This factsheet provides insights into Chhattisgarh’s socio-economic trends, highlighting its strong Female Work Participation Rate (FWPR), which is 17 percentage points above the national average. Known as the ‘rice bowl of India,’ with 70% of its workforce in agriculture, Chhattisgarh has also made progress in reducing multi-dimensional poverty. Explore key data on women’s employment and the agricultural sector in the state.
Publications
Publications
Category
Year
Factsheet
Women’s Workforce Participation in India: Statewise Trends
- January , 2023
- Suchika Gupta, Sona Mitra
This factsheet highlights Kerala’s strong socio-economic indicators, including high literacy rates and a favorable sex ratio. Despite these achievements, the state’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) remains low, with 29.5% in rural areas and 25.2% in urban areas. Explore key data on Kerala’s economy, gender wage gap, and human development in this comprehensive overview.
This factsheet highlights Kerala’s strong socio-economic indicators, including high literacy rates and a favorable sex ratio. Despite these achievements, the state’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) remains low, with 29.5% in rural areas and 25.2% in urban areas. Explore key data on Kerala’s economy, gender wage gap, and human development in this comprehensive overview.
Factsheet
Women’s Workforce Participation in India: Statewise Trends
- January , 2023
- Prakriti Sharma, Sona Mitra
The majority of the primarily rural population of Chhattisgarh is involved in agriculture and allied services. There has been a significant rise in the labour force participation rate of rural women in the state; they are significantly involved in self-employment and work mainly as unpaid family enterprise workers in the agriculture sector.
The majority of the primarily rural population of Chhattisgarh is involved in agriculture and allied services. There has been a significant rise in the labour force participation rate of rural women in the state; they are significantly involved in self-employment and work mainly as unpaid family enterprise workers in the agriculture sector.
Report
Women’s Work in Select States in India: Opportunities and Challenges
- December , 2022
- Sona Mitra
Women comprise nearly half of the world’s working population and therefore potentially half of its labour force. Female labour force participation (FLFP) represent a women decision to be the part of labour force or part of economically inactive population. At present in nearly every country female labor force participation is lower than that of male labour force participation. Female labour force participation in South Asia is among the lowest of any developing region in the world. As per PLFS, FLFPR in rural and urban area are 27.7% and 18.6% respectively. India’s low female labour force participation excludes almost half of the potential working age population, leading to gross underutilisation of women’s talents and capabilities and remains a roadblock in reaping and distributing its demographic advantage. Women participation in labour force varies across different region. The variation is determined by an array of economic and social factors including income growth, educational attainment, marital status and other prevailing local social norms.
Women comprise nearly half of the world’s working population and therefore potentially half of its labour force. Female labour force participation (FLFP) represent a women decision to be the part of labour force or part of economically inactive population. At present in nearly every country female labor force participation is lower than that of male labour force participation. Female labour force participation in South Asia is among the lowest of any developing region in the world. As per PLFS, FLFPR in rural and urban area are 27.7% and 18.6% respectively. India’s low female labour force participation excludes almost half of the potential working age population, leading to gross underutilisation of women’s talents and capabilities and remains a roadblock in reaping and distributing its demographic advantage. Women participation in labour force varies across different region. The variation is determined by an array of economic and social factors including income growth, educational attainment, marital status and other prevailing local social norms.
Report Snapshot
Women’s Work in Select States in India: Opportunities and Challenges
- December , 2022
- Sona Mitra
Women comprise nearly half of the world’s working population and therefore potentially half of its labour force. Female labour force participation (FLFP) represent a women decision to be the part of labour force or part of economically inactive population. At present in nearly every country female labor force participation is lower than that of male labour force participation. Female labour force participation in South Asia is among the lowest of any developing region in the world. As per PLFS, FLFPR in rural and urban area are 27.7% and 18.6% respectively. India’s low female labour force participation excludes almost half of the potential working age population, leading to gross underutilisation of women’s talents and capabilities and remains a roadblock in reaping and distributing its demographic advantage. Women participation in labour force varies across different region. The variation is determined by an array of economic and social factors including income growth, educational attainment, marital status and other prevailing local social norms.
