The Short Read
- India reaffirmed its commitment to women-led development at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026 in Bishkek.
- Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, addressed the forum via video message.
- She delivered India’s opening statement and remarks during the panel session on the role of women in economic development.
- India highlighted Self-Help Groups, Lakhpati Didis, Mission Shakti and Mission Poshan 2.0 as part of its women-led development framework.
- India also said it is ready to share experiences and deepen cooperation with SCO partners on women’s economic leadership and well-being.
India’s women-led development message at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026
India has reaffirmed its commitment to women-led development at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, addressed the forum via a video message on 26 June 2026. She reiterated India’s commitment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its principles of mutual respect, equality and consensus.
Delivering India’s opening statement and remarks during the panel session on the role of women in economic development, the Minister said women are not merely beneficiaries of growth, but among its most powerful drivers.
The statement placed women-led development at the centre of India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
What India highlighted at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026
India highlighted the scale of women’s collective economic participation through Self-Help Groups.
According to the official statement, nearly 100 million women in India are organised into more than 9 million Self-Help Groups. Of these, more than 30 million women have become Lakhpati Didis.
The Minister also referred to Mission Shakti and Mission Poshan 2.0 as important pillars supporting women’s safety, care and economic participation.
The reference to Self-Help Groups and Lakhpati Didis is significant because these programmes sit at the centre of India’s model of rural women’s empowerment. Change in Content has earlier explained how women-centric schemes in India are spread across ministries and how women often need simpler access routes to use them.
The Lakhpati Didi initiative has also become a major part of India’s women-led development push, with the government focusing on SHG-linked income growth, market access and local enterprise building. Change in Content has covered the expansion of Lakhpati Didis, SHE marts, and district fulfilment centres as part of this larger policy direction.
Why the SCO Women’s Forum matters
The SCO Women’s Forum brings together member countries for discussions around women’s leadership, economic participation and regional cooperation.
India’s statement at the forum focused on sharing experience and strengthening cooperation with SCO partners in advancing women’s economic leadership and well-being.
The official release said India reaffirmed its readiness to deepen cooperation with SCO partners on women’s economic leadership across the region.
Change in Content View
The SCO Women’s Forum 2026 gave India a platform to restate a policy direction it has been building for years: women’s development should move from welfare alone to leadership, income, enterprise and participation.
The numbers around Self-Help Groups and Lakhpati Didis show scale. Now, the next measure will be depth: how many women move from group membership to stable income, enterprise ownership, financial control and decision-making power.
For now, India has used the SCO platform to place women-led development firmly inside its regional cooperation message.
FAQs
Q: What is the SCO Women’s Forum 2026?
A: The SCO Women’s Forum 2026 is a forum held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation framework. It focuses on women’s leadership, economic participation and regional cooperation.
Q: Who represented India at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026?
A: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi addressed the SCO Women’s Forum 2026 through a video message.
Q: What did India say at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026?
A: India reaffirmed its commitment to women-led development and said women are among the most powerful drivers of growth. The statement linked this vision to Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Q: What women-led development programmes did India highlight?
A: India highlighted Self-Help Groups, Lakhpati Didis, Mission Shakti and Mission Poshan 2.0 as part of its women-led development approach.
Q: How many women are part of Self-Help Groups in India?
A: According to the official statement, nearly 100 million women in India are organised into more than 9 million Self-Help Groups.
Editorial Note and Sources
This article is based on the official Press Information Bureau release from the Ministry of Women and Child Development on India’s participation at the SCO Women’s Forum 2026 in Bishkek. It is written as a short DEI Insights news item for Change in Content.
