Haryana has transitioned from an agrarian to a more industrial economy, characterized by strong agricultural output and growing sectors such as automotive and IT. Despite economic growth, unemployment remains high, particularly among youth and women, due to limited formal job opportunities and structural challenges. This factsheet analyses female labour force participation in Haryana from 2017–18 to 2023–24, highlighting sectoral trends, occupational segregation, and barriers to workforce entry.
Publications
Publications
Category
Year
Report
Stepping Out of Vulnerability
- November , 2022
- Alpaxee Kashyap
This learning practice document examines how Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Tripura have utilised VRFs to support vulnerable households. The case studies highlight diverse applications, including Odisha’s use of VRFs to develop nutrition gardens (Mo Upakari Bagicha), supported by trained women Krishi Mitras who provide agricultural guidance and handholding. The case of Soni illustrates how VRF-supported nutrition gardens helped women sustain livelihoods and earn income during the COVID-19 lockdown.
This learning practice document examines how Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Odisha, and Tripura have utilised VRFs to support vulnerable households. The case studies highlight diverse applications, including Odisha’s use of VRFs to develop nutrition gardens (Mo Upakari Bagicha), supported by trained women Krishi Mitras who provide agricultural guidance and handholding. The case of Soni illustrates how VRF-supported nutrition gardens helped women sustain livelihoods and earn income during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Factsheet
National Family Health Survey
- October , 2022
- Aparna G | Bidisha Mondal
Discover comprehensive data on women’s socio-economic conditions through our annual factsheets. These factsheets, drawn from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), provide insights into critical areas such as education, health, work participation, decision-making, and access to resources. By analysing trends across various indicators, these factsheets offer a valuable snapshot of women’s lives in India, highlighting progress and ongoing challenges. Explore the factsheets for the latest data and understand the evolving landscape of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Discover comprehensive data on women’s socio-economic conditions through our annual factsheets. These factsheets, drawn from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), provide insights into critical areas such as education, health, work participation, decision-making, and access to resources. By analysing trends across various indicators, these factsheets offer a valuable snapshot of women’s lives in India, highlighting progress and ongoing challenges. Explore the factsheets for the latest data and understand the evolving landscape of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Learning note
Insights from a Survey of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in Chhattisgarh
- August , 2022
The CSC survey was conducted as part of an impact evaluation of the Haqdarshak program in Chhattisgarh.Haqdarshikas seem to play an important role in generating demand for less popular schemes especially state-specific schemes, which, nevertheless, bring important benefits to families across all major welfare dimensions, including education, health, shelter, and livelihoods.
The CSC survey was conducted as part of an impact evaluation of the Haqdarshak program in Chhattisgarh.Haqdarshikas seem to play an important role in generating demand for less popular schemes especially state-specific schemes, which, nevertheless, bring important benefits to families across all major welfare dimensions, including education, health, shelter, and livelihoods.
Newsletter (Gender In Focus)
Gender in Focus
- April , 2022
- IWWAGE
This issue of **Gender in Focus** offers a snapshot of IWWAGE’s ongoing work to address key challenges and document best practices. It features insights from a field study on information flows and the role of technology within Self-Help Groups in Chhattisgarh, along with excerpts from research on barriers to women’s career advancement in manufacturing. The issue also highlights a February 2022 report—developed with The Quantum Hub—summarising major trends in women’s work and livelihoods observed in 2021 and the pandemic’s impact on women’s lives. In addition, it includes webinar highlights on COVID-19’s effects across domains, along with updates and recent media coverage.
This issue of **Gender in Focus** offers a snapshot of IWWAGE’s ongoing work to address key challenges and document best practices. It features insights from a field study on information flows and the role of technology within Self-Help Groups in Chhattisgarh, along with excerpts from research on barriers to women’s career advancement in manufacturing. The issue also highlights a February 2022 report—developed with The Quantum Hub—summarising major trends in women’s work and livelihoods observed in 2021 and the pandemic’s impact on women’s lives. In addition, it includes webinar highlights on COVID-19’s effects across domains, along with updates and recent media coverage.
