Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index

• 21 Jul 2025

Why in News? 

The latest Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index, developed by the Department of Planning, highlights the significant progress made in enhancing women's economic participation in Uttar Pradesh. 

Key Points 

About the WEE Index 

• About: It is a pivotal report from the Planning Department and Udayati Foundation, aimed at evaluating the impact of government schemes on women and fostering gender-inclusive, data-driven policymaking in the state. 
• WEE Index Structure: The index evaluates all 75 districts based on five key parameters: 
  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Employment 
  • Education & Skill Development 
  • Livelihood 
  • Safety & Transportation infrastructure 
  • 49 indicators from 15 departments are analyzed to gauge performance across these categories. 
• District Classification: The districts were categorized based on their performance in the WEE Index: 
  • 'Champions': These districts demonstrated strong outcomes due to effective government schemes, active women's participation, and structural support. Women in these districts are excelling in entrepreneurship, education, and employment. The list includes:  
    • Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Varanasi, Jhansi, Sultanpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Sonbhadra, Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, Ghaziabad. 
  • 'Leader': These districts performed well but need to maintain momentum. The list includes:  
    • Pratapgarh, Moradabad, Barabanki, Aligarh, Bareilly. 
  • 'Contender': These districts have shown progress, but more efforts are required, particularly in skill training and employment opportunities. The list includes:  
    • Ghazipur, Jalaun, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr. 
  • 'Aspirational': These districts face challenges in grassroots awareness, education, safety, and self-employment. Special campaigns will be launched to address these issues. The list includes:  
    • Chandauli, Baghpat, Amroha, Badaun, Sitapur, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Mahoba, Sambhal, Shravasti. 
• Key Insights of the Index: 
  • Education & Skill Development: There has been a notable increase in women’s involvement in education and skill development programs.  
    • Government initiatives such as vocational training, Mission Shakti, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Mission have empowered women socially and economically by enhancing safety, social awareness, and mobility. 
  • Public Transport Inclusion: Schemes to recruit women as drivers and conductors in public transport have boosted women’s economic independence and mobility. 
• Actionable Measures: 
  • Integration of WEE Index: The WEE index will be integrated into the Chief Minister’s Control Room for real-time monitoring, serving as a foundational tool for policymaking and tracking outcomes across all departments.  
    • Departments are required to develop actionable plans focused on women’s empowerment and create district-level strategies to localize the impact of state schemes. 
  • Targeted Campaigns: Specific districts such as Banda, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Mahoba, Shravasti, and Sitapur will launch campaigns under the ODOP Margin Money Scheme to increase women’s inclusion. 
  • Recruitment Drives: Recruitment drives for home guards and teachers will prioritize women, drawing from the successful model used in police recruitment. 
  • Expanding Women’s Workforce Participation: Efforts will be made to boost women’s enrollment in technical institutes, vocational programs, and skill training centers.  
    • The creation of ‘Re-enrolment Units’ will aim to bring back women who have dropped out of courses. 
  • Support for Healthcare Careers: Paramedical institutes will be developed to facilitate women’s careers in healthcare and service sectors. 
  • Public Transport Roles: There will be an emphasis on increasing women’s roles in public transport, specifically as drivers and conductors, by providing specialized training and support facilities.