Women on top in India, bang their heads on glass ceiling

There has been a significant change in the way society looks at women's role, and more opportunities are available to women now than at any time in history ' but the glass ceiling is still a hurdle for them in India and across the world. That insight is contained in a report released by Grant Thornton India.

The report ("Women in Leadership â€ The Mascots of Change') captures the salient aspects of the condition of women. The report features global and national statistics; and the personal perspectives from Indian women achievers reflect a situation that is, on the whole, heartening. The principal challenge for women today, the report says, is to balance their professional and family lives. Karishma R Phatarphekar, a partner for Grant Thornton India, has told the media, "Though an increasing number of women are in senior-most positions today, it's still a male-dominated [world] at the top since most women have to cope with multi-tasking and striking a balance between personal and professional life."

There has been a rise in the percentage of women in senior management roles in India (14% to 15%) over the past year. However, according to the report, the country still ranks in the bottom five on a global scale. Numbers also demonstrate that in India, women account for more than half the population and represent 36% of the labour force. In that context, the report suggests that their significance and contribution to the economic and social development of the country cannot be ignored.