India Pledges Deeper Cooperation on Women's Economic Leadership at SCO Forum

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Friday reaffirmed India's commitment to women-led development while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Women's Forum 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic , through a video message.

According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the minister reiterated India's commitment to the SCO's principles of mutual respect, equality and consensus , while stressing the importance of strengthening partnerships to achieve the organisation's shared development goals.

Speaking during the panel session on the "Role of Women in Economic Development," Devi said women are not merely beneficiaries of growth but among its strongest drivers , describing this as the foundation of India's vision of women-led development and its goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 .

Highlighting the country's progress, she said nearly 100 million women are organised into more than nine million self-help groups (SHGs) , with over 30 million recognised as "Lakhpati Didis." The initiative supports SHG members in establishing microenterprises and increasing household incomes.

The minister also highlighted the role of flagship schemes such as Mission Shakti and Mission Poshan 2.0 , stating that they are enhancing women's safety, care and economic participation across the country.

Reaffirming India's commitment to regional cooperation, Devi said the country is ready to share its experiences and strengthen collaboration with SCO member nations to advance women's economic leadership and overall well-being throughout the region.