Women Square

Tag: Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani

  • NAREDCO Mahi Convention: Women Drive Sustainable Real Estate & Viksit Bharat 2047

    NAREDCO Mahi Convention: Women Drive Sustainable Real Estate & Viksit Bharat 2047

    New Delhi, June 30, 2025 –NAREDCO Mahi, the women’s wing of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), successfully hosted its 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, under the visionary theme ‘Rise & Build: Women Transforming Real Estate for a Sustainable Tomorrow’. The event highlighted women’s growing influence in steering India’s real estate sector toward sustainability, inclusivity, and readiness for the future-aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

    At the 4th NAREDCO MAHI Convention, Chief Guest Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Hon’ble Minister for PWD, Legislative Affairs, Irrigation & Flood Control, Water, and Gurudwara Elections of the Government of NCT of Delhi, delivered a compelling keynote address. Drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda-“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached”. He affirmed his unwavering belief in the limitless potential of women. As a proud father of two daughters, he asserted, “I truly believe that today’s daughters are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to. As more women step into this sector, transparency will increase and the industry will move towards greater integrity.” He also commended NAREDCO MAHI’s initiatives under the leadership of Ms. Smita Patil, President-NAREDCO Mahi emphasizing that women’s empowerment in real estate must evolve from heartfelt sentiment into tangible reality-integrated into policy, practice, and documentation.

    One of the most anticipated sessions at the 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention was the fireside chat titled “Housing in India: Synergizing Policy and Industry for Sustainable Urban Growth.” The discussion brought together a dynamic policy-industry dialogue featuring Ms. D. Thara, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO, moderated by Ms. Smita Patil, President, NAREDCO Mahi & Managing Director, SSPL Group.  The panel stressed the importance of policy-industry collaboration, affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and women’s leadership in shaping a resilient real estate future.

     “India’s housing future must be built with policy, shaped by industry, and guided by inclusive values – especially empowering women and emerging leaders. At NAREDCO Mahi, we are committed to being a bridge -supporting women in the sector, nurturing young talent, and working in sync with the government for a stronger urban India,” said Ms. Smita Dhanraj Patil, President NAREDCO Mahi & Managing Director, SSPL Group.

    During the fireside chat, Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO, emphasized “India has come a long way -we’ve addressed the fundamental needs of roti and kapda, and now makaan is our collective priority. As the second-largest employment sector in the country, real estate and construction hold enormous potential. But if we do not actively include women in this growth journey, we are leaving behind half the nation’s strength.”. He stressed that empowering women through targeted skilling is key to inclusive growth. In the housing and construction sectors, women can be powerful contributors. But for that, we must focus on skilling. Once we bring women into the fold, trained and equipped, we will not just see growth-we will see exponential impact. The digits will double, he added.

    “True progress in urban housing is not just about building structures, but about nurturing communities-selling a home, not just a house-a place where people belong, where water is secure, and where nature is respected. Sustainability begins when we protect our trees and our water,” said Ms. D. Thara, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India.

    At the 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention, Ms. Isha Kalia, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India along with Dr. Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson of NAREDCO Mahi, held an illuminating dialogue on women’s transformative role in urban planning and policy execution. They explored how women are increasingly shaping the sector through leadership in planning, governance, and strategic vision. Both emphasized the vital importance of inclusive governance and the urgent need to integrate gender-sensitive frameworks into India’s development agenda.

    “Real change begins when policy and purpose align—and women are given not just opportunity, but ownership in nation-building. At MAHI, we’re not just mentoring women for leadership; we’re mobilizing them to drive the creation of smarter, more inclusive, and future-ready cities,” said Dr. Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson – NAREDCO Mahi.

    “Women must be at the planning table—not just as participants, but as powerful voices shaping the cities of tomorrow,” remarked Ms. Isha Kalia, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India.

    Mr. Hari Babu, President of NAREDCO, underscored the pivotal role of women in shaping the future of India’s real estate sector. He emphasized that the industry’s future must be inclusive, sustainable, and visionary, with women at the forefront of this transformation. By embracing women’s leadership, the sector can unlock innovation and ensure equitable urban growth. He stated, “Women’s empowerment must be a priority across our nation. We need to actively encourage our sisters to enter the real estate sector-and indeed any business-so that they can contribute meaningfully to economic growth. Parents should ensure daughters receive equal inheritance and property rights, so every girl has the foundation to build her future. At NAREDCO, we are proud to support platforms like Mahi that are paving the way for a more progressive and resilient real estate ecosystem.”

    The official launch of NAREDCO NEXTGEN – North at the 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention marked a significant milestone in nurturing the next generation of real estate leaders. This visionary initiative is aimed at empowering young professionals and entrepreneurs by creating opportunities for mentorship, innovation, and active industry engagement. With a focus on building future-ready talent, the launch reflects NAREDCO’s commitment to fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking real estate ecosystem that aligns with the evolving needs of a rapidly transforming India.

