• Source:JND
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In a remarkable feat for Uttar Pradesh, the female labour force participation rate has seen a rise from merely 14 per cent in 2017-18 to 36 per cent in 2023-24, the state government said on Friday, citing a new report findings.

This marks more than double the increase in just 6 years. The 22-per-cent increase in just six years indicates not only a statistical improvement but also a deeper social and economic change, as it underscores the rising presence of women in various sectors of the workforce, the state government said.

The state government lauded the women workforce based on the recently released Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index report.

Banking on it, the Yogi Adityanath government highlighted that from improving women's safety and launching the Mission Shakti program, to giving women priority in government jobs, allowing them to work night shifts, and increasing job opportunities in industries, all policy decisions have been taken with women at the centre.

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As per the latest report, India’s female labour force participation rate stood at 45 per cent in 2023–24. In Uttar Pradesh, it's stood at 36 per cent.

"Although still slightly behind the national average, this is a major improvement compared to 2017-18, when the state's rate was only 14 per cent, far below the national average of 25 per cent at that time," the statement said.

"This shows that Uttar Pradesh has made significant progress and has worked hard to close this gap," it noted. The leap in women's participation is also due to a major step by the government that allowed women to work in all 29 categories of factories, under specific safety and health conditions, that were earlier prohibited for female workers across the country.

"Employers must strictly follow safety guidelines to ensure a secure and supportive working environment for women," it added. In another such progressive move, the state government has also allowed women to work night shifts, provided employers arrange proper safety, transportation, food, and rest facilities.

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"This is intended to help women work fearlessly in late hours and opens new employment avenues in sectors that operate round-the-clock," it said. According to the data from the Labour and Employment Department, women now account for 53 per cent of registrations on the e-Shram portal and 34.65 per cent of workers in the construction sector are women.

(With PTI Inputs)