Editorial . . . . . . . 

Despite our best efforts, the battle for gender equality and reducing the gap between men and women has been long and difficult. Despite moving up five ranks from the previous year because of improved performance in areas of economic participation and opportunity, India was ranked low in terms of gender parity at 135th place in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual Gender Gap Report 2022, which was released last week. According to the study presented in Geneva, only 11 nations were placed lower than India out of 146, with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Congo, Iran, and Chad being the bottom five. Iceland continues to have the greatest level of gender equality in the entire world. Following Finland were Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden. India’s position in 2021 was 140 out of 156 countries, according to the latest data, but this is hardly causing for celebration since India performed poorly across the board, placing last in at least one of the metrics, “health and survival.” India’s position in the world when it comes to women’s political empowerment is a major factor in the gap’s increasing. India is now ranked 48th in the world. Although it may seem positive, the nation ranked ninth globally in 2016. Following that, the position dropped to 15 in 2017, 19 in 2018, and finally 51 in 2021. According to the most recent assessment, “Political Empowerment shows a dropping score (in India) due to the diminishing percentage of years women have served as head of state for the past 50 years.”

The Global Gender Gap Index measures gender equality in four areas: political empowerment, health and survival, educational attainment, and involvement in the economy. After a pandemic, a war, and an economic crisis, the gender gap had reduced globally by 68.1 percent in 2022. However, at the present rate of advancement, it will still take 132 years to achieve full parity. South Asia will need the most time to achieve the goal of all the regions, taking 197 years, “owing to a broad stagnation in gender parity ratings… in the region.” In terms of health and survival, as well as economic participation and opportunity, India comes in last. The nation received a score of 143 out of 146 for both factors. India has consistently received low marks and placed low in several categories. According to the survey, the former has a poor rank due to a low sex ratio at birth. The sex ratio at birth was 929 females to 1,000 males for infants born in the last five years, according to the most recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The natural sex ratio at birth, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is approximately 952 females to every 1,000 males. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey’s annual report for 2020–21, Indian women’s labour force participation is just 23.15 percent, compared to 57.75 percent for men, in terms of economic involvement and opportunity.

The government must go beyond symbolic gestures and support women in overcoming incredible economic and social obstacles.