Global Gender Gap Index is published by World Economic Forum (WEF). It was first published in 2006. It measures gender parity on a scale from 0 (disparity) to 1 (parity). It ranks countries based on their status of gender equality in four dimensions:
- Economic Participation and Opportunity,
- Educational Attainment,
- Health and Survival and
- Political Empowerment
Where does India stand in the Global Gender Gap Index?
- The number of countries involved is 153 in 2022 with India ranking 112th.
- India’s score has improved from 0.665 in 2018 to 0.668 in 2022.
- As per the Global Gender Gap Report, among the 153 countries studied, India is the only country where the economic gender gap is larger than the political gender gap.
- Only 1/4th of women, contrasted with 82% of men, engage actively in the labour market.
- As per this report, female estimated earned income is a mere 1/5th of male income.
- India ranks 18th (score of 41.1%) on the Political Empowerment subindex.
- For the past 50 years, India was headed by a woman for 20 years. But today, female political representation is low. Women make up only 14.4% of the parliament (122nd) and 23% of the cabinet (69th).
Some of the significant initiatives undertaken by the Government of India to assure that women get equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources are as follows:
- Constitutional Provisions – Article 14, Article 15 (3), Article 39A, and Article 42 – to ensure gender equality.
- Legislative Provisions – Aimed at mandating women’s rights.
- Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
- Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 2017)
- Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
- Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Act (PCPNDT), 1994
- Sexual Harassment of Women and Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
- Schemes/Programmes: Schemes that are intended towards women Educational Attainment, Political Participation and Economic Participation & Opportunity are:
- BetiBachaoBetiPadhao (BBBP)
- Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) – It is a micro-finance organization. It provides micro-credit at concessional terms to poor women for livelihood.
- Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) – Empowerment of rural women for skill development and employment.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojanas – Maternity benefit to pregnant and lactating mothers.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Empowers BPL family women and protects their health by providing LPG gas cylinder free of cost
- Pradhan Mantri Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana – Empowering girls by opening their bank accounts.
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)
- Capacity Building of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) programme – enabling women to engage effectively in the governance processes.
- Reservation of 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women