Special Lecture on “Critical Analysis of Economic Participation of Women in India with a Gender Perspective” at PU

Chandigarh, 18 February 2026:  The Department-cum-Centre for Women’s Studies and Development (DCWSD), Panjab University, today organised a special lecture on “Critical Analysis of Economic Participation of Women in India with a Gender Perspective”.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. N. Manimekalai, Director of the Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi. She began her address by introducing the institution she heads and elaborated on its key initiatives, research engagements, and fellowships available for students and scholars.
Speaking on the theme, Prof. Manimekalai highlighted trends in female labour force participation in India, drawing upon various macro-level databases to present a comprehensive statistical perspective. She examined the multiple factors responsible for low female workforce participation, ranging from deep-rooted social norms and gender roles to educational disparities and structural economic barriers.
In her lecture, she also referred to noted American economist Claudia Goldin, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for her pioneering work on women’s position in the labour market and wage inequality. The reference contextualised the Indian experience within global academic discourse on gender and labour economics.
Prof. Manimekalai concluded her lecture by outlining practical and policy-oriented “way forwards” to enhance women’s economic participation, emphasising the need for structural reforms, gender-sensitive policies, and societal transformation.
The lecture was followed by a lively question-and-answer session and discussion, with active participation from faculty members including Prof. Rajesh Kumar Chander, Prof. Manvinder Kaur, and Prof. Pam Rajput. The participants greatly benefited from the insightful deliberations and scholarly engagement.
The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Veerdeep Kaur, Project Assistant, D.C.W.S.D., expressing gratitude to the distinguished speaker, faculty, office staff, and all attendees for making the session intellectually enriching and impactful. The lecture was well attended by research scholars and students from other disciplines.