The First Citizen of India summed up her sentiments on International Women’s Day in her greetings on Friday with a call to celebrate achievements. She said one day is not enough; every day should be celebrated as Women’s Day in the spirit of “yes, we can and we will”.

Penning her thoughts on women’s equality, Draupadi Murmu, the first person from a tribal community to hold the office the President, wrote: “…we have come a long way from the days when our grandmothers first stepped out to join the freedom movement, and our daughters will carry the torch forward into the second century of independence.”

In his heartfelt gratitude to every woman, whose care, compassion, and unique sense of responsibility has been an eternal source of inspiration for everyone, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated, “This is a day to recognise invaluable contributions and to celebrate the unmatched achievements of our mothers and sisters, in all walks of life.”

In a big announcement on International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the LPG cylinder prices will be slashed by Rs 100.

Extending his greetings to the women of the country, Prime Minister Modi wrote on X, ”We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology, and more. This is also reflected in our accomplishments in the last decade.”

He announced that on Women’s Day, the government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100. “This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti,” he added.

In a year where almost half of the population lives in a country undergoing an election, this International Women’s Day on March 8 is a crucial opportunity to define the future people want. As conflict, climate change, and polarising societies are eroding decades of progress in gender equality, UN Women called on “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” to realise the gender equality dividend for all.

This IWD, the United Nations is celebrating under the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress.

“The world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. These challenges can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all,” the UN body said.

According to UN Women, an additional USD 360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality. Closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent, it informed.

Closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035, the global organisation said.

The UN organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women said if current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. To ensure women’s needs and priorities are considered, governments must prioritise gender-responsive financing and increase public spending on essential services and social protection.

“Policymakers must also value, recognise, and account for the vital contribution women make to economies worldwide through paid and unpaid care work. Women spend around three times more time on unpaid care work than men and if these activities were assigned a monetary value they would account for more than 40 per cent of GDP.”

Back in India, as part of Women’s Day celebrations, the Northern Railway declared Delhi’s Safdarjung Metro Station as a ‘pink’ railway station. A train with all-women staff, including a loco pilot, two assistant loco pilots, and two guards, departed from the metro station at 10 am. The step has been taken to highlight the significant role played by women in various branches of the Indian Railways.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in a post on X wrote, “Empowering every journey, celebrating every milestone. DMRC honors the spirit of womanhood this International Women’s Day, recognising their invaluable contributions in shaping our world.”

The GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced an all-women shift on the occasion at the Delhi Airport to advance inclusiveness, equity, and diversity in the aviation sector. Aptly called the ‘Pink Shift’, the initiative is being implemented in all of Delhi Airport’s three terminals, allowing women employees to work a full eight-hour shift, according to a press release. From Terminal Managers to Customer Services Officers, or Customer Services Executives – all are women – handling an eight-hour shift.

Recognising women as symbols of love, care, strength, and eternity, the Railway Protection Force currently boasts the largest share of women personnel (9 per cent) among Central Paramilitary Forces in India. Specially trained to ensure safety and provide assistance to female passengers in distress, they create a secure environment for travelers.

On a lighter note, according to the MSME Insights report released by Kinara Capital, women entrepreneurs perform better than men in terms of loan repayment. Only 3.4 per cent of the women entrepreneurs defaulted on loan repayment, the rate among men was as high as 4.6 per cent, and this behavioral pattern was consistent across all states.