Key Points
DPIIT releases collaborative study on women in logistics sector
Aims to enhance gender diversity in USD 380 billion industry
Three-tiered approach proposed for ecosystem transformation
Education and mindset shifts critical for women's empowerment
The study is prepared by DPIIT in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the Indo-German Development Cooperation project, "Climate Friendly Green Freight Transport in India (Green Freight Project)", the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release on Saturday.
The study highlights key insights and strategies to enhance women's participation in India's logistics sector.
The study assesses the current status of women's participation in India's logistics sector, analyzes key challenges hindering their inclusion, and recommends policy measures to enhance gender diversity in the rapidly growing logistics industry, which is projected to reach USD 380 billion by 2025.
Speaking at the release event, Amardeep Singh Bhatia emphasized the study's significance in the context of the National Logistics Policy and the government's vision for women-led development.
"As we move towards Viksit Bharat, under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the one thing that will take the country forward is women-led development. Ensuring women's participation in high-growth sectors like logistics is not only a matter of equity but also an economic necessity," he stated.
Bhatia further highlighted the pivotal role of education in transforming perceptions and empowering women.
"The capability of women is equal to that of men; what is needed is a shift in mindset. Women may have different requirements, which the workplace infrastructure and ecosystem must be able to provide," he added.
The study identifies both supply-side challenges, such as gender disparities in education and skill training, and demand-side barriers, including workplace culture and infrastructure limitations.
It suggests a three-tiered approach involving interventions at the ecosystem, industry, and firm levels to create a comprehensive framework for change.