Uttar Pradesh Launches WEE Index to Measure & Boost Women's Empowerment

By: WE Staff | Friday, 25 July 2025

• UP’s Planning Department has launched the Women's Empowerment and Equality (WEE) Index
• The WEE Index aims to enhance Women’s self-reliance and provide insights for targeted policy intervention
• The Women's Empowerment and Equality Index tracks eight Women-centric government schemes

Uttar Pradesh's Planning Department has launched the Women's Empowerment and Equality (WEE) Index, a tool aimed at enhancing women's self-reliance and providing insights for targeted policy intervention. The groundbreaking initiative is developed in collaboration with the Udaiti Foundation by assessing women's economic, social, and educational progress at the district level.

The WEE Index evaluates government schemes' impact on women's well-being in 75 Uttar Pradesh districts using 49 indicators and data from 15 departments. It tracks women's entrepreneurship through measurements of starting and running businesses, women's employment and participation, education and vocational training progress, livelihood and stability in income generation, and safety dimensions assessing women's security and mobility, categorizing districts into Champions, Leaders, Contenders, and Aspirational based on performance.

Champion districts include Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Varanasi, Jhansi, Sultanpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Sonbhadar, Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ambedkar Nagar, Agra, and Ghaziabad. Leaders districts include Pratapgarh, Moradabad, Barabanki, Aligarh, and Bareilly. Contender districts include Ghazipur, Jalaun, Muzzaffarnagar, and Bulandshahr. Aspirational districts include Chandauli, Baghpat, Amroha, Badaun, Sitapur, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Mahoba, Sambhal, and Shravasti.

The WEE Index highlights the Uttar Pradesh government's commitment to women's empowerment through eight women-centric schemes from 2017-2024. These programs focus on education, health, financial independence, safety, and livelihood generation. Uttar Pradesh's efforts aim to promote dignity, self-reliance, and overall advancement for women.

The Women's Empowerment and Equality Index tracks eight transformative schemes, including Mission Shakti, Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Lakhpati Didi Programme, Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, BC Sakhi Yojana, Mahila Samarthya Yojana, Shabari Sankalp Nutrition Scheme, and Nari Adalat.