform for Action have contributed to increasing India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate
to 41.7%.
Emphasizing women’s participation in public life, she stated that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
provides for reservation of one-third seats for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies,
while over 1.4 million women, constituting 46% of all elected representatives, serve in Panchayati Raj
Institutions.
She also highlighted that around 39,000 children are benefiting from quality crèche facilities under the
Palna scheme, girls’ enrolment is nearly at par with boys across all levels of education, and over 72% of
29 million rural houses constructed under the Government’s affordable housing scheme are wholly or
jointly owned by women.
Referring to healthcare access, she noted that under Ayushman Bharat, 141 dedicated healthcare packages
cover over 208 million women cardholders.
On the priority theme, the Minister highlighted India’s comprehensive approach across the justice
continuum — including legal awareness, free legal aid, grassroots dispute resolution through Nari Adalats
and 334 Gram Nyayalayas, as well as the Tele-Law programme, which has delivered pre-litigation advice
to approximately 4 million women across the country.
She reiterated that women-led development remains central to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, with
access to justice forming the foundation for the realization of all other rights, and reaffirmed India’s
commitment to strengthening inclusive systems that leave no one behind.The General Discussion at CSW-70 witnessed participation from Heads of delegations of nearly 75
countries. The General Statements were delivered in the United Nations General Assembly Hall,
underscoring the shared global commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
***
SS/PC
(Release ID: 2238088) Visitor Counter : 141
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Gujarati , Malayalam