Women should not merely be the users of technology but the owners of technology, said women and child development minister Smriti Irani, during a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry-FLO (FICCI-FLO) event on Friday.

Pushing for women empowerment, the minister said women should be encouraged to participate in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and should be taught how to handle personal finances and investments.

Irani was speaking at a video conference to launch FICCI-FLO’s ‘The Greater 50%’ initiative that focuses on improving the participation of women in the workforce, right from self-help groups (SHGs) to board members of large companies.

“The Economic Survey found that 60% of women in India in the productive age were just engaged in house work. Their participation in the labour force had reduced from 36% (2015) to 26% (2019). And in India’s 158 largest companies, women hold only 15% of board seats,” said Sangeeta Reddy, president of FICCI.

The initiative will focus on a number of objectives which include the acceleration of women-owned businesses, increase in women participation in the workforce, improving the ratio of women in leadership roles on corporate boards and favourable policy changes.

“The fact that 200 million plus women received direct transfer of money into their bank accounts for three months, the fact that women received three months of free LPG supply to their doorstep during lockdown is not only reflective of the government’s resolve to ensure women get the means of a better life but it is also indicative of the machinery of the government, be it the Centre or the state to be effective,” Irani said.