Women comprise nearly half of the world’s working population and therefore potentially half of its labour force. Female labour force participation (FLFP) represent a women decision to be the part of labour force or part of economically inactive population. At present in nearly every country female labor force participation is lower than that of male labour force participation. Female labour force participation in South Asia is among the lowest of any developing region in the world. As per PLFS, FLFPR in rural and urban area are 27.7% and 18.6% respectively. India’s low female labour force participation excludes almost half of the potential working age population, leading to gross underutilisation of women’s talents and capabilities and remains a roadblock in reaping and distributing its demographic advantage. Women participation in labour force varies across different region. The variation is determined by an array of economic and social factors including income growth, educational attainment, marital status and other prevailing local social norms.
SWAYAM
Compiled Case stories
- November , 2022
- Shreya Ghosh | Soya Thomas | Preethi Rao
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue across India, disproportionately affecting women and girls due to entrenched social norms. Women and girls face physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at alarming rates, and these challenges are further exacerbated in marginalised and rural communities. However, through Deendayal Antoyadaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (DAY-NRLM) engendered strategy, women’s collectives are becoming a powerful force for change, providing solidarity, information, and access to formal redressal mechanisms. This compendium presents ten inspiring stories from six states across India, demonstrating how these collectives, along with institutional mechanisms at the village, block, and district levels, are helping women confront and overcome the complexities of GBV. Each story in this compendium sheds light on the distinct challenges faced by women in various regions of India, from domestic violence and trafficking to wage parity and witch-hunting. Despite the diversity of these experiences, a common thread runs through them women drawing strength from their collectives and community resources to fight back against violence and injustice. It is a testament to the power of women’s collectives in transforming lives and communities.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue across India, disproportionately affecting women and girls due to entrenched social norms. Women and girls face physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at alarming rates, and these challenges are further exacerbated in marginalised and rural communities. However, through Deendayal Antoyadaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (DAY-NRLM) engendered strategy, women’s collectives are becoming a powerful force for change, providing solidarity, information, and access to formal redressal mechanisms. This compendium presents ten inspiring stories from six states across India, demonstrating how these collectives, along with institutional mechanisms at the village, block, and district levels, are helping women confront and overcome the complexities of GBV. Each story in this compendium sheds light on the distinct challenges faced by women in various regions of India, from domestic violence and trafficking to wage parity and witch-hunting. Despite the diversity of these experiences, a common thread runs through them women drawing strength from their collectives and community resources to fight back against violence and injustice. It is a testament to the power of women’s collectives in transforming lives and communities.
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
SWAYAM
Practice Guide for Gender Integration in Livelihoods under DAY-NRLM
- September , 2025
- Shilpa Vasavada | Seema Bhaskaran
This booklet is intended for the livelihoods vertical and serves as a practical, field-focused Guide for teams on integrating gender into livelihoods interventions. Since these interventions include both farm-based and nonfarm- based activities, the booklet addresses each type separately, following a gender-responsive and progressively gender-transformative approach.
This booklet is intended for the livelihoods vertical and serves as a practical, field-focused Guide for teams on integrating gender into livelihoods interventions. Since these interventions include both farm-based and nonfarm- based activities, the booklet addresses each type separately, following a gender-responsive and progressively gender-transformative approach.
Report
Women and Work: How India fared in 2024
- September , 2025
- Aishwarya Bhuta, Harshita Kumari, Sohinee Thakurta, and Teesta Shukla.
The year 2024 marked a key moment for women and work in India, shaped by economic shifts, policy action, and technological change. Since 2021–22, new challenges and opportunities have influenced women’s workforce participation, alongside renewed efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment. Building on the vision of women-led development highlighted during India’s 2023 G20 presidency, momentum continued across multiple initiatives. This report examines key trends, policy developments, and emerging challenges shaping women’s work in 2024. Drawing on secondary data and research from IWWAGE and LEAD, it maps the evolving landscape of women’s work in India and identifies pathways to greater inclusion and economic agency.
