Jharkhand reframes growth at Davos, linking women’s agency and minerals

At Davos 2026, Jharkhand set itself apart with a development agenda that departs from traditional models, pairing women’s economic agency with a shift from mineral extraction to processing.

During the specially-convened panel ‘Women Entrepreneurship: Driving Growth and Building a Sustainable Economy’ at the Jharkhand Pavilion, MLA Kalpana Murmu Soren articulated the state's philosophy with clarity. "When women are supported with care, resources and trust, growth becomes deeper, more stable and more equitable," she said, emphasising that empowering women is essential for building strong families, resilient communities, and a sustainable state.






Soren, who chairs the Jharkhand Legislative Committee on Women and Child Development, explained that the state's approach draws from its tribal and indigenous ethos, viewing development through the lens of stewardship rather than extraction. In this worldview, women occupy a central position, having historically sustained families and local economies through care work that often goes unrecognised and underpaid.

The session, organised alongside the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Women Empowerment (CCI-WE) vertical, brought together voices from India, Brazil, and other nations. Panellists included Ruby Sinha of BRICS CCI-WE, Geovana Quadros from Brazil's Mulheres Inspiradoras, and representatives from financial and business sectors across continents.

Jharkhand's empowerment framework extends beyond welfare schemes. The state focuses on restoring dignity, agency and opportunity for women, including homemakers, caregivers and informal workers who remain largely invisible in traditional economic metrics. Through the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, women-led self-help groups have enabled thousands to engage in local production, food processing and value-added enterprises.

Apart from creating livelihoods, these collectives foster discipline, self-belief, and leadership among participants, fundamentally strengthening women's position within households and the broader economy. The state follows a lifecycle approach, supporting girls and women from early education through adulthood, recognising that empowerment isn't a single intervention but a continuous process.

Soren invited global partners to collaborate with Jharkhand, positioning the state as a testing ground for how women-led, community-rooted development can drive inclusive and sustainable growth. The vision being advanced under Chief Minister Hemant Soren's leadership places people above resources and quality of life above narrow economic output.

This people-first philosophy extends to how Jharkhand plans to leverage its extraordinary mineral wealth. In a separate roundtable, government officials unveiled plans for an integrated mineral processing policy that could reshape the state's economic trajectory.

"We are preparing a draft of a policy for mineral processing with specific incentives," said Arava Rajkamal, Secretary of the Department of Mines & Geology in Jharkhand. The announcement carries significant weight: the state holds 22 of India's 24 notified critical minerals within its borders, yet has historically exported raw materials rather than capturing value through processing.

The proposed policy aims to correct this imbalance. By offering targeted incentives, financing support and regulatory clarity, the state hopes to encourage companies to establish processing and refining capacities locally. "We have to get these minerals to the market as soon as possible, especially because of the geopolitical situation and for the country's economic security," noted Prashant Kumar, the state's Finance Secretary.

Speaking at the roundtable, former Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha framed the shift as essential for Jharkhand's future. "The state has historically been oriented towards mining and extraction. The future lies in inclusion, value addition and productive jobs for our youth, and that requires processing and downstream industries."

The policy addresses past distortions that made value addition unattractive, including higher royalty burdens on processed minerals. By aligning the mines and industry departments, Jharkhand aims to create an ecosystem where mining, processing, and manufacturing develop together rather than in isolation.

Environmental sustainability anchors the approach. The state plans to establish a dedicated critical minerals research centre in Ranchi to address technological gaps in processing capabilities. A joint venture policy is also being drafted to enable partnerships between public sector enterprises and private players for capital-intensive projects. Brownfield mining areas, where land and clearances already exist, may be prioritised for faster implementation.

The roundtable drew attendance from international investors and experts, including representatives from the DMT Group in Germany and Sinomine Resources, signalling interest in Jharkhand's transformation.

Together, the initiatives point to an ambitious shift: recasting resource-led growth by placing women’s agency at the centre and ensuring mineral wealth creates local value through processing and manufacturing, not just extraction. The twin Davos announcements underline Jharkhand’s intent to pursue a model where growth and inclusion move in step.

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