Equal Opportunities for Women

Equal opportunities for women: Is it a myth or a reality in India?

Global Position - GII
 India is ranked 129 out of 187 countries  GII - captures the loss in achievement due to gender

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disparities in the areas of reproductive health, empowerment, and labour force participation, with 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (total inequality). India’s GII – 0.617 Global average of 0.492. Even Pakistan (115), Bangladesh (112), and Sri Lanka (74), have performed better in terms of this indicator

Equal Opportunities: Myth or Reality

 Spheres – Socio, Economic, Political  Why equal opportunity?  What is hindering equal opportunity?  How to overcome the obstacles?

Current Position
 Only 3% of Judges are women

 Not aware of rights in the constitution
 Lack autonomy in their house  Attrition after marriage or child birth  Sexual Harassment  Domestic Violence

Why equal opportunity?
 Women can act as ‘Catalyst of change’
 If you are educating a women, you are educating a whole family

 Economic contribution of women
 India's growth rate can make a quantum jump of 4.2 per cent if

women in the country get equal opportunity in the core sectors of the economy - UN Women
 To reduce their vulnerability  Technology advancements

What is hindering equal opportunity?
 Child rearing and family maintenance  Stereotyped roles - how is this built?  Social Evils  Managing home and work  Public Transport & Safety  Ignorance or Lack of Awareness ( Complaint

Committees, Toll free numbers)
 Social Stigma

From Myth to Reality…
 Education, Empowerment and Enforcement o Sensitise men and women, boys and girls from childhood o Media’s role is very important o Women’s movements o Stringent laws and enforcement o Better Transport and Working conditions

Thank You