Every nation’s growth story has a missing chapter, one written quietly by women whose labour sustains households, communities and economies, yet rarely makes it into official accounts. They rebuild after trauma, shoulder invisible work and navigate the informal economy without protection or recognition. And still, they persist. The power they carry has never been the issue. Access, opportunity and voice have.
As India pushes forward on gender equity and economic inclusion, corporate responsibility becomes more than philanthropy. It becomes participation in designing pathways where marginalised women gain agency, stability and self-worth. This is where the voice of practitioners matters most.
In the article that follows, Rajani Jalan, Director People Relations & CSR at mPokket, reflects from lived professional experience, not theory. She writes from the vantage point of someone shaping interventions on the ground, where finance, skilling, mental health support and dignity intersect. Her perspective is relevant precisely because it bridges strategy with grassroots reality and challenges CSR to move from transactional aid to transformational partnership.
Empowering Women at the Margins: The Corporate Role in Building Inclusive Futures
In the journey toward inclusive development, women at the margins often remain invisible despite the enormous potential they carry. These are women navigating informal employment, recovering from trauma, or living in underserved communities, facing barriers that are economic, social, and psychological all at once. Their challenges are not isolated; they are intertwined, and so must be the solutions. Corporations seeking sustainable impact have an opportunity and a responsibility, to create interventions that respect agency, dignity, and long-term empowerment.
Globally, informal employment is a greater source of employment for men (60% of male workers are in informal employment) than for women (55% of women workers) (Source). In India, approximately 81.8% of female employees are engaged in the informal sector, yet they earn up to 30% less than men and have limited access to social security or formal credit (Source). Additionally, survivors of trauma, such as those affected by domestic violence or trafficking, encounter compounded vulnerabilities, including disrupted education and social stigma.
Yet change is possible. When vocational training and microfinance initiatives are paired with mental health counseling and legal support, transformation becomes tangible. Women equipped with skills, financial literacy, and counseling report greater income, enhanced decision-making, and renewed confidence. The effects are not confined to individuals; they ripple outward. Children attend school more regularly, families enjoy improved nutrition, and local communities experience better health outcomes. Educated women often become advocates within their households, fostering a culture of learning and prioritizing healthcare, thereby shaping generational progress.
However, impact demands care in design. Programs that impose solutions risk fostering dependency rather than autonomy. True empowerment lies in enabling women to define their own goals and navigate their own paths. Ethical frameworks should emphasize co-creation, respect for lived experience, and adaptability to local contexts. Women must be partners, not passive recipients, in the solutions intended for them.
Corporations also have a role within their own walls. Employee engagement can amplify social change, creating a culture of allyship and advocacy. When staff are invited to mentor, volunteer, or contribute to resource drives, organizations embed social consciousness alongside community impact. Such involvement reinforces that empowerment is a shared responsibility, not a checkbox. For corporate leaders, the imperative is clear: direct resources toward interventions that empower women at the margins while ensuring these initiatives uphold dignity, choice, and agency. Empowerment is more than a metric, it is a philosophy. By integrating holistic support systems, ethical program design, and employee-led advocacy, businesses can transform corporate social responsibility from a transactional activity into a strategic force for inclusive, sustainable development.
The future of equitable growth hinges on our willingness to invest in those historically overlooked. Thoughtful, holistic, and ethical empowerment of women does more than enable livelihoods, it forges inclusive futures, strengthens families, and reshapes communities. The story of development is incomplete without them, and it is in uplifting these women that we craft a future that truly belongs to all.
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