The ever changing and shape-shifting nature of the economy has been brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. It caused industries to pivot and forced them to lay off people in unprecedented numbers, and adversely affected India’s female workforce participation. COVID-19 has undoubtedly widened the already existing gender inequalities and gap in the workforce. 

Building a new India is only possible when India’s female workforce participation is improved, women are empowered and have access to equal social and economic opportunities. India Inc. can play an absolutely crucial role in covering the ground and softening the gender barriers in the communities and at the workplace.

1. Reskilling/Upskilling: India Inc. can forge alliances or partnerships with CSOs with experience in vocational training, and undertake skill development programmes for the women from the vulnerable sections of the society. Companies can also partner with women Self Help Groups and implement training programmes for reskilling/upskilling women in rural areas. Such programmes can enable and empower them with necessary skills for increased employability.
2. Aiding Digital Education: Girls from the marginalised or disadvantaged groups have been gravely affected due to the shutdown of the schools. Lack of resources has stopped them from adopting the new model of digital education. This has resulted in increased school dropouts and crippled their chances of joining the workforce in the future. Companies can extend their resources and aid them by providing devices to access the internet, or can set up computer labs in partnership with CSOs and build an enabling environment for them.
3. Livelihood Promotion Programmes: Self Help Groups have been a bulwark to women from the disadvantaged groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. India Inc. can partner with self help groups and leverage their extensive reach to implement livelihood promotion programmes for women. For example, companies can partner with SHGs extensively working in tribal areas and execute programmes that target at improving market linkages for products made by tribal women.
4. Entrepreneurship Programmes for Women: COVID-19 outbreak adversely affected the jobs of women in the unorganised sector and left them with no job and zero security net. Companies can undertake rehabilitation projects for such women, for example, with the help of implementation partners, companies can set up a portal/platform or unit for women cooks who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, from where they can sell their cooked meals. Companies can aid them by providing training for marketing needs, resources for setting up or packaging needs etc.
5. Promoting Digital Literacy & Financial Inclusion: India Inc. can invest in programmes that aim at promoting digital literacy among women which increase their chances of employment. Companies can also promote the cause of financial literacy and inclusion to reduce inequalities faced by women in socially and economically backward sections of society. These can be conducted singly or in conjunction with existing Government initiatives and schemes.

India Inc. can play a significant role to expand existing opportunities available and also create new ones to reduce the gender gap in India’s workforce. Creating a gender-equal workforce is the need of the hour and policymakers and businesses must expedite and compliment each other’s efforts in achieving it.