Why Are Government Efforts Struggling To Close Stubborn Gender Gap?

Efforts to bridge the gender divide in various sectors of society have been a focal point of many government policies worldwide. Yet, data on the female-to-male ratio in female participation over several years shows slow or even negligible progress. While the gap is gradually narrowing, there seems to be a long distance to cover for equal representation of women in India across all sectors. The female-to-male ratio in literacy, employment, digital access, and financial empowerment reveals a slow progression towards equality. 

Literacy: Uneven Progress

According to data from the World Bank, the literacy rate among women in India has significantly improved over the last few decades. In 1981, only 26% of women above 15 were literate, while the literacy rate shot up to 69% in 2022. However, women still lag behind men, who comprised 83% of the literate male population above 15 years old in 2022.

The cultural and socio-economic barriers coupled with the lack of access to healthcare or menstruation care deter women from pursuing higher education in many regions of the country. Despite numerous government initiatives such as scholarships and school-building programs to promote female education, deep-rooted societal norms continue to hinder progress.

Female Participation In Workforce

Gender disparities in the workforce are more pronounced than in literacy. According to recent data in the Period Labout Force Survey, 37% of women above the age of 15 made up India's workforce in the Financial Year 23, as compared to 79% of men. Significantly, the rate of female participation has gone up from 23% in the Financial Year 18.

The Female Worker Population Ratio has gone up from 20.6% during January-March 2023 to 23.4% during the same period in 2024. The government, while announcing the Interim Budget for this financial year, announced strategies to boost the participation of women in the workforce, especially in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 

However, slow progression at the workplace, gender pay gap, discrimination, lack of maternity healthcare, and lack of child care, are some of the issues that show the wide gender gap in the workforce. Moreover, in some regions, women bear the brunt of familial expectations, social norms, and lack of transportation, hindering them from contributing to the country's economy.

Financial Empowerment

Political parties have promised a host of monetary benefits to women and girl children, yet societal disparities hinder many women from getting sufficient financial empowerment. Moreover, lack of awareness of the schemes and knowledge about accessing them are also significant issues. Here is a breakdown of some of the welfare schemes catering to women. 

Source: National Family Health Survey- V