A new think-tank dedicated to advancing gender equity has been launched in Delhi. thriWe – The Hub for Research and Innovation on Women’s Equity aims to drive evidence-based research, policy advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives to promote women’s equity across various sectors.
The launch event, themed ‘When Women Rise, Society Thrives,’ brought together leading voices in gender equality and policymaking, including Kanta Singh, UN Women India Country Representative; Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament; and Archana Singh, Consultant at UNICEF India. The programme featured keynote addresses, performances, and the release of a new report examining women’s participation in the digital economy.
In her address, Kanta Singh called for stronger initiatives to increase women’s representation in the workforce and in political spaces. “We are seeing increased participation of girls and women. However, there still is a lot to do,” she said. Singh also urged greater preparation for women leaders ahead of the 2029 elections and the rollout of women’s reservation in Parliament. She highlighted persistent inequalities in property ownership and safety concerns, adding, “When the resources are so unequally divided between men and women, women cannot compete whatever, however competent they are. Globally, about 87 percent of land ownership lies with men.”
Sasmit Patra described the pursuit of women’s equity as “a lifelong cause worth championing” and discussed India’s gender politics. “We don’t perhaps need symmetry; we need balance. When women thrive, society doesn’t just become equal—it becomes whole,” he said.
Delivering the welcome address, Pratyush explained that thriWe aims to serve as a collaborative space for changemakers and researchers. He added that equity should be seen not as charity but as an investment in collective progress, referencing studies that show higher GDP and innovation levels in societies with greater female participation.
Archana Singh spoke about the distinction between equality and equity, illustrating “male defaults” in design through real-life examples. “Equality gives us the same shoes, but equity gives us shoes that fit,” she remarked.
During the event, the think-tank also unveiled a study titled “Women’s Labour in the Digital Economy,” developed in collaboration with gender researcher Tania Raturi. The report examines both the opportunities and barriers facing women in India’s digital workforce.
The programme concluded with creative performances, including slam poetry by Anupriya Sharma, a session titled “Voices from the Grassroots” by Naresh Chaudhary, and The thriWe Song, composed and performed by Hindustani classical vocalist Shivangi Bhardwaj.
Based in New Delhi, thriWe operates across research, policy innovation, and capacity-building to advance gender equity. Its guiding message, “When Women Rise, Society Thrives”, reflects its commitment to positioning women’s equity as a central pillar of social and economic progress.
