In the first budget of the Modi government’s third term, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of more than Rs 3 lakh crore for schemes benefitting women and girls. Highlighting the government’s commitment to gender equality, Sitharaman used the word ‘women’ 13 times in her budget speech.

The finance minister emphasized that this substantial funding aims to facilitate higher participation of women in the workforce through the establishment of working women hostels in collaboration with industry and the setting up of creches.

This initiative is expected to create a supportive environment for women professionals and help organizations foster a more inclusive workplace. Additionally, Sitharaman mentioned that the government is focused on providing widespread opportunities for women across various sectors, ensuring their economic empowerment and social welfare.

These schemes are designed to address challenges faced by women in balancing work and family responsibilities, thereby promoting greater gender parity in the workforce