The central government has taken significant steps to create a safe, secure, and non-discriminatory work environment for women. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, under the Companies Act, 2013, has introduced various measures to enhance workplace inclusivity and protection.
The Act mandates that every listed company and public company with a paid-up share capital of ₹100 crore or more, or a turnover of ₹300 crore or more, must appoint at least one woman director. Additionally, companies are required to confirm compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, in their Board Reports, which are filed annually with financial statements.
The Act also mandates the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee for organizations with ten or more employees and a Local Committee for smaller workplaces or cases involving the employer.
Financial and Entrepreneurial Support
Under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, women entrepreneurs receive additional benefits compared to others. The Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) offers higher subsidies to women beneficiaries, encouraging their participation in small businesses. The Stand-Up India Scheme further facilitates loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or woman borrower per bank branch to support the establishment of new businesses.
To promote entrepreneurship among women, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III towns, the Yashasvini initiative was launched on June 27 last year, focusing on capacity-building and financial empowerment.
Maternity Benefits and Childcare Support
The government has implemented significant measures to support working mothers, ensuring maternity benefits and promoting gender equality in workplaces. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, mandates that establishments with fifty or more employees provide creche facilities, enabling women to continue working while ensuring proper care for their children.
Additionally, the Palna scheme, introduced in April 2022, offers centrally sponsored daycare services for children of working mothers, creating a supportive ecosystem that helps women balance their professional and personal responsibilities.
Strengthening Protection Against Workplace Harassment
In a major step towards addressing workplace harassment, the government launched a revamped version of the Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box) on August 29 last year. This centralized complaint portal provides a single-window grievance redressal mechanism for women across both organized and unorganized sectors.
