India has been recognized as an emerging AI power

 UN Women Post on 6th May 2025:HDI 2025:

India is strong in the field of human development, but challenges also remain

UNDP India Women in India are being encouraged to play a leading role on sustainable development issues, especially those related to gender equality. (File photo)

6th May 2025 // Economic development

Despite the challenges, development continues in India. The picture given at the beginning of this post shows that there is happiness of economic achievements on the faces of these working women. There is also a glow of struggles. There is also a smile of standing on their own feet. It is a great thing that India has been recognized as an emerging AI power in the Human Development Report 2025. This is a matter of pride for all of us Indians. India is the only lower-middle income country to be ranked in the top 10 in the global AI index. Unfortunately, such positive achievements are not generally discussed in the media as much as they should be. Now all this information has been given in the information received from the United Nations.

A glimpse of the Human Development Report is also in this graph

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Report for the year 2025 indicates a decline in the global pace of human development this year. This decline is particularly evident in South Asia, but India has emerged as an exception in this region - where continuous progress has been seen in human development indicators. India has not only recorded significant improvements in the areas of health, education and income, but has also paved the way for inclusive and sustainable development through artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the Human Development Report titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI”, India's Human Development Index (HDI) has increased from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023.

With this, India has moved up from 133rd place to 130th place out of 193 countries in a year.

At the same time, India is moving closer to the threshold of high human development (HDI ≥ 0.700) while maintaining its place in the medium human development category.

India's HDI value has increased by 53% since 1990 - faster than the global and South Asian averages.

According to UNDP India representative Angela Lusigi, this progress reflects lasting improvements in average years of education, life expectancy, and national income per capita.

Role of AI

India has been identified as an emerging AI power in the Human Development Report 2025. This is a matter of great pride in our times. Progress in this field is also a guarantee of success and prosperity in the times to come.

India is the only low-middle income country to be ranked in the top 10 in the global AI index. When the history of the coming future will be written, it will be remembered with great pride. This is a milestone in a way.

According to this report, the infrastructure related to AI in India is strong, and there is continuous investment in the field of skill development. The strengthening of AI related infrastructure in India shows a glimpse of a golden future. This is a clear indication that the pace of India's development is going to be faster now.

In this connection, another figure has come to the fore that while the number of AI researchers was almost negligible in the year 2019, now 20% of Indian people, AI researchers are working in the country itself. There is every possibility of their number increasing soon.

If we go into a little detail, AI is being used in various sectors in India - such as agriculture, healthcare and public distribution system. For example:

*AI is being used to provide insurance and loan related advice to farmers in their regional languages.

*A plan is being made to set up a national AI facility for researchers and new companies and industries.

*AI based inclusive skill development programs supported by UNDP are being run in states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Continuous improvement in health, education and income

Life expectancy in India was 58.6 years in 1990, which has now increased to 72 years in 2023 - the highest level since the inception of the HDI index.

There has also been improvement in the field of education. Now the average period of children staying in school in India has reached 13 years, whereas in 1990 it was only 8.2 years.

Steps like the Right to Education Act, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and the new National Education Policy 2020 have played a significant role in this. However, there is still a need for improvement in the quality and outcomes of education.

On the economic front, India's per capita gross national income is projected to increase from $2167.22 in 1990 to $9046.76 in 2023 - an increase of more than four times.

This growth is attributed to broad economic reforms as well as social schemes such as MNREGA, Jan Dhan Yojana and digital inclusion.

This development has also had an impact on the lives of poor people. In particular, between 2015-16 and 2019-21, 135 million people have come out of multidimensional poverty, which is considered a major achievement.

The challenge of inequalities

However, according to the report, India has lost 30.7% in HDI due to indicators related to inequalities -one of the largest losses in the region.

While there has been some improvement in inequality in health and education, income and gender inequality remain widespread.

Women's participation and political representation, especially in the labour force, are still low. However, recent measures such as the constitutional amendment reserving one-third of legislative seats for women offer hope for social and political change.

Global perspective and situation in South Asia

The report expresses concern about the slow pace of global human development. It is at the slowest pace since 1990.

If progress had been maintained before 2020, the world would have been on track to achieve high human development by 2030. But this goal is now at risk of being delayed by several decades.

The report also shows that inequalities between rich and poor countries are becoming increasingly deep.

