'Gender diversity' may be a mere buzzword for corporate India — A recent survey shows some worrying numbers

(Photo Source: indianwomenblog.org)

• According to a recent survey conducted by ProEves — a gender consulting firm — the number of women employees in corporate India has stood at an average of just 20% over the past five years, Economic Times reported.
  
• The survey revealed that women headcount at Indian and multinational companies was just 12% for top-notch positions.
  
• The survey also showed that over one-third of women attrition is due to maternity.

Despite corporate India’s push to empower women and focus on ‘gender diversity’, it is still struggling to strike the right gender balance.

According to a recent survey conducted by ProEves — a gender consulting firm — the number of women employees at corporate India has stood at, on average, just 20% over the past five years, Economic Times reported.

The survey also revealed that the women headcount at Indian and multinational companies in India was just 12% at the top-notch positions.

ProEves surveyed over 50 prominent companies across sectors and different industry verticals including companies such as Walt Disney, Viacom18, Flipkart, Whirlpool and Philips.

While at the junior level, women shared about 22% of the total workforce, the share dropped down to 17% at the intermediate levels, further decreasing to 14% at senior management, according to the report.

The US has nearly double the women at its companies compared to India, it noted.

According to the gender diversity survey evaluation, women in ‘talent’ programmes including mentoring, development and leadership programmes is even less than 20% in the majority of the companies.

The numbers show that companies in India have a long way to go to increase women hiring, retention, and promotion.

The inequality should be addressed at all levels—including internships and elementary levels—offering equal opportunities to women as to men, Forbes highlighted in a report.

Analysing the key reasons for women leaving corporates, the survey found that over one-third of it was due to maternity.

Gender Balance India Survey in 2016 showed that more than half of women workforce quits due to childcare while nearly 75% women yearn to have childcare support at workplace.

Earlier in 2015, IBM reportedly launched its ‘Elevate’ program to ensure women to develop leadership skills and gain experience. This has helped women fetch roles in senior leadership, it claims.

Clearly, programs such as these are a crying need at all companies — and not just paying lip-service.

See also:
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