    About NAREDCO MAHI

    NAREDCO has established MAHI – NAREDCO Women’s Wing for empowering women entrepreneurs and encouraging participation of women in the real estate sector and allied fields. MAHI will strive to create an environment where women in real estate sector can come together: to share experiences, harness their skills, draw on their resources, influence, grow together and bring about lasting change. MAHI will ensure active engagement of members with other stakeholders in the sector and work towards the development and growth of the sector, with due recognition for the contribution of the women in the sector. For more information visit, https://www.naredco.in/naredco-mahi-2024.

  • Real Estate Startups: Catching Up with Women-Led Ventures

    Real Estate Startups: Catching Up with Women-Led Ventures

    New Delhi, 18th June 2025: In a strong push to recognise women’s growing role in infrastructure and real estate development, NAREDCO Mahi, the women’s wing of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), convened a focused media interaction in the national capital today. While the session also served as a curtain raiser to the 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention, scheduled for 27th June, it focused sharply on the growing momentum of women-led development and the need to bring more women into India’s urban transformation story aligned with the nation’s Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.

    Speakers pointed out that India’s real estate sector, currently valued at over $265 billion, is projected to touch $1 trillion by the end of this decade, contributing nearly 13% to the national GDP. Despite this high-growth potential, women still form only around 11 to 12 percent of the sector’s total workforce. However, change is underway. From project planning and design to compliance, construction supervision, and investment management, women are now increasingly involved in every layer of the real estate value chain.

    Ms. Smita Patil, President, NAREDCO Mahi, shared that the organization is actively engaging with stakeholders to create inclusive pathways for women in the sector. She stated that beyond boardroom conversations, NAREDCO Mahi has been working on ground-led interventions around skilling and training for young women, climate-sensitive construction practices, sanitation and safety measures at construction sites, water conservation models at realty projects, and solid waste management frameworks for developers. She said that NAREDCO Mahi’s outreach has extended to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where women are now increasingly visible in marketing, legal, project finance, and client relations roles—areas once perceived as inaccessible to them.

    Ms. Patil added that the upcoming 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention will feature powerful narratives and real-world experiences of women transforming the real estate sector. One of the most anticipated segments will be a special session showcasing father-daughter duos who have broken generational stereotypes to shape modern realty leadership in India. The convention will also feature ‘Recognition of Mahi Sheroes,’ policy masterclasses, and a sectoral discussion on wellness living and sustainable housing—an area witnessing a compound annual growth rate of over 16 percent and emerging as one of the most sought-after trends in post-pandemic urban development.

    Dr. Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson, NAREDCO Mahi, said that the upcoming convention is a leadership statement as much as an industry platform. She said that women are bringing empathy, precision, and people-centric innovation to how real estate is built and sold. Through focused initiatives in skilling, financial literacy, digital transformation, and sustainability, NAREDCO Mahi is working to increase women’s presence at all stages of the real estate journey—from conceptualisation to delivery.

    Shri G Hari Babu, National President, NAREDCO, said that India’s journey to becoming one of the world’s top three economies cannot exclude the participation of half its population. He stated that women are no longer merely participants—they are project heads, entrepreneurs, investors, and reformers who bring both strategic vision and social awareness to infrastructure and housing development. He added that from working in cooperative movements post-independence to taking boardroom roles today, Indian women have consistently shown leadership in the face of challenges.

    The session highlighted that over 20 percent of registered architects in India today are women, increasingly taking the lead in urban planning, heritage conservation, and sustainable design practices. In Tier 1 cities, nearly 15 percent of real estate brokerage and advisory firms are now women-led, a significant rise compared to a decade ago. While women make up around 10 percent of the construction workforce—largely in finishing and supervisory roles—there is a steady uptick in the number of women entering skilled positions, including site engineering and material management, especially through formal skilling programs and digital certifications. The allied sectors of interior design, legal real estate compliance, ESG advisory, green certification, and digital realty platforms are seeing over 35 to 40 percent female participation, particularly in metros and upcoming urban clusters.

    “Women leaders today are not just transforming real estate, they are redefining the business of building India. As developers, strategists, financiers, and policymakers, they bring sharp commercial acumen and enduring vision that is reshaping our urban economy. Empowering women in leadership roles is no longer a social conversation; it’s a strategic business decision. Their ability to balance risk, drive innovation, and lead with resilience is unlocking new opportunities across the value chain, from housing finance and construction technology to urban planning and sustainability,” said Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO.

    Mr. Harsh Vardhan Bansal, President, NAREDCO Delhi, expressed that with more than 30 percent of startups in India now being led by women, the real estate sector must catch up with the country’s broader shift toward gender-balanced growth. He said that qualities like multitasking, emotional intelligence, and long-term vision—often overlooked in infra projects—are being brought to the forefront by women professionals who are reshaping not just homes but also communities. He added that the soft power of women can be a game-changer in how India thinks about liveability, affordability, and sustainable development in the years ahead.

    The 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention is expected to bring together policy leaders, developers, real estate strategists, financial institutions, academics, and social change agents to discuss how women can play a central role in India’s infrastructure journey. As the country prepares its blueprint for Viksit Bharat, NAREDCO Mahi is ensuring that women are not only part of the narrative—but are at the helm of it.