WEE Index: Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi on Top!

In a landmark development, the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index, recently released by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, has placed Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, and Varanasi at the top as the most conducive districts for women's economic participation and empowerment. This data-backed initiative is part of the state's focused effort to ensure inclusive growth and gender-sensitive development planning.

The WEE Index has been designed to evaluate the status of women across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh through the lens of economic participation and empowerment.

The index draws data from both government sources and real-time field surveys and uses five core pillars:

1. Employment Opportunities

2. Entrepreneurship

3. Education and Skill Development

4. Livelihood and Financial Inclusion

5. Safety, Mobility, and Infrastructure

The capital city Lucknow, industrial hub Kanpur, and spiritual capital Varanasi have shown remarkable performance on nearly all parameters. These cities have also seen a sharp increase in female enrolment in technical and paramedical courses, along with efforts to place more women in formal job roles, such as transport services and frontline governance.

The WEE Index isn’t just a ranking tool—it’s a roadmap. As Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi pave the way with measurable success, the challenge now is to replicate this model in underperforming districts. With continued focus on education, safety, and opportunity, UP is positioning itself to become a leader in grassroots women empowerment.