ICRW-GJP-IWWAGE Research Process Documentation
- April , 2020
- Radhika Uppal, Nilanjana Sengupta, Sunandita Banerjee, Somjita Laha
Report
Handbook on institutional mechanisms for addressing gender issues
- March , 2022
- Moumita Sarkar | Soya Thomas | Alpaxee Kashyap
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) recognises poverty as multidimensional and addresses the intersectional vulnerabilities women face due to gender, caste, class, and ethnicity. Believing in empowering women through specialised institutions, DAY-NRLM has developed a gender architecture to tackle these challenges. This structure includes platforms such as Gender Forums (GF), Social Action Committees (SAC), Village Organisations (VO), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLF), which raise awareness about women’s rights and connect them to public institutions. Gender Point Persons (GPP) help raise gender issues within Self-Help Groups (SHGs). While progress varies across states, many have successfully used these platforms to secure rights and entitlements for women. This handbook offers guidance on establishing and maintaining these institutions at all levels. It highlights their transformative role in addressing gender inequality, improving access to rights, and fostering stronger state-citizen relationships. The handbook aims to motivate state partners to invest in these models, demonstrating the positive impact they can have on women’s lives.
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) recognises poverty as multidimensional and addresses the intersectional vulnerabilities women face due to gender, caste, class, and ethnicity. Believing in empowering women through specialised institutions, DAY-NRLM has developed a gender architecture to tackle these challenges. This structure includes platforms such as Gender Forums (GF), Social Action Committees (SAC), Village Organisations (VO), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLF), which raise awareness about women’s rights and connect them to public institutions. Gender Point Persons (GPP) help raise gender issues within Self-Help Groups (SHGs). While progress varies across states, many have successfully used these platforms to secure rights and entitlements for women. This handbook offers guidance on establishing and maintaining these institutions at all levels. It highlights their transformative role in addressing gender inequality, improving access to rights, and fostering stronger state-citizen relationships. The handbook aims to motivate state partners to invest in these models, demonstrating the positive impact they can have on women’s lives.
Report
Women and Work: How India Fared in 2021
- January , 2022
- IWWAGE , TQH
The year 2021 continued to challenge global recovery efforts, with the second wave of COVID-19 presenting new hurdles. Women and girls were disproportionately impacted, with structural barriers exacerbating the health crisis. As this report is compiled, the Omicron variant remains a threat, highlighting the need for a gender-responsive and equitable recovery. To achieve this, we must design inclusive social safety nets, bridge the gender gap in access to technology, create hybrid work solutions, reduce and redistribute care work, and invest in the care economy. Collecting robust, sex-disaggregated data is crucial to ensure effective, scalable policies and solutions. This report maps the ongoing efforts to bring women back into the workforce and prepare them for the future of work. It highlights key policy and programmatic developments that shaped women’s work in India in 2021. Additionally, the report looks ahead, emphasising new-age skills, entrepreneurship, and non-traditional livelihoods for a self-reliant India. It also sheds light on social indicators influencing women’s workforce participation, including access to resources, health, well-being, and security.
The year 2021 continued to challenge global recovery efforts, with the second wave of COVID-19 presenting new hurdles. Women and girls were disproportionately impacted, with structural barriers exacerbating the health crisis. As this report is compiled, the Omicron variant remains a threat, highlighting the need for a gender-responsive and equitable recovery. To achieve this, we must design inclusive social safety nets, bridge the gender gap in access to technology, create hybrid work solutions, reduce and redistribute care work, and invest in the care economy. Collecting robust, sex-disaggregated data is crucial to ensure effective, scalable policies and solutions. This report maps the ongoing efforts to bring women back into the workforce and prepare them for the future of work. It highlights key policy and programmatic developments that shaped women’s work in India in 2021. Additionally, the report looks ahead, emphasising new-age skills, entrepreneurship, and non-traditional livelihoods for a self-reliant India. It also sheds light on social indicators influencing women’s workforce participation, including access to resources, health, well-being, and security.
Learning note
Innovations for Women’s Empowerment Collectives in Chhattisgarh
- December , 2021
IWWAGE and LEAD at Krea University, in partnership with Bihan and with support from the Gates Foundation, are testing digital and assisted models to strengthen Women’s Empowerment Collectives (WECs) in Chhattisgarh. These pilots include: Haqdarshak: Training SHG women as digital agents (Haqdarshikas) to help communities access government entitlements, with over 2.9 lakh applications processed and income generated for agents. Mor Awaaz: Encouraging mobile phone use among women in SKY villages through weekly information calls, aiming to shift gender norms and improve digital engagement. Information Sharing in SHGs: Exploring how digital tools and social networks influence knowledge sharing and economic resilience, with planned training on soap-making and business skills for SHG women. These initiatives aim to build digital capacity, promote economic inclusion, and strengthen community-based support systems for rural women.
