Kochi | Union Minister Annapurna Devi on Wednesday said BRICS nations can play a significant role in advancing the global discourse on women's rights and empowerment at a time when women continue to face challenges in many parts of the world.
Addressing the BRICS Women Ministers' Meeting, attended by delegates from 11 member countries, here, she said the progress of BRICS countries, as emerging economies, is closely linked to achieving the global goals of gender equality.
"In the current global circumstances-where women's rights and empowerment are facing challenges in many places-BRICS can play a highly positive role in driving this discourse forward," she said.
The minister noted that BRICS countries are home to nearly 49.5 per cent of the world's population, of which about half are women, and said empowering women across urban and rural areas and across age groups would enable the grouping to achieve greater economic progress.
"Our Nari Shakti (women power)-whether urban or rural, young or old-if given the opportunity to live a dignified, secure and self-reliant life, can propel our economies to new heights," Devi, who holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, said.
The minister said the theme of India's BRICS Chairship, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", is based on a people-centric and "humanity first" approach, with the spirit of "women-led development" at its core.
She said the BRICS Women Ministerial Group provides an important institutional platform for member governments to mainstream issues relating to women and reflects their collective commitment to empowering women across member countries.
Calling it a crucial investment towards building inclusive, just and prosperous societies, the minister said discussions under the Women Track have focused on interconnected priority areas where progress in one sector produces substantial and positive outcomes in others.
Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said India views women not merely as beneficiaries of welfare programmes but as leaders, decision-makers and the primary driving force of sustainable development.
"It has been widely proven that women's participation and leadership in governance improve women's access to services; at the same time, it proves beneficial for the entire society," she said.
Highlighting the need to prepare women for a rapidly changing technological landscape, the minister stressed the importance of ensuring women's digital and financial inclusion, equipping them with new skills, encouraging entrepreneurship, and guaranteeing their secure and equal access to the digital economy.
Welcoming delegates to India, Devi said the country's ancient tradition of "Atithi Devo Bhava", which regards guests as equivalent to God, reflects its culture of hospitality.
She thanked all delegations for participating in the meeting and for supporting India's BRICS Chairship, while also acknowledging the virtual participation of South Africa and Indonesia.
The minister said mutual respect, mutual understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, inclusiveness, strong cooperation and a spirit of consensus remain the defining characteristics of BRICS and form the cornerstone of the group's collective efforts to strengthen cooperation, including under the BRICS Women Track.
Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur and Ministry of Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik also addressed the occasion.
The two-day meeting will conclude on Thursday.
BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Indonesia joined the grouping in 2025.
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September this year.
As part of its BRICS presidency, India is hosting a series of meetings across the country in the run-up to the summit.
