A significant transformation is taking place across India as women assume leadership roles in village councils, factories, and public transport.

In Gagwana, a small village in Ajmer district, Rajasthan, Sarpanch Guljan Khanam has prioritised education and womens empowerment. Under her leadership, nearly all girls in the village are enrolled in school, and practices such as child marriage have been discouraged. Khanam stated, “To empower women, I first focused on making them economically independent. We formed self-help groups and ensured they received financial assistance from government schemes. We also established a women’s empowerment center where skill development training is provided to help them become financially strong.” The village panchayat has received the “Ujiyari Panchayat” recognition as a model of grassroots progress.

Residents appreciate the changes; Zeba Khan, a beneficiary, said, “It is rare to see an educated woman leading as a sarpanch in villages. The biggest change we have seen is in education. Now, if we need guidance related to schools or colleges, we can approach her without hesitation. She is always ready to help.”

In Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, a factory near Sumerpur has a workforce comprising nearly 70 per cent women, who manage production, machine monitoring, packaging, and quality checks, traditionally male-dominated roles. Employee Diksha Srivastava remarked, “We are not just earning livelihoods–we are redefining gender roles. Around 70 per cent of our workforce is women. We work together as a team, and when people see women stepping out and doing such work, it inspires others. Most importantly, we feel completely safe here.” Fellow employee Shreya added, “Around 400 women work in this factory across all three shifts, morning, evening, and night. When women are given opportunities, it creates a strong sense of responsibility and confidence.” These women serve as role models, encouraging nearby families to support women’s workforce participation.

In Bihar, special “pink buses” introduced to enhance women’s safety and convenience are now being driven by women, breaking stereotypes. Gayatri of the Musahar community near Patna is among those training to drive these buses. She shared, “In 2025, I went to Aurangabad to learn driving. Later, I heard about job openings for pink bus drivers. Six of us applied, and today we have reached this stage where our dream is becoming a reality.” Several women in Aurangabad have received similar training.