The year 2024 marked a key moment for women and work in India, shaped by economic shifts, policy action, and technological change. Since 2021–22, new challenges and opportunities have influenced women’s workforce participation, alongside renewed efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment. Building on the vision of women-led development highlighted during India’s 2023 G20 presidency, momentum continued across multiple initiatives. This report examines key trends, policy developments, and emerging challenges shaping women’s work in 2024. Drawing on secondary data and research from IWWAGE and LEAD, it maps the evolving landscape of women’s work in India and identifies pathways to greater inclusion and economic agency.
Knowledge series
Migration Climate Change and Gender
- July , 2025
- Divya Singh (IWWAGE), Aiman Akhtar (PDAG)
Climate change is altering everyday life and livelihoods across India, and its impacts are not felt equally. Women, particularly those from marginalised and low-income communities, are often the first to absorb the effects of climate shocks, whether through disrupted livelihoods, migration, or the pressures of extreme weather. These experiences are shaped by long-standing social and economic inequalities, making it essential to look beyond sectoral solutions. One of the least visible but most affected areas is the care economy. As climate risks intensify, women’s unpaid and poorly paid care work expands, especially during displacement, crises, and recovery. Care work plays a critical role in helping families and communities cope with climate stress, yet it remains largely invisible within climate policy and planning. Looking at climate change through the lens of care helps reveal two connected dynamics: how climate risks reshape care responsibilities, and how the way care is organised influences resilience and adaptation. Recognising care, valuing women’s unpaid labour, and strengthening care systems are therefore not add-ons, but central to effective climate responses. This series of policy briefs, jointly developed by IWWAGE and PDAG, explores these connections in detail. It examines how care work is shaped by climate-related vulnerabilities, labour transitions, and forced mobility, with close attention to gendered outcomes. The series is part of a broader climate–gender conversation that includes work, migration, governance, and energy transitions, while centring experiences from India and the Global South. Through this initiative, we aim to deepen understanding, inform policy choices, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discussions on climate change, care, and gender equality.
Climate change is altering everyday life and livelihoods across India, and its impacts are not felt equally. Women, particularly those from marginalised and low-income communities, are often the first to absorb the effects of climate shocks, whether through disrupted livelihoods, migration, or the pressures of extreme weather. These experiences are shaped by long-standing social and economic inequalities, making it essential to look beyond sectoral solutions. One of the least visible but most affected areas is the care economy. As climate risks intensify, women’s unpaid and poorly paid care work expands, especially during displacement, crises, and recovery. Care work plays a critical role in helping families and communities cope with climate stress, yet it remains largely invisible within climate policy and planning. Looking at climate change through the lens of care helps reveal two connected dynamics: how climate risks reshape care responsibilities, and how the way care is organised influences resilience and adaptation. Recognising care, valuing women’s unpaid labour, and strengthening care systems are therefore not add-ons, but central to effective climate responses. This series of policy briefs, jointly developed by IWWAGE and PDAG, explores these connections in detail. It examines how care work is shaped by climate-related vulnerabilities, labour transitions, and forced mobility, with close attention to gendered outcomes. The series is part of a broader climate–gender conversation that includes work, migration, governance, and energy transitions, while centring experiences from India and the Global South. Through this initiative, we aim to deepen understanding, inform policy choices, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discussions on climate change, care, and gender equality.
