Women-led development a key driver of India's economic growth, says Annpurna Devi
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Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Friday reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), underscoring the country’s focus on women-led development as a key driver of economic growth and social transformation.
Addressing the SCO Women’s Forum 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, through a video message, the minister reiterated India’s support for the organisation’s core principles of mutual respect, equality, and consensus while highlighting stronger partnerships to advance shared development goals.
Delivering India’s opening statement and participating in the panel discussion on the Role of Women in Economic Development, Devi said women are not merely beneficiaries of growth but among its most powerful drivers — a vision reflected in India’s approach to Women-Led Development and its broader goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Highlighting India’s progress in women’s empowerment, the minister said nearly 10 crore women are currently organised into more than 90 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs), creating a broad-based framework for economic participation and entrepreneurship. She added that over 3 crore women have achieved the status of Lakhpati Didis, reflecting growing financial inclusion and income generation.
The minister also highlighted flagship government initiatives such as Mission Shakti and Mission Poshan 2.0, describing them as key pillars supporting women’s safety, care, nutrition, and economic empowerment.
India further expressed its readiness to share its experiences and deepen collaboration with SCO member countries to strengthen women’s economic leadership and improve their well-being across the region.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led a high-level Indian delegation to the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting, which happened on April 28. During the meeting, the Defence Ministers of various member countries deliberated upon a number of issues concerning the defence & security of the region. Issues related to international peace, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation among SCO member states were also be discussed. This year’s SCO meeting is taking place in the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil being witnessed due to the situation in West Asia. The SCO, one of the largest political & economic organisations of the region, may discuss measures to reduce the impact of the ongoing conflict.