Women at forefront in India – expert to RT

Female representatives have become the architects of development in the world’s fifth-largest economy, Dharitri Patnaik says

Women are at the forefront of development in India, spearheading innovation in a wide range of areas, the chief coordinator of the Indian G20 delegation at the fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum 2024 (EAWF) told RT on Wednesday. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum – which is taking place in St. Petersburg from September 18 to 20 – Dharitri Patnaik, an expert in areas ranging from poverty reduction to social reforms, said women have become “architects” and active participants in development in India and “not just passive recipients.”

She also highlighted the role of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has “put women at the forefront of development” in the country.

Last year, India passed a law reserving a third of the seats in the country’s parliament and state assemblies for women, paving the way for greater political participation.

Patnaik outlined key international topics to be discussed at the EAWF, which includes more than 100 events covering a wide range of issues concerning women.

India, which became the world’s most populous country in 2023, surpassing China, is today the fifth-largest economy, with a GDP of $3.94 trillion in 2024. The country is expected to become the third-largest economy in the world with a GDP of $5 trillion in the next three years, and reach $7 trillion by 2030 on the back of continued reforms, according to targets set by Modi’s government.

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The EAWF, which has been held since 2015 in St. Petersburg’s Tauride Palace, has attracted over 2,000 participants this year, including 600 foreign guests from 126 countries and international organizations. It is organized by the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly and the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States.