Knowledge series
Migration Climate Change and Gender
- July , 2025
- Divya Singh (IWWAGE), Aiman Akhtar (PDAG)
Climate change is altering everyday life and livelihoods across India, and its impacts are not felt equally. Women, particularly those from marginalised and low-income communities, are often the first to absorb the effects of climate shocks, whether through disrupted livelihoods, migration, or the pressures of extreme weather. These experiences are shaped by long-standing social and economic inequalities, making it essential to look beyond sectoral solutions. One of the least visible but most affected areas is the care economy. As climate risks intensify, women’s unpaid and poorly paid care work expands, especially during displacement, crises, and recovery. Care work plays a critical role in helping families and communities cope with climate stress, yet it remains largely invisible within climate policy and planning. Looking at climate change through the lens of care helps reveal two connected dynamics: how climate risks reshape care responsibilities, and how the way care is organised influences resilience and adaptation. Recognising care, valuing women’s unpaid labour, and strengthening care systems are therefore not add-ons, but central to effective climate responses. This series of policy briefs, jointly developed by IWWAGE and PDAG, explores these connections in detail. It examines how care work is shaped by climate-related vulnerabilities, labour transitions, and forced mobility, with close attention to gendered outcomes. The series is part of a broader climate–gender conversation that includes work, migration, governance, and energy transitions, while centring experiences from India and the Global South. Through this initiative, we aim to deepen understanding, inform policy choices, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discussions on climate change, care, and gender equality.
Climate change is altering everyday life and livelihoods across India, and its impacts are not felt equally. Women, particularly those from marginalised and low-income communities, are often the first to absorb the effects of climate shocks, whether through disrupted livelihoods, migration, or the pressures of extreme weather. These experiences are shaped by long-standing social and economic inequalities, making it essential to look beyond sectoral solutions. One of the least visible but most affected areas is the care economy. As climate risks intensify, women’s unpaid and poorly paid care work expands, especially during displacement, crises, and recovery. Care work plays a critical role in helping families and communities cope with climate stress, yet it remains largely invisible within climate policy and planning. Looking at climate change through the lens of care helps reveal two connected dynamics: how climate risks reshape care responsibilities, and how the way care is organised influences resilience and adaptation. Recognising care, valuing women’s unpaid labour, and strengthening care systems are therefore not add-ons, but central to effective climate responses. This series of policy briefs, jointly developed by IWWAGE and PDAG, explores these connections in detail. It examines how care work is shaped by climate-related vulnerabilities, labour transitions, and forced mobility, with close attention to gendered outcomes. The series is part of a broader climate–gender conversation that includes work, migration, governance, and energy transitions, while centring experiences from India and the Global South. Through this initiative, we aim to deepen understanding, inform policy choices, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discussions on climate change, care, and gender equality.
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour and Workforce Participation – Assam
- July , 2025
- Aneek Choudhary and Vidhi
Assam has seen a sharp rise in female labour force participation since 2021–22, now above the national average (50% vs 42% in PLFS 2023–24). However, the 2022–23 gender gap appears distorted due to an NSSO weighting error in a few villages, which led to underreporting of female participation at district, state, and national levels. In parallel, pro-women initiatives such as Sarothi (interest-subsidised loans) and PMKVY 2.0 (industry-relevant skilling) are believed to have supported this improvement. Future analysis will use corrected PLFS data to better track trends and understand the drivers of rising female employment in Assam.
Assam has seen a sharp rise in female labour force participation since 2021–22, now above the national average (50% vs 42% in PLFS 2023–24). However, the 2022–23 gender gap appears distorted due to an NSSO weighting error in a few villages, which led to underreporting of female participation at district, state, and national levels. In parallel, pro-women initiatives such as Sarothi (interest-subsidised loans) and PMKVY 2.0 (industry-relevant skilling) are believed to have supported this improvement. Future analysis will use corrected PLFS data to better track trends and understand the drivers of rising female employment in Assam.
Assam has seen a sharp rise in female labour force participation since 2021–22, now above the national average (50% vs 42% in PLFS 2023–24). However, the 2022–23 gender gap appears distorted due to an NSSO weighting error in a few villages, which led to underreporting of female participation at district, state, and national levels. In parallel, pro-women initiatives such as Sarothi (interest-subsidised loans) and PMKVY 2.0 (industry-relevant skilling) are believed to have supported this improvement. Future analysis will use corrected PLFS data to better track trends and understand the drivers of rising female employment in Assam.
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.