Context: India has made significant progress in the annual Gender Gap Report 2023, climbing eight places and ranking 127th out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity. While this is a positive development, the gender gap in India still leaves much room for improvement, as it currently closes only 64.3% of the overall gender gap.
Let’s dive into the key markers of the gender gap index and explore the areas where India can seize opportunities to enhance gender parity.
Economic Participation and Opportunity:
In the domain of economic participation and opportunity, India’s performance leaves much to be desired, ranking near the bottom with less than 40% parity. While there have been some improvements in wage and income parity, the representation of women in senior positions and technical roles has dwindled. Achieving gender parity in the workforce remains a significant challenge.
Educational Attainment:
India has fared well in education, marking one of its strengths. Education is a critical factor for bridging the gender gap, and India’s commitment to providing girls with access to education at all levels of school and college is commendable. However, this momentum must continue to ensure that girls receive job-assured education, as it significantly contributes to overall development indices.
Health and Survival:
Although India’s performance in health and survival has seen some improvement, there is still much to be done. An uptick in the sex ratio at birth has contributed positively, but persistent challenges remain. Ensuring girls have access to quality education through all levels and opportunities for paid work is crucial. This holistic approach not only contributes to improved development indices. But also helps break the cycle of early marriages and its associated adverse effects on maternal and child health.
Political Empowerment:
- India has shown progress in political empowerment, with women representing over 40% in local governance.
- This is by the 73rd and 74th amendments.
- However, women’s representation in the national parliament remains at only 15.1%, the highest since the report’s inception in 2006. However the government has passed Women’s Reservation Bill 2023 to solve this issue.
- It has provision to reservation of 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.
Conclusion:
While India’s progress in the Gender Gap Report 2023 is commendable, there is still need a lot to progress. Achieving gender parity is not only a matter of equality but also contributes to economic growth and overall societal well-being. It is essential that India addresses issues related to economic opportunity, education, health, and political representation to create a more inclusive and equitable society. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of women. Thus making it even more imperative to redouble efforts to bridge the gender gap.
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