Indian Workforce to achieve equitable economic advancement for all: Livelihoods India Summit 2023

New Delhi, January 20, 2023:  ACCESS Development Services, on Friday organized the annual Livelihoods India Summit co-hosted by NITI Aayog at Le Meridien, New Delhi. Currently in its thirteenth year, the first day of the event saw attendance from prominent speakers such as BB Swain, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, PVS Suryakumar, Deputy Managing Director, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), S Sivakumar, Group Head – Agri and IT Businesses, ITC Limited, Saroj Kumar Mahapatra, Executive Director, PRADAN and Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India  along with other dignitaries.

The annual flagship sector report discusses the policy and programmes of the Government, the role of the private sector and the civil society in livelihoods promotion. The report covers contemporary themes and is authored by sectoral experts such as Dr Orlanda Ruthven, Dr. Ashok Kr Sircar, P V S Suryakumar, Girija Srinivasan, Alka Talwar amongst others.  The report covers themes such as the ultra poor initiatives, digitalisation of agriculture, jobs, CSR amendments, viable business case for women-led farmer producer organizations, policy and programme landscape for climate smart agriculture and initiatives that bring digitalization for the benefit of small-holder farmers. 

BB Swain, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India said “The ambition of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises is to identify the micro small and medium entrepreneurs and bring them under formal structure. I have been through the book. I really appreciate the focus that it puts on livelihood enhancement and strengthening livelihoods of the particularly unprivileged sections of people.” 

Arun Maira, former Member, Planning Commission of India said “While India has the maximum number of women working, we still need to get more women in the workforce, and we also need to work on getting these women recognition for their work.”