Indian women leaders in the spotlight at CPD57

Supriya from Tripura, Hema Kumari from Andhra Pradesh, and Neeru from Rajasthan exemplify what's possible when women take the lead. The three elected women representatives from India shared how they're improving the lives of women and girls at the 57th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Population Development (CPD57).

The event, called 'Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way,' was organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj with an aim to share India's experiences with local government councils (Panchayat Raj Institutions), focusing on promoting gender equality, women's empowerment, poverty reduction, and inclusive development.

‘Hockey wali sarpanch’ Neeru Yadav, from Rajasthan, played a pivotal role in establishing a girls' hockey team, igniting a passion for the sport to empower young girls. Neeru has also been working toward a plastic-free Panchayat as an advocate for environmental sustainability. 

Kunuku Hema Kumari, sarpanch from Andhra Pradesh, works to promote self-reliance among women in the fields of health and education by organizing regular medical camps and health awareness sessions. She also works closely with local families to boost enrolment of girls in schools. “Empowerment lies in fostering self-reliance and confidence, encouraging informed decisions about health, education, and livelihoods,” she said.

Supriya Das Datta, Sabhadhipati from Tripura, championed an initiative called ‘Tomader Kotha Bolte Hobe’ (Your story must be told) to promote women's voices in decision-making spaces, besides advocating for childcare facilities to support inclusive workplaces. Under her leadership, participation in Self Help Groups in her Panchayat surged from 600 to over 6,000 women.

Investing in women's leadership is crucial. It unlocks a future where women aren't just participants but drivers of a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. "In response to the aspirations of women in our country, today, out of over 3.1 million elected representatives, more than 1.4 million are women," Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said in her opening remarks.  "Women in local governance in India lead the way. If India achieves the SDGs, the world achieves the SDGs," said Andrea Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative.

“By facilitating the exchange among partners of best practices, including India, the aim is to amplify the impact of initiatives that promote gender equality,” or SDG5, a linchpin in accomplishing all global goals, Pio Smith, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Director said, elaborating on the crucial role of South-South and triangular cooperation in fostering collaborative learning and contextualising effective strategies to meet the needs of diverse women and girls.