PAU news regarding women and farmers

 Monday 9th December 2024 at 2:41 PM PAU News Regarding Rural Women as Farmers Email at PSP

147 Rural Women and Farmers Attended Training Camp 

Rural women (72) and farmers (75) attended the camp

Ludhiana: 9th December 2024: (Punjab Screen Desk)::

Amla Fruits Photo By Rajesh S Baloria Pexels

Rajesh S Balouria“Amla holds immense nutritional value and health benefits,” said Dr Kulvir Kaur, Assistant Home Scientist, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), while demonstrating the making of amla murabba during the monthly training camp of women’s wing of PAU Kisan Club. In all, 147 rural women (72) and farmers (75) attended the training camps of the PAU Kisan Club, held under the leadership of Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education.

Dr (Mrs) Rupinder Kaur Toor, Associate Director (Skill Development), in her welcome remarks, advocated financial progress through the adoption of women centric avenues such as value addition and agro-processing. 

Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur and Mrs Kuldeep Kaur gave practical trainings in the making of chawanprash as well as amla pickle and powder.

Dr Prerna Kapila, Course Coordinator, informed about the skill development programmes aimed at sustainability of the rural community via socio-economic expansion.

Dr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist, proposed a vote of thanks.

Meanwhile, during the camp for the men’s wing of the club, Dr Tarundeep Kaur Dhaliwal, Agronomist; Dr Amarjit Singh, Senior Extension Specialist (Plant Pathology); and Dr Vivek Sharma, Soil Scientist, focused on weed management in rabi crops, diseases management in wheat, and soil testing for need-based use of fertilizers, respectively. Besides, Dr Harpinder Kaur, an expert of Consumer Science, talked about the right selection of utensils for cooking healthy food with thrust on the use of stainless steel instead of plastic.

The Club Secretary Satvir Singh welcomed the experts and the farmers, while the Club President Manpreet Grewal proposed a vote of thanks. The PAU Kisan Club training camp was held under the guidance of Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication and Dr Kuldeep Singh, Programme Associate Director.

SHe-Box portal recently launched

From Ministry of Women and Child Development Posted On: 29 November 2024 at 4:21 PM by PIB Delhi

The Act has enough provisions to deal with the matter

It is developed per the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2013

The portal is designed to serve as a central repository for ICs and LCs at State/ UT administration-level workplaces as well as workplaces in private sector

New Delhi: 29th November 2024:(PIB Delhi//The Women Screen Desk)::

Safety and security of women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. Keeping this in view, the Government has enacted “the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013” (SHe Act) to provide protection to women against sexual harassment at the workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints related to it. 

The Act covers all women, irrespective of their age, employment status or nature of work, whether working in public or private, organised or unorganised sector and whether in rural and urban areas. The Act casts a legal obligation upon employers of all workplaces, public or private, to provide a safe and secure working environment free from sexual harassment, whereby every employer is mandated to constitute an Internal Committee (IC) wherever the number of employees/workers is more than 10. Similarly, the Appropriate Government is authorized to constitute Local Committee (LC) in every district to receive complaints from organizations having less than ten workers or if the complaint is against the employer himself/herself. 

The Act has enough provisions to deal with various aspects of the matter including penal provisions for those who violate the provisions of the Act including for the employers. Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) being the Nodal Ministry, issues advisories to all Central Ministries /Departments and State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations from time to time for effective implementation of the Act and to organize workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employers and employees.

As per the provisions of the Act, the appropriate government has been mandated to maintain the data of number of complaints received and disposed of. Till recently, there was no central database for maintaining the data on number of ICs and LCs as well as number of complaints filed and disposed of. Hence, being the Nodal Ministry, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) launched SHe-Box recently. The complaint registration feature in the She-Box went live on October 19, 2024, after a majority of Central Ministries and Departments onboarded the portal. Since then, the portal has received 9 complaints. The portal has been designed to serve as a central repository for ICs and LCs at various State/ UT administration level workplaces as well as workplaces in private sector, once they on-board the portal.

The SHe-Box portal has been developed in accordance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and the time prescribed for inquiry under the Act is 90 days.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.

