Women professionals still trapped under the glass ceiling: Grant Thornton report

Bangalore: Despite huge changes in the perception of a woman's role in society, and women today enjoying more opportunities than ever before, they still haven't managed to break the glass ceiling, in India or elsewhere, says a new report by Grant Thornton India.

The report, Women in Leadership -The Mascots of Change, presents a clear overview of women in the community today and features encouraging personal perspectives from Indian women at the top of their game.

The key challenges for women lie in balancing their professional and family lives. Karishma R. Phatarphekar, partner for Grant Thornton India commented, "Though an increasing number of women are in senior most positions today, it's still male dominated at the top since most women have to cope with multi-tasking and striking a balance between personal and professional life."

The percentage of women in senior management roles in India is on the rise increasing from 14 to 15 per cent in the last year. However, India still ranks in the bottom five on a global scale.
Additional statistics show that in India, women constitute more than half the population and represent 36 per cent of the labour force. With this in mind their significance and contribution to the economic and social development of the country cannot be underemphasised.

Dr. Linda Spedding, international lawyer and founder of Women in Law, elaborated, "There is some evidence that companies with three or more women on their boards had an 83 per cent greater return on equity than companies with the lowest representation." They also have a 73 per cent better return on their sales and a 112 per cent higher return on invested capital.

Statistics such as these are encouraging women in corporate India to advance in the career of their choice be it finance, engineering, communications, manufacturing, police or civil services.
According to Nidhi Maheshwari, director - markets, Grant Thornton India, "India Inc. is more receptive. Owing to their academic and professional competence, urban women have more job opportunities than ever. Rural women, on the other hand, ought to be given more assistance. It is the need of the hour that women get a seamless access to quality education and healthcare. A holistic approach in this matter can boost the ongoing reforms in the country at all levels."

In rural India, women still have some way to go, but this is more to do with lack of opportunity than lack of determination. According to Nirmala Buch, former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh and founder of Mahila Chetna Manch "Our rural sectors have unbound energy, talent and willingness to drive the entire country towards a better tomorrow, and it is only the absence of a platform and support system that they do not fulfil their abilities."