IWWAGE and LEAD at Krea University, in partnership with Bihan and with support from the Gates Foundation, are testing digital and assisted models to strengthen Women’s Empowerment Collectives (WECs) in Chhattisgarh. These pilots include: Haqdarshak: Training SHG women as digital agents (Haqdarshikas) to help communities access government entitlements, with over 2.9 lakh applications processed and income generated for agents. Mor Awaaz: Encouraging mobile phone use among women in SKY villages through weekly information calls, aiming to shift gender norms and improve digital engagement. Information Sharing in SHGs: Exploring how digital tools and social networks influence knowledge sharing and economic resilience, with planned training on soap-making and business skills for SHG women. These initiatives aim to build digital capacity, promote economic inclusion, and strengthen community-based support systems for rural women.
Working Paper
Understanding the barriers to women’s career advancement in the manufacturing sector
- December , 2021
- Swati Sharma
This paper, Understanding the barriers to women’s career advancement in manufacturing sector: diagnostic study of Indian garment factories, is part of the working paper series and has been produced with the help of IWWAGE research fellowship to young researchers in 2019
This paper, Understanding the barriers to women’s career advancement in manufacturing sector: diagnostic study of Indian garment factories, is part of the working paper series and has been produced with the help of IWWAGE research fellowship to young researchers in 2019
IWWAGE-ISI-BRIEFS
Land Access, Productivity and Female Labour Force Participation
- December , 2021
- Ayushi Gupta
Authored by Ayushi Gupta (Research Associate, IWWAGE). ISST is a New Delhi–registered public charitable trust (Reg. No. 923; 25 Feb 1980), based at India Habitat Centre, permitted to receive foreign contributions (FCRA: 231650070); donations are eligible for 80G tax exemption. IWWAGE is an initiative of LEAD (IFMR Society), with strategic oversight and brand support from Krea University, and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the views in this brief are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the Foundation’s.
Authored by Ayushi Gupta (Research Associate, IWWAGE). ISST is a New Delhi–registered public charitable trust (Reg. No. 923; 25 Feb 1980), based at India Habitat Centre, permitted to receive foreign contributions (FCRA: 231650070); donations are eligible for 80G tax exemption. IWWAGE is an initiative of LEAD (IFMR Society), with strategic oversight and brand support from Krea University, and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the views in this brief are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the Foundation’s.
Report Snapshot
Swayam Process Evaluation: A Year-Long Ethnography Study, Madhya Pradesh & Odisha
- June , 2025
- Anushree Goenka, Lopamudra Nayak, Moumita Mandal, Shaheen Kauser, Sudhir Kumar Kori, Anubha Dixit, Mallika Mitra Biswas, Garvi Dhar, Pratyusha Barua, Surabhi Awasthi, Gayathri Sreedharan
This study assesses the impact of training programmes on community change and empowerment among leaders of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs). It also includes interviews with district- and block-level officials from MPSRLM and OLM to examine how line departments collaborate with community institutions to address and resolve complaints.
This study assesses the impact of training programmes on community change and empowerment among leaders of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs). It also includes interviews with district- and block-level officials from MPSRLM and OLM to examine how line departments collaborate with community institutions to address and resolve complaints.
Report
Swayam Process Evaluation: A Year-Long Ethnography Study, Madhya Pradesh & Odisha
- June , 2025
- Surabhi Awasthi, Moumita Sarkar and Gayathri Sreedharan
This study assesses the impact of training programmes on community change and empowerment among leaders of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs). It also includes interviews with district- and block-level officials from MPSRLM and OLM to examine how line departments collaborate with community institutions to address and resolve complaints.
This study assesses the impact of training programmes on community change and empowerment among leaders of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs). It also includes interviews with district- and block-level officials from MPSRLM and OLM to examine how line departments collaborate with community institutions to address and resolve complaints.
