\n\n<\/span>Making Policy Gender Sensitive<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nGender-sensitive policymaking acknowledges and addresses the distinct and often disproportionate impacts of policies on various genders, particularly in societies marked by historical and systemic inequalities. In India, incidents like the Anna University sexual assault case have underscored the urgent need for such policies. Institutional insensitivity in these situations often amplifies the trauma faced by survivors, highlighting broader societal challenges. This calls for a transformative approach to policymaking. Gender-sensitive policies aim not only to address immediate disparities but also to serve as foundational tools for fostering long-term socio-economic and cultural equity by creating fair and inclusive frameworks.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy Is Gender-Sensitive Policy Making Necessary?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nPersistent Gender Disparities<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\nFemale Labour Force Participation:
\n<\/strong>According to the Economic Survey 2023-2024, India\u2019s female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 37% in 2022-2023 from 23.3% in 2017-2018. However, this remains significantly below global and regional benchmarks, such as China\u2019s 61.5%.<\/span>
\nThis limits women\u2019s economic independence and negatively impacts national productivity.<\/span><\/p>\nWage Inequality:
\n<\/strong>The Gender Gap Index 2024 reveals that India’s economic parity stands at 39.8%, indicating women earn only \u20b939.8 for every \u20b9100 earned by men. Despite this, India has closed 64.1% of its overall gender gap.<\/span>
\nWage disparities undervalue women\u2019s contributions, reinforcing economic dependency and reducing investments in critical areas like education, healthcare, and personal development.<\/span><\/p>\nEducational Gaps:
\n<\/strong>While literacy rates among women have improved, systemic barriers continue to restrict access to higher education for many girls.<\/span>
\nNotably, although India produces the highest percentage of women STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates globally (40%), their representation in STEM-related jobs remains low at just 14%, according to the CSIR Report 2022.<\/span>
\nSocio-economic challenges like poverty, poor infrastructure in rural areas, and societal norms prioritizing male education exacerbate these disparities.<\/span><\/p>\nPolitical Underrepresentation:
\n<\/strong>In the 18th Lok Sabha, women constitute only 13.6% (74 seats), a decline from 14.4% (78 seats) in the 17th Lok Sabha.<\/span>
\nThis lack of representation reduces advocacy for women-centric policies and limits the diversity of perspectives in governance<\/span><\/p>\nSocio-Cultural Barriers<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\nPatriarchal Norms:
\n<\/strong>Deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes restrict women\u2019s mobility, decision-making power, and access to resources.<\/span>
\nFor instance, only 47% of Indian women report having a say in household financial decisions, highlighting gendered power imbalances.<\/span><\/p>\nIntersectional Discrimination:
\n<\/strong>Women from marginalized communities, such as Dalits and Muslims, face compounded discrimination based on gender, caste, and religion.<\/span>
\nAccording to the 2011 Census, the worker population ratio for Muslims was 32.6%, compared to Hindus (41%) and Christians (41.9%).<\/span><\/p>\nViolence and Safety Concerns:
\n<\/strong>The NCRB 2023 report notes a 4% rise in crimes against women in 2022, including abductions, assaults, and sexual violence.<\/span>
\nMany incidents remain unreported due to societal stigma, mistrust in the justice system, and fear of retaliation, further exacerbating vulnerability.<\/span><\/p>\nEconomic and Developmental Imperatives<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\nEconomic Growth Potential:
\n<\/strong>Enabling women\u2019s equal participation in the economy could boost India\u2019s GDP by 16%, adding $700 billion by 2025 and increasing annual growth by 1.4 percentage points.<\/span>
\nAchieving this requires removing barriers to women\u2019s economic participation through targeted policies.<\/span><\/p>\nHealthcare Outcomes:
\n<\/strong>Gender-sensitive healthcare policies significantly improve maternal and child health outcomes.<\/span>
\nIndia\u2019s maternal mortality ratio stands at 97 per 100,000 live births, and targeted interventions can further reduce this figure while ensuring equitable healthcare access.<\/span><\/p>\nHuman Development:
\n<\/strong>Addressing gender inequities is essential for meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which prioritizes gender equality as a foundation for sustainable development.<\/span><\/p>\nMoral and Legal Dimensions<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\nLegal Barriers:
\n<\/strong>Gender-insensitive policing remains a significant hurdle in justice delivery.<\/span>
\nThe Madras High Court criticized the Tamil Nadu Police for victim-blaming in the Anna University sexual assault case, underscoring the urgent need for reform in law enforcement practices.<\/span><\/p>\nConstitutional Mandate:
\n<\/strong>The Indian Constitution explicitly guarantees gender equality through Articles 14, 15, 16, 39(d), and 42, which ensure equal rights, prohibit discrimination, and promise social security for women.<\/span>
\nEffective governance must uphold these provisions.<\/span><\/p>\nGlobal Commitments:
\n<\/strong>As a signatory to international conventions like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), India is obligated to implement policies that promote gender equity and safeguard women\u2019s rights.<\/span><\/p>\nMajor Steps Taken Towards Gender-Sensitive Policy Making<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nLegislative Framework<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017:<\/strong><\/span>
\nIncreased maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks to support postnatal care and ensure better work-life balance for women. It also mandates creche facilities in workplaces with over 50 employees to promote women’s workforce participation.<\/span><\/li>\n- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013:<\/strong><\/span>
\nRequires organizations to form Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to address grievances related to sexual harassment, providing women with a formal mechanism for seeking redressal.<\/span><\/li>\n- Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013:<\/strong><\/span>
\nIntroduced stringent punishments for crimes like sexual assault and stalking, demonstrating a strong stance against gender-based violence.<\/span><\/li>\n- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:<\/strong><\/span>
\nSeeks to eliminate child marriage by enforcing legal penalties and raising awareness, especially in rural and marginalized areas where this practice is more prevalent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nGovernment Initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Gender Budgeting:<\/strong><\/span>
\nIntroduced in 2005-06, gender budgeting integrates gender perspectives into policy formulation and resource allocation.<\/span>
\nThe Union Budget 2024-25 allocated over \u20b93 lakh crore for schemes benefiting women and girls, focusing on women-led development.<\/span>
\nMinistries and departments have established Gender Budget Cells to monitor spending and assess its impact on gender equality.<\/span><\/li>\n- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP):<\/strong><\/span>
\nAimed at improving the sex ratio at birth, which rose from 918 in 2014-15 to 934 in 2019-20, addressing cultural biases favoring male children.<\/span>
\nThe initiative integrates efforts across ministries to enhance girls\u2019 access to education, healthcare, and nutrition. However, challenges persist, as the National Statistical Office (NSO)<\/em> reported a 12.6% dropout rate for students, with 19.8% discontinuing at the secondary level and 17.5% at the upper primary level.<\/span><\/li>\n- Schemes Prioritizing Women:<\/strong><\/span>
\nInitiatives like MGNREGA<\/em>, Ujjwala Yojana<\/em>, and Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana<\/em> empower women by offering preferential access to jobs, financial aid, healthcare, and energy.<\/span>
\nIn FY 2023-24, 63.6% of MUDRA beneficiaries were women entrepreneurs.<\/span>
\nOther programs, such as the One Stop Centre Scheme<\/em>, provide integrated services for women facing violence, including medical, legal, psychological, and police assistance. Similarly, the Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP)<\/em> offers training and employment opportunities for economic empowerment.<\/span><\/li>\n- Encouraging Participation in R&D:<\/strong><\/span>
\nPrograms like Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)<\/em> and Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe)<\/em> promote women’s involvement in research and development through grants, fellowships, and career development opportunities in STEM and biotechnology.<\/span><\/li>\n |
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