19 OCTOBER2023In contrast to other industries, women in the energy sector have less career mobility as women occupy just one out of every five leadership roles in the workforce, mentions World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2022. Women working in the energy sector earn less than men and even less than non-energy sectors.Barriers Women face in the Renewable Energy Sector:Women often face a number of challenges and obstacles in their path of progress, especially when the sector is historically male-dominated. At times women need to prove themselves about their capabilities and skills towards a specific industry. Obstacles like unequal pay, limited opportunities for career advancement workplace discrimination, and cultural and societal norms frequently discourage women from pursuing their careers in their respective industries. They often lack with financial resources and training or skills that are required for employment in the renewable energy sector.However, women recognize the importance of the renewable energy sector thus take up the responsibility at hand. As Sweta Mehta, the Deputy General Manager at Rays Power Infra (Rpipl), rightly says, "As a business leader in the renewable energy sector, I believe it is our collective responsibility to address these challenges and promote the transition to cleaner energy sources. To achieve a sustainable future, we must continue to invest in research and development, work with stakeholders to establish favorable policies, and collaborate to overcome the obstacles that lie ahead."Sweta has shown an instrumental growth in the market for renewable energy in India where the nations need to reach a goal of 450 Gw of renewable energy capacity by 2030. She has been playing a vital role in developing the renewable energy sector with her continuous inspiration and empowering other women to take up leadership roles in the industry.Opportunities for Women in Indian energy industriesThe Women-led development Agenda has become a prime focus after the G20 Presidency meeting for bringing sustainable growth to society. The Indian government has introduced a number of programs and regulations to encourage gender diversity in the renewable energy industry as the 'Ujala Yojana' program seeks to educate and empower women to start their solar businesses.In order to train and educate women in renewable energy technologies, a number of organizations and NGOs have introduced skill development programs. These initiatives aim to bridge the gender gap in technical expertise.The Prime Minister's commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 and the recent Green Hydrogen Misson are all helping society and women in the industrial and agricultural sectors.Sound AdviceWith supportive government run initiatives in place, the path for women to shine in the energy and renewable energy sector has been paved. Rena Singh Ghai, Managing Director of Green Ice Solutions shares sound advice for any aspiring women leaders. She says, "Be your own master by constantly learning and upgrading your professional skills to develop exceptional domain expertise. Take time to listen to views, and introspect on your actions and inactions. Keep a sharp focus on your work. Last but not least, love and live life to the fullest with compassion and passion". THE WOMEN-LED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA HAS BECOME A PRIME FOCUS AFTER THE G20 PRESIDENCY MEETING FOR BRINGING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TO SOCIETY
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