*****//SS/MS//(Release ID: 2079040) 

PAU Students hold women empowerment camp

PAU Ludhiana//Tuesday 8th Oct 2024 at 10:40 AM//Women empowerment

Camp at village Gahaur under the Rural Awareness Work Experience 

Ludhiana: 8th October 2024: (Kartika Kalyani Singh//The Women Screen Desk)::

A women empowerment camp was organized by the final year students of B.Sc Horticulture (2024-25), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), at village Gahaur, Ludhiana, under the Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE) programme. The camp was organized under the guidance of the Programme Coordinator Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Principal Fruit Scientist; and the Course in charge Dr Simrat Singh, Scientist, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, PAU. The primary objective of the camp was to provide a platform to the women entrepreneurs to showcase their handicraft items and explore additional opportunities for skill enhancement in horticulture and allied ventures. 

During the camp, Chetna and Jashan apprised the participants of various short term courses and training programmes being provided at the Skill Development Center, PAU, to enhance the required skills and impart knowledge in horticulture and allied subsidiaries such as making of jams, candies, squashes, pickles, etc. In addition, Jahnvi and Riya disseminated information about various government schemes available for the startups. Gurpreet educated participants about the importance of forming the Self-help Groups, to avail the subsidies for  women entrepreneurs.

An exhibition of locally made handicrafts was displayed by the farm women namely Smt Sukhwinder Kaur, Smt Harjot Kaur and Smt Gurmeet Kaur. It included diverse range of products comprising embroidery, hand woven folding fans, table fabric cover, knitted sweaters, etc. The students, namely, Sakshi, Harshdeep Kaur, Vishnavi, Himmat Singh, Ranjit Singh and Muskan of the RAWE programme actively participated for the successful conduct of this camp.

Bakery industry helps girls stand on their own feet

Demand rising in Punjab, Nagaland, Delhi and Gujarat too 

Mohali//Ludhiana:2nd October 2024: (Kartika Kalyani Singh//The Women Screen Desk)::

Apart from education and marriage, there are many other things that are needed at every step in life. The most important among these is the money earned through honest earnings, which strengthens the financial backbone and also establishes one's feet very well in the society. This is where the continuous series of other successes in life begins.

Our team had seen girls active in the world of baking a long time ago in the royal city of Punjab, Patiala. These girls came to the Kisan Mela organized there with their families. The sisters, brothers and parents of these girls were all working with them with great enthusiasm. The cakes, biscuits, pastries and many other baking items made by them were selling very quickly at their stall. They had taken all this training from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, which made them completely self-reliant.

To start the business, the family invested a little and government departments also helped them with subsidies. Soon the business started to take off. They also started needing a house. Within a year and a half, these girls not only recovered their investment but also started making profits. Because the products were clean, fresh and tasty, their popularity also increased. Big orders for weddings and other events started coming in. They themselves did not remember when their desire to work was left behind.

Even today, in the world of baking, there is a remarkable group of girls who are not only pursuing their passion but also turning it into home businesses. Their journey is a testament to hard work, creativity and determination. These young entrepreneurs are turning their baking dreams into reality through strategic investments and innovative marketing techniques. 

Good news of similar successes of such girls has also come from Nagaland. There too, proper education and training has been arranged for them. It is in great demand in Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and other parts.

Education guides every case and plays a key role in their success. Many have also sought out workshops and courses that enhance their skills and broaden their understanding of the business landscape. They form strong teams, collaborate with each other to share insights and support each other’s efforts. By using various tools—whether it’s social media platforms for marketing or budgeting tools for financial management—they are creating a path that inspires others.

It’s encouraging to see how these girls uplift each other while facing challenges in the baking industry. Their stories remind us that with passion, education, and teamwork, dreams can truly grow as beautifully as freshly baked bread!

These true success stories have created a new history. A new chapter has been written. A new path has been shown. This path leads to destinations where the saying “Apna Haath Jagannath” (Holding my own hands) starts proving true.

You too should take inspiration from them. You will move from the crowd of job seekers to the category of job providers. Bakery is only one field that we have discussed. There are many other fields open whose paths and destinations are calling you.

Stay tuned to Women Screen.

Gender gap is still very very critical

Monday 16th September 2024 at 9:14 AM

A recent UN report is sounding the alarm for global action

New York: 16th September 2024: (Media Link//The Women Screen Desk)::

A recent UN report is sounding the alarm for immediate global action to address critical gender gaps. Despite progress in gender equality and women's empowerment, with women now holding one in four parliamentary seats and fewer women living in extreme poverty, the report reveals that none of the indicators for Sustainable Development Goal 5 - achieving gender equality-are being met.

