Lucknow, July 27, 2024: The Udaiti Foundation (TUF) in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government has launched Mission UNNATI, which aims at addressing life-cycle issues affecting women and promote their equal participation in nation-building.
The TUF and the Planning Department of the UP government on Friday conducted a multi-stakeholder convening on ‘Fostering Women Inclusive Growth in UP: Key Imperatives and Progress’ in Lucknow. The event laid the foundation for Mission UNNATI (Uttar Pradesh Naari - Nayi Akanksha, Tarakki aur Icchayein) which aligns with the state government’s vision of USD 1 trillion economy. A comprehensive landscape study titled “Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uttar Pradesh” was also unveiled at the convening.
The launch of Mission UNNATI was graced by Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary, as the Chief Guest; Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to CM as the Guest of honour; and leaders like Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning Department; Anil Kumar, Principal Secretary, Labour Department; Alkesh Wadhwani, Director-Health, India Country Office, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Ashish Dhawan, Founder - CEO, The Convergence Foundation; and Lohit Bhatia, President, Workforce Management, Quess Corp Ltd, among other eminent voices in the country.
“Uttar Pradesh government is committed to increasing female labour force participation rate and identifies it as one of the key levers for UP’s economic growth. The success of initiatives like Bank Sakhis, who have earned Rs. 70 crore as commissions, has opened the floodgates for bringing more women into the workforce even in areas like financial management. With UP's agricultural strength, vast service sector, and booming industries, integrating women into these areas will harness their full potential, driving our journey towards a 1 trillion dollar economy and ensuring holistic development. By investing in education and infrastructure, we can further support women's contributions and foster a more inclusive and prosperous society,” said Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary.
This mission includes taking pivotal steps such as forming a State Level Steering Committee on Women Economic Empowerment in UP chaired by the Chief Secretary. The committee will address urgent matters related to WEE and introduce the Women Economic Empowerment Index (WEE Index), aimed at measuring and influencing progress at the district level. This first-of-its-kind innovative tool aims to offer a systematic approach to tracking advancements, outcomes and driving focused interventions across the state.
"The data presented in the landscape study report is a significant roadmap for future action. The establishment of a Steering Committee on Women Economic Empowerment and the launch of a Women Economic Empowerment Index (WEEI) will be crucial in tracking progress and ensuring accountability. By setting clear benchmarks and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, we can drive substantial progress in women's economic participation and empowerment," said Alok Kumar, PS Planning.
The convening sparked a critical dialogue between key government and private sector stakeholders on promoting women’s enhanced participation pertaining to aspects such as enabling financial support for micro and small women entrepreneurs; fostering targeted interventions in technical education such as incentivizing ITI for women; launching digital literacy campaigns for women and implementing gender tracking for MUDRA loans; and improving safety, mobility and infrastructure for women.
Pooja Sharma Goyal, CEO of The Udaiti Foundation, stated, “It is exciting to see the commitment of the Government of UP towards women's inclusive growth. Mission Unnati has the potential to unlock significant economic value in the state by paving the way for more women entering the workforce and creating growth enterprises.”
