As a woman working in development, I have seen both the triumphs and struggles of women and girls in India. I have sat in meetings where men dominated the conversation, where decisions about women’s lives were made without their voices in the room. I have also stood in villages where women—once excluded—are now leading, transforming, and redefining their futures.
Today, on the eve of International Women’s Day 2025, I saw a vision of hope unfold before my eyes. In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, a group of women trained under the Jal Jeevan Mission showcased their expertise in testing drinking water quality using a field test kit. These were not scientists in labs or government officials in boardrooms—these were rural women who once had no say in water governance but are now ensuring safe drinking water for their entire communities.
Women Are No Longer Just Beneficiaries—They Are Leaders
For decades, development programs viewed women as passive beneficiaries, rather than active agents of change. But today, the reality is different. Women are no longer waiting for change; they are making it happen.
Take Sheela from Sijwaha village, for instance. Her village suffered from water scarcity for years. The men moved on with their lives, accepting it as fate. But Sheela refused. She took charge, learned how to test water quality, and ensured that every household in her village had access to clean water. Speaking with conviction at UN House, New Delhi, she said that, "Quality water is not just a necessity; it is everyone’s right. When women take the lead, change becomes possible."
Her words stayed with me. Because this is not just about water—it is about women reclaiming their space in decision-making, in governance, and in leadership.
The Hard Truth: The World Still Fails Women
Even as we celebrate the progress, we cannot ignore the hard truth: the world is still failing women and girls.
• Every 10 minutes, a woman is murdered by someone in her own family.
• The gender gap in labor force participation has remained stagnant for 20 years.
• Women contribute the least to climate change—yet suffer its worst consequences.
• Emerging technologies promise equality but are increasingly weaponized against women.
Women have fought for—and won—the right to vote, to work, to lead. But progress is not guaranteed. What we gain today can be lost tomorrow. The fight is far from over. The Beijing Declaration Turns 30—We Cannot Afford to Go Backward. This year marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most transformative framework for achieving women’s rights. But today, we are at a crossroads. We cannot afford to march backward. The time to act is now. At UNOPS India, we see the power of investing in women. We see how women-led water governance is changing lives. We see how, when given the right tools and training, women rise to the challenge—not just for themselves, but for their entire communities.
Vinod Mishra, Country Manager at UNOPS India, put it best when he said:"Women-led leadership in water management is not just a vision—it is a reality shaping sustainable development." This is not just about water. This is about power. Women are stepping into roles they were once denied. They are breaking barriers, rewriting narratives, and shaping the future.
This International Women’s Day, We March Forward
This morning, as I stood among women in Jhansi—led by a woman district consultant, supported by a woman state consultant—I did not just feel proud. I felt empowered. I saw the change. I felt the change. So, this International Women’s Day 2025, we do not just celebrate—we commit. We commit to supporting more Sheelas. We commit to ensuring women’s leadership in water, governance, and beyond. We commit to marching forward—for all women and girls. Because when women lead, the world changes.
By Madhuri Shukla, Communications Associate, UNOPS India
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