Is India a gender-biased country? What kind of welfare work the successive governments have done for the women in the country till the date? If we believe on the report published by World Economic Forum it says that India is a gender-biased nation and it ranks along with other countries where women have not yet given their rights in the society.

According to the WEF’s gender Gap Index Report published recently, India has been placed at 114th position among 128 countries. The report was published on the basis of women’s role in economic, political, social, health and other important areas in these countries.

According to the report, India fared worse in the economic participation and opportunity and was placed on 122nd position in the list of 128 countries. In the year 2006, India was placed at 98th position in the list of 115 countries. However, it has slipped to 114th position in the new list comprising 128 nations.

Sweden ranked at the top place in the list with a gender equality of 81.5% in the country. Sweden is followed by Norway, Finland and Iceland at 2nd, 3rd and 4th place in the list. However, Bahrain, Cameroon, Burkina Fa’s, Iran, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Benin, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, Chad and Yemen are countries placed below India in the list.

The report says that India has an overall 59.4% gender equality, and for economic participation and opportunity the ration goes down at 39.8%. However, in political empowerment, India ranks at 21st with 106 women in parliament, 118 in ministerial positions. At the same time, India ranked at 4th place with 43% gender equality when talk about in terms of female head of state.

At present, women are enjoying greater participation in political system in comparison with other areas. President of India is a woman; the chairperson of ruling coalition is a woman. Women are enjoying power in different states. However, if we talk about the social and financial conditions of women living in rural India and several parts of urban India, we can find that they are still surrounded by the people opposing freedom to women in society.

Via: TOI