In a compelling and forward-looking address, Mr. Amitabh Kant, former Chairman of NITI Aayog, emphasized that India’s growth story must be written by its women. Speaking at Women Achiever Award 2025, a ceremony organized by the Aalekh Foundation, Mr. Kant called for a radical societal shift that empowers women not just as participants in development, but as leaders of it.
“If India is to become a $35+ trillion economy by 2047, women must be at the forefront of this transformation,” he said.”
Mr. Kant praised the progress made over the past decade, highlighting key government initiatives aimed at including women in the formal economy. Since 2015, over 550 million bank accounts have been opened, raising women’s access from 18% to over 91%. He also pointed out that the government has:
Built 40 million homes, electrified 35 million households, and provided piped water to over 253 million households. Supplied 120 million gas connections, significantly improving the quality of life for rural women.
Importantly, these resources were registered in women’s names, marking a deliberate shift toward women-led development.
Mr. Kant acknowledged, however, that infrastructure and access are only part of the solution. A deeper cultural transformation is necessary — particularly among men. He noted that without men actively supporting and pushing women into leadership roles, progress would stall.
“Indian men need to change their mindset,” he said candidly. “They must step back and let women lead.”
In a noteworthy appeal to the Aalekh Foundation, he suggested that awards should not only go to women achievers but also to men who uplift and empower women in their lives — those who support their daughters, wives, colleagues, and peers to pursue their ambitions.
Mr. Kant referenced a World Economic Forum report stating that gender parity may take 134 years to achieve at the current pace. He firmly rejected that timeline, stating, “None of us have 134 years. We must do it in a decade.”
He spotlighted stories of female entrepreneurs and innovators as examples of change already underway:
Aayushi Mishra, founder of Dona Maps, who is using cutting-edge mapping technology for social impact. Ms. Manjunath, founder of Nimai AI, who is improving breast cancer detection using artificial intelligence. Two young graduates from Lady Shri Ram College, who built a tech platform that has sold over 3 million cattle by digitizing a largely informal sector.
Kant emphasized that India’s leap into the future — one defined by AI, machine learning, robotics, and digital transformation — cannot happen without women being digitally literate and empowered. Yet currently, only 37% of Indian women are digitally savvy compared to 53% globally.
He stressed the need for greater digital adoption among women to unlock their full potential and drive India’s productivity and growth.
Concluding his speech, Amitabh Kant highlighted India’s global advocacy for “women-led development” during its G20 presidency. Despite opposition from countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, and China, India succeeded in establishing this term as a global developmental priority — replacing the more passive concept of gender parity.
“India didn’t just talk about equality,” he said. “We demanded leadership — by women, for a better future.”
With a vision rooted in inclusion, innovation, and equality, Amitabh Kant’s address was not only a roadmap for national growth but a clarion call for men and women to walk this journey together — with women leading the way.
Unmukt 