As per the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 published by the World Economic Forum, India is ranked at 140 out of 156 countries with a score of 0.625 (out of 1). The Global Gender Gap Report provides scores on Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) which examines the gap between men and women in four dimensions, namely, Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. Compared to last year, Indian score has come down largely due to Political Empowerment dimension. India’s score in this dimension should be one of the highest in the world as India has provided 30% reservation to women at local self-government level and representation of women in the local self-government bodies is more than 30% at present. However, the publishing agency, World Economic Forum, takes into account representation of women in Parliament only.

Government of India has given utmost priority to bridge the gender gap in India, reducing disparity between men and women, improving the health of women, increasing their socio-economic status and participation in various fields. Some major initiatives taken by Government of India for removing the gender gap in all aspect of social, economic and political life are as follows:

Economic Participation

• • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ensures the protection, survival and education of the girl child.
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims to empower girls in the age group 11-18 and to improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training
  • Working Women Hostel ensures the safety and security for working women.
  • The National Crèche Scheme ensures that women take up gainful employment through providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment to the children.
  • Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana aims to provide housing under the name of the woman also.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana aims to enable a large number of Indian youths including women to take up industry-relevant skill training in securing a better livelihood.
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Urban Livelihoods Mission focuses on creating opportunities for women in skill development, leading to market-based employment.
  • Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna - Under this scheme girls have been economically empowered by opening their bank accounts.
  • Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojna is an exclusive training programme of MSME aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in coir Industry.
  • Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.
  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provides access to institutional finance to micro/small business.

Education

· Samagra Shiksha Scheme inter alia has provisions of gender segregated toilets in all schools and teachers’ sensitization programmes to promote girls’ participation, Rani Laxmi Bai Atmaraksha Prashikshan and stipend for girl children with special needs.

· Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been opened in educationally backward blocks for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups.

· University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) are implementing various fellowship/scholarship schemes. 159 Women Studies Centres have been established in various Universities and Colleges to undertake research and develop curricula in the areas of gender equity, economic self-reliance of women, girls’ education, etc. In order to improve Gender Balance in Undergraduate Programmes in IITs, 5039 supernumerary seats for female students have been created since 2018-19.

Health and Nutrition

· Government has announced Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.

· Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojna aims to provide maternity benefit to pregnant and lactating mothers.

· Implementation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N)

· Rollout of Comprehensive Primary Health Care including health promotion through Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Centers (AB-HWC)

· Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women delivering in public health institutions and sick infants accessing public health institutions for treatment.

· Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) to provide financial assistance to pregnant women for encouraging institutional delivery.

· Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) to provide assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services

· Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) to provide comprehensive and quality ANC to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

· LaQshya initiative to improve the quality of care in Labour room and Maternity Operation Theatres.

· Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana empowers women and protects their health by providing LPG cylinder free of cost.

 

Political Participation

 

· To bring women in the mainstream of political leadership at the grass root level, government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women. Capacity Building of Panchayat Stakeholders including Elected Women Representatives is conducted with a view to empowering women to participate effectively in the governance processes.

This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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