At the current pace, achieving gender parity in parliaments won't happen until 2063, and it will take an astonishing 137 years to lift all women and girls out of poverty. One in four girls are still married as children, highlighting the immense work that remains to be done.

The report emphasizes the staggering cost of gender inequality, with countries losing over $10 trillion annually due to inadequate education and an additional $500 billion in the next five years if the digital gender gap persists. 

Key Recommendations:

- Increase Investments: Boost funding to support women's empowerment and education

- End Discrimination: Enact and enforce laws to protect women's rights and prevent violence

- Legal Reforms: Implement domestic violence legislation to reduce intimate partner violence

World leaders are urged to take decisive action at the upcoming Summit of the Future on September 22-23 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025 to address these critical issues.

As Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director, emphasized, "Progress is achievable, but it's not fast enough. We need to keep pushing forward for gender equality" 

Union Minister Launches SHe-Box Portal

Posted On>Monday 02nd September 2024 at 12:06 PM //Ministry of Women and Child Development//PIB

Revolutionizing Workplace Safety for Women's Empowerment 

New Delhi: 02nd September 2024:(PIB//The Women Screen Desk)::

In a landmark move to enhance workplace safety for women, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, led by Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi, launched the upgraded SHe-Box portal on August 29, 2024. This advanced platform is designed to centralize information about Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) across the nation while streamlining the registration and tracking of sexual harassment complaints in workplaces.

The revamped SHe-Box now allows women to submit complaints directly to the relevant IC or LC of their choice, significantly reducing delays and minimizing human intervention in the complaint resolution process. Once fully updated with information from all Ministries, Departments, States, UTs, and private sectors, the platform will operate at full capacity. The Ministry's current target is to onboard the details of nodal officers and ICs of all Central Ministries/Departments by October 2024. The event also saw the unveiling of the Ministry’s newly redesigned website, marking a new chapter in its digital outreach.

The She Box will prove as A Game-Changer in Workplace Harassment Prevention in very short period. The SHe-Box portal is a cornerstone in the government’s mission to eradicate workplace harassment. By serving as a centralized repository of IC and LC information across sectors, it offers women a unified platform to file complaints, track their progress, and ensure timely action by relevant authorities.

At the launch event, Smt. Annpurna Devi highlighted the portal's role in providing women a more efficient, transparent, and secure way to address harassment at work. “This initiative underscores our government’s commitment to building a safer, more inclusive workplace for women across India,” she stated. The Minister also assured that privacy and confidentiality remain a top priority, with strict safeguards to protect the personal information of complainants.

It is not a slogan only  it is also a target that the Empowering Women as India Marches Towards 2047. As India approaches its centenary in 2047, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has placed women's empowerment at the center of its development agenda. 

Recognizing the critical role women play in driving economic growth, the focus remains on creating safe and enabling workplaces where women can flourish. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 has been a cornerstone of this effort.

The launch of the SHe-Box represents a significant leap forward in implementing the provisions of this Act. Beyond just complaint registration, it ensures active monitoring and accountability, laying the groundwork for a safer working environment for women across sectors.

Now this new invention is a New Digital Face for the Ministry too. It will improve the safety and confidence among women. Alongside the SHe-Box, the Ministry unveiled its newly designed website, crafted to enhance the government’s digital engagement. As digital platforms increasingly become the primary point of interaction for citizens, the new website aims to create a cohesive visual identity while improving accessibility and interaction with both national and global audiences.

Bridging Gaps Through Digital Innovation with very easy steps and system. The SHe-Box portal is a reflection of the government’s broader vision of harnessing digital innovation to empower women. By providing a seamless, single-window system for registering sexual harassment complaints, the portal makes the process easier and more accessible to all women, regardless of their work status or sector. Whether they are employed in the organized or unorganized sector, public or private institutions, or even domestic workers—SHe-Box is a tool for every woman.

In addition, the portal includes a repository of resources linked to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, such as handbooks, training modules, and advisory documents, all available in Hindi and English for free. The portal also offers educational videos aimed at spreading awareness of the Act’s provisions.

In an Concluding point of view the launch of the SHe-Box portal is a monumental step in the government's ongoing mission to create a safer, more equitable workplace for women in India. By integrating technology with legal frameworks, the portal provides women a reliable and secure platform to voice their grievances. 

Along with the new website, these initiatives are a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for women as India moves towards its centenary milestone in 2047.