Primary and secondary education didn’t show very significant difference: IIM Ahmedabad report. (Representative image/ Source: Canva AI)
Although literacy rates among women have increased, only 46.1% districts reported educational empowerment, and women respondents in just 32.25% of districts felt that they were able to achieve work-life balance, highlighting ongoing challenges with unpaid domestic work. Such findings, among others, were revealed by the Women’s Empowerment at the Subnational Level: Towards Achieving Gender Equality (SDG-5) report by the Gender Centre at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) Friday.
The study compared and analysed data for women aged between 15 and 49 from a total of 705 districts across the country from the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) and NFHS-5.
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Prof Satish Deodhar, Dean (Faculty), IIM-A, underscored the need for participation by men in sharing household responsibilities to achieve work-life balance for both genders.
He said, “Of the four parameters studied in the report, the work-life balance parameter shows least progress. Only 32% of women reported that they could manage work-life balance. In my opinion, workforce participation of women is intricately linked to responsible household work participation by men.”
The report that has also introduced the Women Empowerment Index, providing a detailed, district-level analysis of women empowerment across India, offered new insights and data to help advance gender equality with focus on district-level variations.
“By focusing on district-level data, rather than taking a broader state-wide approach, the report reveals the unique challenges women encounter in different regions and across different communities – from limited access to education and economic independence to the struggle for a better work-life balance – to enable more targeted interventions by districts,” Prof Vidya Vemireddy, Chairperson of Gender Centre and co-author of the report, said during the launch event.
For the database, data from other multiple sources has been compiled including National Family Health Survey (NFHS), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and others.
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The more refined level of analysis will enable policymakers to design and implement targeted interventions, addressing specific regional disparities and fostering a more equitable allocation of resources, the authors of the report stated.
“By adopting a localised approach, stakeholders can develop tailored strategies that consider the cultural, social, and economic contexts unique to each district. This can lead to more impactful and sustained changes, as policies and programmes can be customised to the specific needs and challenges of the population at a district level rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution across an entire state,” the report stated.
For the index, four dimensions have been cumulated: decision-making and physical mobility, educational and informational empowerment, economic empowerment, and time allocated for unpaid work for the year 2019.
Ritu Sharma is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express' Gujarat bureau, an editorial position that reflects her experience and Authority in regional journalism. With over a decade of concentrated reporting experience, she is a highly Trustworthy and specialized journalist, especially noted for her Expertise in the education sector across Gujarat and previously Chandigarh.
Expertise
Primary Authority (Education): With over ten years of dedicated reporting on education in both Gujarat and Chandigarh, Ritu Sharma is a foremost authority on educational policy, institutional governance, and ground realities from "KG to PG." Her coverage includes:
Higher Education: In-depth scrutiny of top institutions like IIM-Ahmedabad (controversies over demolition/restoration of heritage architecture), IIT-Bombay (caste discrimination issues), and new initiatives like international branch campuses in GIFT City.
Schooling & Policy: Detailed coverage of government schemes (Gyan Sadhana School Voucher Scheme), the implementation and impact of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, teacher recruitment issues, and the impact of national policies like the NEP.
Student Welfare: Reporting on critical issues such as suicide allegations due to caste discrimination, and the challenges faced by students (e.g., non-delivery of NAMO tablets). ... Read More
