As the world celebrates International Women’s Day under the theme “Accelerate Action,” India stands at a crossroads. While we take pride in our women leaders, astronauts, entrepreneurs, and change makers, the reality for millions of Indian women remains starkly different. The celebration of women’s achievements loses meaning when so many still struggle against deeply ingrained discrimination, violence, and economic exclusion.
Laws may exist to protect women, but they often fail where it matters most—on the ground. The rising cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and workplace harassment tell a different story from the promises made on grand platforms. Even today, daughters are killed in the womb, young brides are burned for dowry, and women are silenced in the name of honour. These are not just statistics; these are lives lost to a society that refuses to change fast enough.
Economic independence remains a distant dream for many. While a handful of women rise to become CEOs and business leaders, the vast majority remain trapped in unpaid labour or insecure jobs with no social security. The gender pay gap continues to deny them fair wages, and workplace bias makes it harder for them to climb the ladder. Education, which should be a powerful tool for change, is still a privilege for many girls. Early marriage, lack of basic facilities, and the deep-rooted belief that a boy’s education is more valuable continue to push them out of classrooms. Initiatives meant to empower them often remain hollow slogans, with more money spent on publicity than on real implementation.
Every year, on March 8, there will be speeches, awards, and token gestures. Companies will offer discounts, social media will be flooded with messages of empowerment, and politicians will make promises. But will any of it translate into safer streets, equal pay, or stronger representation? Will it change the daily struggles of a woman fighting for respect in her home, at her workplace, or in society?
If we are to truly accelerate action, the change must be real, not performative. Women deserve more than just legal protections—they need these laws to be enforced without bias. They deserve workplaces where their contributions are valued equally, streets where they do not walk in fear, and homes where they are not treated as secondary to men. They need access to quality education, skills, and opportunities that free them from dependency. Most of all, they need a society that stops treating their rights as a privilege and starts recognizing them as a fundamental necessity.
Women’s Day should not be a celebration of how far we have come but a reminder of how far we still need to go. Until we move beyond words and take action every single day, gender equality will remain an unfulfilled promise. The time to act is not tomorrow—it is now.