INDIA’S DECLINE ON THE PATH OF GENDER EQUILITY: A WORRYING SIGN: PRIYANKA SAURABH-A JOURNALIST

INDIA’S DECLINE ON THE PATH OF GENDER EQUILITY: A WORRYING SIGN: PRIYANKA SAURABH-A JOURNALIST

28-JUNE-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------India has been ranked 131st out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024. This is not only a drop of two places, but also exposes the inequality hidden in India's development journey that we often ignore. When the whole world is making slow but steady progress in reducing gender inequality, India's lag is not just a statistic but a reflection of the failure of policy, thinking and institutional arrangements.

The Global Gender Gap Index, which was launched in 2006, measures equality between men and women in four major areas—economic participation, education, health and political empowerment. India's overall score is 64.1%, which is much lower than the global average of 68.5%. Not only this, in South Asia too, India is behind neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. India has made modest improvements in economic participation, but women’s labour participation rate is still stuck at 45.9%. Women are concentrated mainly in low-paid sectors such as care, health and education. Domestic and unpaid labour, which forms the backbone of the country’s informal economy, has not yet been included in any national accounting. Women receive 20–30% less pay than men for the same work. This economic inequality is a problem of mindset, not just statistics.

While there has been some progress in education, female literacy is still around 70%, well below the global average of 87%. Women’s participation in higher education, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, is very low. Social barriers that deprive girls from rural, tribal areas and lower-class families of education—such as child marriage, stereotypes and distance to schools—still exist.

India also lags in health and life expectancy. The sex ratio at birth is still around 929 girls per 1000 boys. Maternity problems, malnutrition, anemia, and lack of perinatal health services seriously affect rural women in particular. The lack of priority to women's health within the four walls of the home is a weakness of our family system.

India's situation in the field of political empowerment is extremely worrying. Women's representation in Parliament has declined to 13.8% and only 5.6% of the Union Cabinet is women. This becomes even more ironic when we know that the Women's Reservation Bill 2023 has been passed, but its implementation is stuck due to delays in the census and constituency re-demarcation process. This makes it clear that just passing laws is not enough, the will to implement them is also necessary.

India needs to learn a lot from its neighboring countries. Countries like Bangladesh have made positive reforms through measures such as microfinance, promotion of women's education, and sustained political participation. In Nepal, the constitution ensures compulsory participation of women in local bodies. Surprisingly, many low-income countries have made faster progress in gender equality than rich countries, showing that change requires determination, not money.

Gender equality is not just a social objective, it is also essential for India's economic progress. The

McKinsey Global Institute estimates that if India increases women's participation in the workforce, it can increase its gross domestic product (GDP) by $700 billion by 2025. Women's participation in education, health and governance also leads to more equitable and inclusive social outcomes. India's demographic potential will be realized only if women's full and equal participation is ensured.

But the challenges are deep. Patriarchal social values, lack of safety for women in workplaces and public spaces, limited access to digital devices and lax policy implementation—all these are making gender inequality persistent.

It is time for India to not just plan but put them into practice. The census and constituency delimitation process should be given priority to implement the Women’s Reservation Bill. Domestic and unpaid labour should be included in the national economic accounts and given respect and social security. Flexible and safe workplaces should be provided to women, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

To promote women’s leadership in the private sector, companies should have women directors. Mentorship programmes should be run for women in science, politics and entrepreneurship. To bridge the digital divide, women should be provided with affordable mobile and internet services, and digital literacy programmes should be taken to the panchayat level.

It should be mandatory to compile gender-disaggregated data in every scheme and survey so that progress can be monitored at the state and district levels and policy making can be more targeted.

This decline in India’s gender equality is not just a statistic but a warning—that we have left half the population behind in the race for development. This mistake not only costs social justice but also national prosperity.

The road to enlightenment is long, but not impossible. The policy has been made, the direction is clear, now what is needed is political resolve, social consensus and institutional implementation. Till the time India does not give equal status to half of its population, the dream of a “developed nation” will remain incomplete.