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U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment convenes first in-person meeting

The U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) convened the inaugural Alliance members meeting recently on the margins of USIBC’s Ideas Summit. The Alliance, launched in 2021, aims to dismantle silos between public and private entities, fostering collaboration to accelerate women’s economic security.

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and Alliance co-chair, Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, delivered opening remarks. She was joined by fellow U.S. Department of State Alliance co-chairs, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for India Nancy Izzo Jackson, and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Änjali Kaur.

“Women’s safe and meaningful economic participation is one of the most important issues of our time,” said Assistant Secretary Lu. “It is a pillar of secure, educated, healthy, and prosperous societies. Few other issues rival its potential to transform India’s future – and the world’s.”

Ambassador Rao Gupta emphasised the challenges and opportunities in advancing women’s economic participation in India. Despite progress, India ranks 142 out of 146 countries in economic parity and opportunity, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report. Women’s formal labor force participation remains significantly below the global average, and gender-based violence persists as a major issue.

“As India reassumes its historic place as a global power, its economic success story can only be complete by uplifting Indian women in education and the workforce,” said Ambassador (ret.) Atul Keshap, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council. “That’s why empowering women to succeed in the formal economy is a key topic at the 49th India Ideas Summit. Together with the State Department, our Alliance anchor partners, and Alliance members, we advanced actionable initiatives to equip women to contribute across all sectors of Indian industry, including civil aviation, hospitality, manufacturing, and renewable energy.”

The Alliance has three main objectives: advancing women’s corporate workforce participation, including through safety in the workforce; promoting women’s entrepreneurship; and increasing the presence of women and girls in STEM fields.

During the meeting, Alliance members discussed ongoing initiatives and explored new opportunities for collaboration. Ambassador Rao Gupta encouraged participants to use the forum to share ideas and establish new partnerships that could drive transformative change.

“We are all here because our commitment to women’s economic inclusion goes beyond mere compliance,” she noted. “Achieving meaningful inclusion requires funding, expertise, networks, and thoughtful collaboration. This is the essence of what the Alliance seeks to achieve.”

USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Änjali Kaur, emphasised how the Alliance is a vital platform to drive collaboration towards shared goals. “USAID is proud to be a co-chair of the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment. Through USAID’s work across corporate, philanthropic, and civil society sectors, we are driving impactful change to help women transition from the informal to the formal economy and thrive.”

As the meeting concluded, Deputy Assistant Secretary Nancy Izzo Jackson urged members to stay focused on the strategic importance of their work. “When women are economically secure, their families thrive, communities prosper, and nations grow stronger.”

A press release issued by Union Ministry of Labour has stated that Government of India has Invited Platform Aggregators to Register themselves and their Platform Workers on e-Shram Portal.

Copy of Press Release attached.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued a communication requesting Aggregators to onboard themselves and platform workers engaged by. them on e-shram portal.

Copy of the communication and SOP’s attached.

RBI Deputy Governor unveils product offerings for transforming ATM infrastructure at GFF 2024

At the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shri T. Rabi Sankar announced the launch of product offerings aimed at transforming the ATM infrastructure in the country. Unveiled in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the initiatives include UPI Interoperable Cash Deposit (UPI-ICD) and banks showcasing Digital Banking Units (DBUs).

The introduction of UPI ICD allows customers to deposit cash at ATMs operated by banks and white label ATM operators (WLAOs) using UPI to their own bank account or any other bank account without the need for a physical card. These ATMs are cash recycler machines which are used for both cash deposits and withdrawals. Leveraging their mobile numbers linked to UPI, virtual payment addresses (VPA) and account IFSCs, customers can now make cash deposits, making the process more seamless, inclusive and accessible.

Consumers will be able to access these features as the banks gradually roll them out. ATM machines with open architecture can host bank apps positioning them as DBUs offering cash deposits, withdrawals and other banking services such as opening bank accounts, applying for credit cards, initiate fixed deposits, applying for safe deposit lockers, etc. Additionally, recently at the GFF 2024, Shri Vivek Deep, Executive Director, RBI announced rebranding of Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to Bharat Connect. This is an important step to refresh and strengthen BBPS brand. Bharat Connect embodies NPCI Bharat BillPay’s (NBBL’s) values and vision for stakeholders and customers, going beyond a bill payment system to create an ecosystem that connects individuals and businesses, through an integrated platform. The launches took place in the presence of Shri Ajay Kumar Choudhary, Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director, NPCI.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) prepares for Special Campaign 4.0

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is preparing for the implementation of Special Campaign 4.0 for institutionalising Swachhata and minimising pendency in the department and across 19 organisations under its administrative control. The Preparatory Phase of the Campaign will start from 16th to 30th September 2024 to identify targets in respect of Pendency’s of PMO, VIP, State Govt., MP, Cabinet References, and Record/Space Management. While the Implementation Phase will start from October 2, 2024 and will last up to October 31, 2023. During the Implementation Phase special focus will be on achieving the targets identified.

With the beginning of the preparatory phase of the Special campaign, approx. 70 field/outstation offices have been identified under its 19 Attached, Subordinate, and Autonomous Organisations spread across the country for conducting Special Campaign 4.0. Guidelines have been shared with all field functionaries to mobilise their efforts to prepare for the Special Campaign 4.0. Training on Record Management was conducted for ASO/SO/US/DS/Dir. level officers of DPIIT for efficient management of Record and Space.

In its earlier administrative efficiency spree, DPIIT successfully completed various activities under Special Campaign 3.0 for institutionalising Swachhata and minimising pendency in the Government. DPIIT and its 19 Attached, Subordinate and Autonomous Organisations spread across the country, participated in the Campaign and achieved overwhelming results in reducing the pendency.

Eid-e-Milad holiday in Mumbai district rescheduled from 16 September 2024 to 18 September 2024.

The Supreme Court held that Internal communication about accepting the employee’s resignation letter could not be said to be acceptance of the resignation letter. It added that unless such acceptance was communicated to the employee, the resignation could not be deemed to be accepted.

Copy of judgement attached.

Eid-e-Milad holiday in Mumbai district rescheduled from 16 September 2024 to 18 September 2024.

The Government of Maharashtra has issued a notification dated 13.9.24 rescheduling the public holiday of Eid-e-Milad to Wednesday, September 18, 2024 instead of Monday, September 16, 2024.

Copy of notification attached.