Labour Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy with CII IWN Telangana leaders and others at the women leadership conclave in Hyderabad on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Arrangement
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to women empowerment, Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy on Friday urged the private sector to mentor, support and champion women entrepreneurs.
Empowering women is not a welfare measure but the foundation for building stronger economies and inclusive growth. Women’s leadership is not only essential for equity but also for India’s growth, he said, highlighting the role of the private sector. The Minister, who was speaking at the 11th edition of the annual women leadership conclave of CII IWN Telangana here, called upon women to accept every opportunity without hesitation.
He cited the State government’s initiatives to support women entrepreneurs such as the Indira Mahila Shakti Mission and She Teams, as well as ₹21,000 crore in credit support for rural women entrepreneurs.
The conclave with ‘Uplift 2025: voices for change’ as its theme provided a forum for senior industry leaders, policymakers and changemakers from diverse sectors to discuss actionable strategies for building inclusive and future-ready organisations, CII said in a release on the programme.
IWN Telangana chairperson Hema Srinivas said true progress for women in leadership goes beyond merely securing a seat at the table. “It isn’t enough to squeeze into a chair never built for you. The real solution is to redesign the table itself,” she said, while highlighting initiatives like the IWN Power mentoring programme, masterclasses for independent directors and advocacy for inclusivity.
CII Telangana Chairman R. Sivaprasad Reddy said studies consistently confirm that companies with diverse leadership outperform those without, in both profitability and innovation. Pointing out that women remain underrepresented at senior levels, he urged leaders, policymakers and educators to foster accountability, forge partnerships and create ecosystems where women not only participate but thrive as leaders shaping the future of Telangana and the country.
Highlighting persistent challenges such as the 20% gender pay gap and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, IWN-SR Deputy Chairperson Sivapriya Balagopal stressed the need for systemic reforms.
Published – September 12, 2025 08:04 pm IST
