WER Weekly Wrap: Women Shaping Policy, Business, Safety and Sport

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 13 November 2026

Women’s leadership, enterprise and safety stayed firmly in focus this week, with developments spanning policy corridors, boardrooms, village livelihoods and sporting arenas. From the Centre’s plans for a special Parliament session on women’s reservation to the NCW’s 37 proposals for working mothers, policy momentum continued alongside fresh schemes in Telangana, Karnataka and Bangladesh. Corporate India welcomed new women leaders at Goldman Sachs, Lenovo and US Tech Solutions, while grassroots programmes expanded market access for rural women. Sport delivered historic moments, including Gunjan’s Youth Olympics boxing gold. This edition of the WER Weekly Wrap brings together the stories shaping how women lead, earn, stay safe and succeed.

Policy Push Strengthens Women’s Representation and Workplace Support

The Centre is reportedly planning a special Parliament session to pass a constitutional amendment bill tied to implementing women’s reservation. An earlier amendment bill had failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha in April. Government sources say they are confident of the numbers this time.

On the workplace front, National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said motherhood should not force women to give up their careers, and that parenting is a shared responsibility. The NCW has sent 37 recommendations to the Union government across nine policy areas, including maternity benefits, childcare facilities and lactation support. They include gender-neutral childcare leave for private sector workers, mandatory paid paternity leave and five lakh crèche seats by 2030.

In administration, IAS officer RV Shajeevana has taken charge as Tamil Nadu’s Director of Public Libraries, replacing S Jayanthi. The appointment draws attention to women’s growing role in senior public administration.

In Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged women to lead a mass movement against drug abuse. She spoke of forming village groups and reviving community night vigils and proposed a women-led task force and rehabilitation programmes if her party returns to power in 2027.

Safety, Protection and Rights Take Centre Stage

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a security review at Delhi Police Headquarters, with women’s safety among the key agenda items alongside drug trafficking and organised crime. Discussions centred on preventive policing, stronger vigilance and faster investigations into crimes against women.

In Nagaland, the District Mission Coordinator and District Child Protection Unit organised an awareness programme in Kiphire on women and child protection. Sessions covered Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, child marriage prevention, legal aid and victim compensation. They also highlighted the role of One Stop Centres in supporting women affected by violence.

Internationally, a joint platform of women’s movements in Rojava launched a campaign against violence in Syria, running from November 8 to 25. It calls for constitutional gender equality, stronger legal protection and equal representation in political, administrative and judicial bodies.

Schemes and Policy Support Boost Women’s Economic Independence

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy set a target of making one crore women millionaires through self-help groups by 2034. He said women have received Rs 79,000 crore in bank-linked loans over 34 months, and that SHGs are finding business in school uniforms, petrol stations and solar projects.

At the national level, the Union Cabinet approved continuing the Stand-Up India scheme for five years, until March 31, 2031. The scheme carries a Rs 4,111 crore credit guarantee corpus and aims to assist at least 2.5 lakh more women, SC and ST entrepreneurs.

In Karnataka, the Department of Electronics, IT & Biotechnology met women entrepreneurs ahead of the 29th Bengaluru Tech Summit. They flagged gaps in early-stage funding, affordable AI computing, market access and government procurement. The state has around 8,000 women entrepreneurs and start-ups, and the department will explore subsidised access to AI facilities.

Bangladesh also expanded financial assistance and skills training for women entrepreneurs. A workshop in Rangpur identified market access, training and loans as the main barriers.

Grassroots Enterprise and Global Platforms Open New Doors

ICAR-CRIJAF has trained 870 farm women through 55 skill programmes in jute fibre processing and value addition. The annual turnover of the SHGs involved grew from Rs 0.74 lakh to Rs 96.25 lakh over five years, showing how technical training combined with market linkages can build sustainable livelihoods.

In Oman, three sisters and their cousin launched Miss Independent, a digital marketplace and networking platform for women entrepreneurs, home-based businesses and retired women. It offers mentorship and professional guidance, with plans to expand across the GCC.

In Israel, ten social initiatives were recognised in the 2026 Miss Fix the Universe competition, which focused on women’s employment and economic independence.

In the UK, Bali Jatra UK 2026 will highlight women in business and professional life alongside Odia cultural heritage. The festival takes place on 28 November in South Croydon.

Women Leaders Take Charge of Key Corporate Roles

Goldman Sachs named Gowri Sekar its first woman partner based in India, effective January 1, 2027. She is Global Head of Product Data Engineering and Asia-Pacific Lead for AI Strategy for Data Engineering and joined the firm nearly two decades ago as an analyst in Bengaluru.

Neha Lamba joined US Tech Solutions as Chief Revenue Officer. She spent over 15 years at HCL Technologies, most recently as Global Head of Sales for HCLSoftware’s intelligent operations portfolio.

Lenovo appointed Shilpa Marodia as Marketing Director for India and South Asia. She brings 18 years of experience across technology and FMCG, including a stint at Amazon India.

Shilpa Joshi joined the board of Hy-Tech Engineers as an Additional Independent Director. She was formerly Whole-Time Director and CFO of Novartis India.

In hospitality, Sheryl Oliveira Fernandes e de Sa was appointed General Manager of Holiday Inn Goa Candolim, bringing over 20 years of experience across Marriott, Accor and IHG.

Women Athletes Deliver Historic Wins

Gunjan became the first Indian woman to win a boxing gold at the Youth Olympics, beating Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah by unanimous decision in the 48kg final in Dakar.

PV Sindhu was named chairperson of the IOA Athletes’ Commission, with hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh as her deputy. Both were elected unopposed.

At the Telangana India International Challenge in Hyderabad, India won three of the five titles. Rakshitha Ramraj took the women’s singles crown, beating Rujula Ramu in three games, while Tushar Suveer and the men’s doubles pair of Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy also won.

Streetlifter Prableen Kaur Gill won gold in the Under-57 kg category at the Final Rep Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore. She retained her No. 1 Asian ranking and moved to world No. 12.

Final Note

Whether it is a legislative push, a new corporate seat or a first-ever medal, every step forward widens what is possible for the next generation of women. Lasting change depends on policies that reach the grassroots, workplaces that support women through every life stage, and platforms that give them capital, networks and visibility. WER will keep tracking the people, programmes and ideas that turn opportunity into lasting impact.