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour and Workforce Participation-Bihar
- April , 2025
- Aneek Choudhary and Bidisha Mondal
Bihar, despite being one of India’s fastest-growing states, has the lowest female labour force participation rate, alongside a widening gender gap. Policy focus on girls’ education, skills, entrepreneurship, and social support through schemes such as the Balika Cycle Yojana, Akshar Anchal Yojana, and Kanya Suraksha Yojana have contributed to recent improvements in female participation. Using PLFS data, this factsheet examines trends and key characteristics of women’s employment in Bihar.
Bihar, despite being one of India’s fastest-growing states, has the lowest female labour force participation rate, alongside a widening gender gap. Policy focus on girls’ education, skills, entrepreneurship, and social support through schemes such as the Balika Cycle Yojana, Akshar Anchal Yojana, and Kanya Suraksha Yojana have contributed to recent improvements in female participation. Using PLFS data, this factsheet examines trends and key characteristics of women’s employment in Bihar.
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour Force Participation in Uttar Pradesh
- April , 2025
- Aneek Choudhary and Bidisha Mondal
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has a large working-age female population but a female labor force participation rate that is well below the national average. Regional disparities, weak infrastructure in eastern UP, restrictive socio-cultural norms, and limited economic opportunities contribute to low participation. Female workforce participation has improved since 2017–18, supported by schemes such as the Mudra Yojana and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, which have expanded women’s access to credit, strengthened self-help groups, and promoted women’s economic empowerment across the state.
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has a large working-age female population but a female labor force participation rate that is well below the national average. Regional disparities, weak infrastructure in eastern UP, restrictive socio-cultural norms, and limited economic opportunities contribute to low participation. Female workforce participation has improved since 2017–18, supported by schemes such as the Mudra Yojana and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, which have expanded women’s access to credit, strengthened self-help groups, and promoted women’s economic empowerment across the state.
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour Force and Workforce Participation- Haryana
- April , 2025
- Vidhi, Aneek Choudhary and Bidisha Mondal
Haryana has transitioned from an agrarian to a more industrial economy, characterized by strong agricultural output and growing sectors such as automotive and IT. Despite economic growth, unemployment remains high, particularly among youth and women, due to limited formal job opportunities and structural challenges. This factsheet analyses female labour force participation in Haryana from 2017–18 to 2023–24, highlighting sectoral trends, occupational segregation, and barriers to workforce entry.
Haryana has transitioned from an agrarian to a more industrial economy, characterized by strong agricultural output and growing sectors such as automotive and IT. Despite economic growth, unemployment remains high, particularly among youth and women, due to limited formal job opportunities and structural challenges. This factsheet analyses female labour force participation in Haryana from 2017–18 to 2023–24, highlighting sectoral trends, occupational segregation, and barriers to workforce entry.
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour Force Participation in Gujrat
- April , 2025
- Aneek Choudhary and Bidisha Mondal
Gujarat records a female labour force participation rate above the national average, supported by government policies promoting women’s economic empowerment. Schemes such as Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkars Yojana and Mahila Swavalamban Scheme strengthen financial inclusion, self-help groups, and access to credit for women, especially those below the poverty line. The state also promotes women’s entrepreneurship through targeted training and awareness programmes. Using PLFS 2023–24 data, this factsheet examines women’s employment in Gujarat, focusing on job types, sectoral distribution, and key indicators shaping female workforce participation.
Gujarat records a female labour force participation rate above the national average, supported by government policies promoting women’s economic empowerment. Schemes such as Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkars Yojana and Mahila Swavalamban Scheme strengthen financial inclusion, self-help groups, and access to credit for women, especially those below the poverty line. The state also promotes women’s entrepreneurship through targeted training and awareness programmes. Using PLFS 2023–24 data, this factsheet examines women’s employment in Gujarat, focusing on job types, sectoral distribution, and key indicators shaping female workforce participation.
Gujarat records a female labour force participation rate above the national average, supported by government policies promoting women’s economic empowerment. Schemes such as Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkars Yojana and Mahila Swavalamban Scheme strengthen financial inclusion, self-help groups, and access to credit for women, especially those below the poverty line. The state also promotes women’s entrepreneurship through targeted training and awareness programmes. Using PLFS 2023–24 data, this factsheet examines women’s employment in Gujarat, focusing on job types, sectoral distribution, and key indicators shaping female workforce participation.