National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming: Advancing Women’s Empowerment through DAY-NRLM

New Delhi: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE), successfully hosted the National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) yesterday. The conclave centered on enhancing gender-responsive community institutions and discussed strategies for integrating gender equality within the DAY-NRLM framework.

Addressing the gathering, Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Rural Development, highlighted the government’s commitment to transforming rural lives and livelihoods through socio-economic inclusion and empowerment. He emphasized that DAY-NRLM adopts a ‘whole-of-government approach,’ integrating efforts across ministries. “We now need to sharpen our gender strategy by learning from voices on the ground and experts,” he stated.

Former Secretary, Government of India, Nagendra Nath Sinha, emphasized the unique opportunity presented by DAY-NRLM to empower women by addressing structural inequalities and strengthening their collectives, voice, and agency. He called for customized, context-specific solutions tailored to the diverse challenges faced by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India and recommended the establishment of immersion sites for experiential learning alongside partnerships with civil society organizations.

Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Development, stressed the importance of continuous capacity building for SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), and Cluster Level Federations (CLFs). He advocated for improved legal and psychological support for SHG members, suggesting collaboration with the Department of Justice to disseminate knowledge about available legal remedies for women.

The event featured four panel discussions on gender-responsive community institutions, convergence pathways, gender integration in program design, and advocacy efforts. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, SRLMs, SHG members, gender experts, and civil society partners.

Key discussions focused on challenges to women’s empowerment, including unpaid work, the gendered division of labor, wage disparities, and the lack of ownership in agriculture. The Nayi Chetna initiative, a global advocacy program now in its third year, was highlighted for addressing these issues through collective action. One critical recommendation was comprehensive gender training for all NRLM mission staff, panchayat representatives, and institutional stakeholders to address these challenges effectively.

Participants emphasized that gender is a cross-cutting issue that must be integrated across all sectors, including livelihoods and institutional mechanisms. The conclave also stressed the importance of engaging men, boys, and youth in challenging traditional gender norms and creating inclusive spaces. The role of SHGs in promoting gender equality within households and fostering women’s leadership in farming and local enterprises was also celebrated.