The Delhi Declaration for Women Cooperators (2022) emerged from a national gathering of 100 women cooperators from 18 states who came together to articulate a collective vision for strengthening women-led cooperatives in India.
Developed through dialogue among grassroots leaders, cooperative practitioners, and movement builders, the declaration outlines a roadmap for expanding women’s participation in cooperative enterprise, governance, finance, social protection, and leadership. It calls for greater investment in women-owned cooperatives, improved access to markets and financial services, stronger capacity-building systems, digital inclusion, and policy reforms that recognise the contributions of women in the informal economy.
More than a policy statement, the declaration represents a collective commitment to building an enabling ecosystem where women’s cooperatives can thrive as democratic, economically viable, and socially transformative institutions.
