A Roundtable Discussion on social security and care support for women was held in New Delhi, chaired by Ms. Sumita Dawra (1991-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre), Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, in collaboration with UNICEF. The discussion aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and Union Budget 2025-26 goal of achieving 70% female participation in economic activities.
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Senior officials from the Ministries of Labour & Employment, Women & Child Development, and Health & Family Welfare, along with representatives from UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, World Bank, and academia, participated. The session focused on expanding social security for women in the unorganized sector through the Social Security Code and eShram – One-Stop Solution.
Key discussions included global best practices in family-friendly policies, integrating benefits across government schemes, and flexible work arrangements. Ms. Dawra highlighted the Aadhar-seeded Unique Account Number on eShram, ensuring efficient tracking of welfare schemes. She urged international organizations to support last-mile delivery at the state level.
She also emphasized the Union Budget’s focus on employment-led growth in MSMEs, manufacturing, and labour-intensive sectors like footwear, leather, and toys. The discussion aimed to develop a strategic roadmap for enhancing women’s workforce participation and economic empowerment.
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