Bengaluru Crowned India's Best City for Working Women in 2024
Bengaluru Crowned India's Best City for Working
Women in 2024
In a landmark announcement by Avtar Group, Bengaluru has emerged as the top city in India for working women, according to the third edition of the 'Top Cities for Women in India' (TCWI) survey. This achievement highlights the city’s commitment to inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability for women in the workforce.
The TCWI Index: What Is It?
The Top Cities for Women in India index by Avtar Group is a comprehensive study aimed at identifying role model cities and best practices to foster women's progress and inclusion. The index, compiled from diverse data sources such as the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE), World Bank, and Periodic Labour Force Survey, evaluates cities on parameters like social inclusion, industrial inclusion, and citizen experience.
Methodology Highlights:
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City Inclusion Score (CIS): Derived from three pillars:
- Social Inclusion Score (SIS): Measures city livability, safety, women’s employment, and empowerment.
- Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS): Evaluates industries' inclusivity for women.
- Citizen Experience Score (CES): Assesses women’s satisfaction with skilling, caregiving, infrastructure, and governance.
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Participants: The 2024 survey involved 1,672 women across 60 cities, collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and nationwide surveys conducted between February and November 2024.
Why Bengaluru Tops the List
Bengaluru earned its spot as the best city for women in 2024 due to its exceptional performance in:
- Skilling and Employment: Scoring 7.54, it ranked among the highest for providing competitive employment opportunities for women.
- Infrastructure and Caregiving: A robust infrastructure for public transport and caregiving facilities ensures convenience for working women.
Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President of Avtar Group, emphasized, “To realize a Viksit Bharat by 2047, cities must be truly gender-inclusive, offering opportunities where women can thrive not just as employees but as business leaders.”
Top 10 Cities for Women in 2024
The survey ranked 120 cities across India, with the following emerging as the top 10:
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Mumbai
- Hyderabad
- Pune
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Delhi
- Gurugram
- Coimbatore
Regional Insights
- South India: The region leads with the highest City Inclusion Score (18.56), thanks to a balanced approach to industrial and social inclusion.
- West India: Comes second (16.92), driven by cities like Mumbai and Pune.
- North India: While industrial inclusion is strong in Delhi and Gurugram, social inclusion remains an area for improvement (average CIS: 14.00).
- Central and Eastern India: Lag behind due to limited industrial development (scores: 11.79 and 10.55, respectively).
State-Wise Rankings
- Kerala: Tops the state-wise rankings with a CIS of 20.89, reflecting strong inclusivity measures.
- Telangana: Follows closely at 20.57.
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka: Also perform well, showcasing efforts to support working women.
Key Metrics Evaluated by Women
Skilling and Employment:
- Gurugram leads with a score of 7.68, followed by Mumbai (7.60) and Bengaluru (7.54).
Infrastructure:
- Hyderabad ranks highest (8.01), with Bengaluru and Mumbai following closely.
Governance Efficiency:
- Thiruvananthapuram shines with a score of 8.15, while Pune (7.06) and Bengaluru (6.48) show room for improvement.
Quality of Life:
- Coimbatore (7.54) and Pune (7.50) lead, but Gurugram (6.34) faces challenges like pollution.
Safety:
- Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, and Hyderabad top the list, but Bengaluru (6.17) and Gurugram (5.60) lag behind.
Avtar Group’s Vision and Impact
Founded in 2000 by Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Avtar Group has been a pioneer in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. With flagship projects like:
- MyAvtar.com: Supporting 100,000 second-career women to rejoin the workforce.
- Project Puthri: Providing employment guidance to 10,000+ girls from underprivileged backgrounds annually.
- DigiPivot: A skilling program for women in digital marketing in collaboration with Google, HUL, and ISB.
Their benchmarking studies like the 100 Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) have redefined workplace culture in India.
Conclusion
The 2024 TCWI index not only celebrates Bengaluru’s achievement but also offers a roadmap for cities aspiring to become more inclusive and empowering for women. By prioritizing gender inclusion, we can take a step closer to a more equitable and prosperous India.
What do you think is the most critical factor in making cities women-friendly? Share your views in the comments below!
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