Steps taken for Gender Equality in India (From SDG’s implemented by United Nations)

Author: SHOBICKA J B

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Introduction

The term ‘Gender Equality’ means the equality between the men and women in every aspect. There are many circumstances in which the equality for women have been denied. The Article 14[1] of the Indian Constitution imposes on equality in respect of all contexts. The United Nations have implemented 17 goals as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the better development of the world. The gender equality is one of the goals implemented by the United Nations for the better improvement of the society and empowerment of the women.

Gender Equality – Goal 5 of SDGs

The fifth Sustainable Development Goal by United Nations speaks about the ‘Gender Equality’. The vision in the goal is to destruct the barriers in social, economic and legal aspects and support every women and girl in their empowerment. The gender equality is considered to be the key challenge. The United Nations feels that every unemployment and illiteracy of women as a challenge. The education, work prospect, supremacy and the decision making powers should be equally granted to women. The discrimination and the violence to the women should be ended. The reproductive rights were also implemented by the United Nations in the Sustainable Development Goals.

In India, the progress of gender equality has been started way before through the constitution, the development in the progress in implemented through the Goal 5 of SDGs. The report[2] given by the United Nations said that in the last five years, the political participation of the women has been increased. It was also said that the progress of the gender equality has been initiated with the social protection of women.

Initiatives taken by the Indian Government as per the UN’s report

1. BRICS Women Parliamentarians’ Forum in 2016[3] – For creation of gender sensive elective bodies as per the idea of SDGs

2. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)[4] – for gainful employment

3. The Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana[5] – for the skill development of women and to create self help groups.

4. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)[6] – for bank services in welfare of women.

5. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)[7] – for short term skill development.

6. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao[8] – for saving the girl children and to provide them with education

7. POSHAN Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission)[9] – for health services

8. The Maternity Benefit Programme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana[10] – partial wages to be granted for working pregnant women

Loopholes in the initiatives:

As of the report[11],

Ø In India before attaining the age of 18, 750 million women are married.

Ø It was said that still 1 of 3 woman experience the sexual violence in work place.

Ø Only 13% of women are the agricultural land holders

Ø There are 2 of 3, gender parity in primary education.

Ø Only 24% women were in the national parliament.

As per report[12], generally,

Ø Only 898 girls were born against every 1000 boys where the target is 954.

Ø Only 32% of women are working, where 30% are receiving less salary than men in average.

Ø More than 63% of women didn’t receive the maternity benefit they are entitled to. (Poverty eradication)

Ø 50% of pregnant women suffer from anaemia (zero hunger)

Ø An average of 130 babies die during birth – maternal mortality (good health and well being)

Ø Only 56.3% homes are accessible to fuels and gas for cooking. Where in Bihar it is access to 17.8 % family (clean, modern, renewable energy)

Conclusion

The United Nations step towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in gender equality is a great step towards the empowerment of women. With rectifying the loopholes mentioned above, the steps taken by the government of India towards the gender equality is a great deal.

References

[1] https://indiankanoon.org/doc/367586/ [2] United Nations Report on SDGs <https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/26281VNR_2020_India_Report.pdf> [3] http://www.brics2016.gov.in/ [4] https://nrega.nic.in/ [5] https://www.india.gov.in/ [6] https://www.pmjdy.gov.in/ [7] https://www.pmkvyofficial.org/ [8] https://wcd.nic.in/schemes/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-scheme [9] https://niti.gov.in/poshan-abhiyaan [10] By ‘Ministry of Labour & Employment’ [11] https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-5-gender-equality.html [12] https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/indian-women-and-the-aspiration-of-equality-a-niti-aayog-report/cid/1681191