Women in Public Sector (WIPS)

Source: http://wipssr.blogspot.in/p/about-us_22.html

The growth of public Sector in terms of increase in numbers, investment, turnover, employment and diversity of activities have been phenomenal in last five decades. As on 31.3.2009, the 246 CPSEs employed over 15.35 lakh people (excluding casual workers) . One-fourth of the manpower was in managerial and supervisory cadres. The CPSEs have thus a highly skilled workforce, which is one of their basic strengths. The CPSEs, in turn, provide lifetime employment to their employees.  Out of 15.35 employees, women constitute only around 4.5% as per DPE Report.

Batting for the fairer sex, apex body of public sector units SCOPE today asked the publicsector undertakings (PSUs) to take steps to increase representation of women on their boards. There are over 16 per cent women employees in PSUs, largely at senior middle and middle levels. "Their representation on the Boards of PSUs, however, is negligible," WIPS has been taking up through SCOPE that  PSUs should adopt Board approved policy for promoting gender equality in their organisations".  PSUs have been  advised  to develop company wise gender policy.

Though there is a perceptible increase in no of women going for higher education, both general and technical and taking up employment, the relative proportion of women employees to the total work force and the corresponding increase in the no of women at decision making level is not presentable. Needles to say , that the concern and the problems working women are complex in nature and required in depth  and understanding and analysis . A approach is needed to hardness the full potential of of women and enhance their contribution in the national development process in general and public enterprises in particular.

Is is an attempt to analyse the situation in Indian context, The Bureau of Public Enterprses( DPE) in collaboration with Standing Conference of Public Enter[rise (SCPOPE) organsied a National Convention on women in PSU in  Oct, 1989 in New Delhi. This convention was attended by 500 women delegates from all over India who were concerned about the  growth of women in PSU. They also felt that a need to create a national network , a support system that could enable them to transform some of the concerns in the active programmes with the help of the Govt of India, Public Enterprises and relevant agencies. Thus a Forum of Women in Public Sector (WIPS) was created under the aegis of SCOPE in 1990.

The Forum has come a long way and crossed many milestones with the full fledged support of the PSEs, Banks and insurance companies and the states they belong.

With 20 years of solid foundation, we are happy to share that these organizations are leveraging the vast talent pool of women employees and positioning them into mainstream of the organizations. This has no doubt created more challenging opportunities for them so that their capacity reaches full potential. It is a matter of pride that women workforce are making significant contribution to the organizations they work in to meet the challenges of a globalized world.