Survey shows decline in India's gender equality

Indian women still face some of the world's worst inequality in access to healthcare, education and work, despite years of rapid economic growth, according to a survey of 142 nations released on Tuesday.

The annual Gender Gap Index by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum showed India falling to 114th place, after being ranked 101st out of 136 countries surveyed last year. India is below other fast-developing nations, including China, ranked 87th, and Brazil, 71st.

Nordic nations led the world in promoting equality of the sexes, as they have for many years, with Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark occupying the top five spots.

The United States climbed three places to 20th, thanks to a narrowing wage gap and more women holding political office.

"Achieving gender equality is obviously necessary for economic reasons. Only those economies who have full access to all their talent will remain competitive and will prosper," Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive chairman, said in a statement.

A fairer society

Yemen, Pakistan and Chad remained at the bottom of the index, which ranks countries based on government statistics in four categories: health and survival, access to education, economic opportunity and political participation.

India ranked an impressive 15th for female political participation, given the large number of women holding public office. But it was among the bottom 20 in terms of income, literacy, workforce participation and infant survival.

Indian voters gave new Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party an enormous election mandate this year after he campaigned on promises of creating a fairer society and reviving economic growth, which slumped to below 5 percent in recent years after averaging 8 percent for a decade.

Modi has also spoken publicly against rape and violence against women, giving many hope for change after decades of political apathy in addressing women's concerns, including violence such as rape and physical abuse, high rates of maternal mortality and female infanticide. The Gender Gap Index placed India second to last, ahead of Armenia, in terms of healthcare and survival.

Modi's government has said it plans to launch a new program next month to improve the health of pregnant woman and empower young girls. India's female-male sex ratio has fallen to its worst level since the country gained independence in 1947, with 918 girls born for every 1,000 boys. It is illegal for medical workers to reveal the sex of a child before it's born, a measure to prevent families from aborting female babies.

"The intent looks good so far from the prime minister, but it's too soon to say," said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Delhi-based Center for Social Research, who called for more effort in guaranteeing the nation's wealth is used to benefit women and the poor. "There is no natural trickledown. India needs legislation to make sure that happens."

(China Daily 10/29/2014 page11)