Women & Development
The programme architecture through which the Government of India addresses women’s safety, economic participation and empowerment — and the specific, dated occasions on which Smt. Savitri Thakur has represented that work.
Mission Shakti, in two parts
Mission Shakti is the Ministry’s umbrella mission for women. It comprises two sub-verticals, each subsuming a set of previously separate schemes.
Mission Shakti
Umbrella Mission — Ministry of Women and Child DevelopmentSambal — safety and security
- One Stop Centres — integrated support for women affected by violence, in a single location.
- Women Helpline 181 — a single national number for information and emergency response.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao — addressing the declining child sex ratio and girls’ education.
- Nari Adalat — a component for alternative dispute resolution at village level.
Samarthya — empowerment
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana — maternity benefit for pregnant and lactating women.
- Shakti Sadan — the renamed Ujjwala and Swadhar Greh shelter schemes.
- Sakhi Niwas — working women’s hostels.
- Palna — the national creche scheme, supporting childcare for working mothers.
- National Hub for Empowerment of Women — convergence across schemes and ministries.
Representing India at the United Nations
Two dated instances are recorded in official releases of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
63rd session, Commission for Social Development
Led the Indian delegation. Presented India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum on the priority theme “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion” on 11 February 2025. The delegation also contributed to discussions on social resilience in the context of crises and on universal rights-based social protection systems.
70th session, Commission on the Status of Women
Delivered India’s national intervention during the General Discussion and addressed the High-Level Meeting on “Violence against Women and Girls”. On 12 March 2026 she addressed a side event, “Women-Led Development and South-South Cooperation – Success Stories from the IBSA Fund”, hosted by the Permanent Mission of India.
The priority theme of CSW-70 was ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems and eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
Allocation towards gender budgeting, described as an increase of over 8 per cent from the previous year. Stated by the Minister in her address at CSW-70.
- Source
- Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Women and Child Development, 13 March 2026
- Year
- Union Budget 2025–26
- Geography
- India — Union Government
- Context
- Gender budgeting is the allocation, across ministries, of funds identified as benefiting women. It is not a single scheme and is not the Ministry’s own budget.
The IBSA Fund has supported over 50 development assistance projects in nearly 40 countries.
Addressing “Women-Led Development and South-South Cooperation”, CSW-70, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 12 March 2026
As recorded by the Press Information Bureau, 13 March 2026
The India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Fund is a joint initiative of the Governments of India, Brazil and South Africa, established in 2004. In her address the Minister referred to projects supported under it, including a programme strengthening the Women Legislative Caucus in Liberia and a proposed floriculture project in Jordan designed to support women-led micro-enterprises.
Who is responsible for what
Ministry programme
Mission Shakti and its component schemes. Institutional, continuous, and implemented by States and Union Territories.
Government policy
Gender budgeting, women-led development as a stated national priority, and the statutory framework on safety and workplace protection.
Documented activity
Dated, sourced occasions on which she reviewed implementation, inspected facilities or represented India — each listed with its release.
Personal public role
The recorded organisation of job-oriented training and self-help groups for women in tribal villages. See Social Work.
Bilateral engagement
On 5 February 2026, on the margins of the Commission for Social Development in New York, the Minister met H.E. Claudia Teresa Valenzuela Lopez, Vice-Minister of Social Development of Guatemala. The Ministry recorded that she outlined India’s approach to women-led and inclusive development across social protection, education, health, nutrition, skill development, digital empowerment and women’s economic participation.
On the sidelines of CSW-70 in March 2026, she held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities of South Africa, discussing cooperation under the IBSA Dialogue Forum and in the G20 and BRICS contexts.