Women and Men in India 2023 | 14 Aug 2024

Source: BS

Why in News?

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the 25th edition of report titled Women and Men in India 2023.

• It offers a comprehensive overview of gender dynamics in India, covering data on population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making involvement.
• It presents data disaggregated by gender, urban-rural divide, and geographical region to understand existing disparities in society.

What are Key Highlights of the 2023 Report?

• Population: By 2036, the population of India is expected to reach 152.2 Crores.
• Improvement in sex ratio: Sex ratio in India is expected to improve to 952 women per 1000 men by 2036 from 943 in 2011.
  • Female percentage is expected to constitute 48.8% in 2036 compared to 48.5% in 2011. India's population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine.
• Age Demography: The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility.
  • The proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase.
• Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR): From 2016 to 2020, ASFR in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively.
  • ASFR is defined as the number of live births in a specific age group of women per thousand female populations of that age group.
    • The ASFR for the ages 35-39 for the above period has increased from 32.7 to 35.6 which shows that after settling in life, women are thinking of expanding their family.
  • Adolescent Fertility Rate was 33.9 for the illiterate population whereas 11.0 for the literate in 2020.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): India has successfully achieved the major milestone of bringing down its MMR (97 per lakh live births in 2018-20). (SDG target - Reduce MMR to 70 by 2030).
  • MMR is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during a year.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Both Male IMR and Female IMR were equal at the level of 28 infants per 1000 live births in 2020.
  • IMR is the probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before reaching the age of one year.
• Under Five Mortality Rate: It has decreased from 43 in 2015 to 32 in 2020. The under five mortality rate gap between boys and girls has also reduced.
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Male LFPR has gone from 75.8 to 78.5 during 2017-18 to 2022-23 and female LFPR has gone from 23.3 to 37 during the same period.
  • LFPR is defined as the section of the working population in the age group of 16-64 in the economy currently employed or seeking employment. 
• Participation in Election: The 2014 Lok Sabha elections marked a significant change, with women's participation increasing to 65.6%, and further rising to 67.2% in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
• Women Entrepreneurship: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 1,17,254 start-ups between 2016 and 2023.
  • Among these, 55,816 start-ups are led by women, constituting 47.6% of the total recognized start-ups. 

What are the Challenges Associated with India’s Demographic Profile?

• Son Meta Preference: India has been facing a skewed sex ratio at birth for many years, which has been a cause for concern. 
  • Sons are expected to continue the family name and support parents financially, while daughters are viewed as a liability due to dowry costs and leaving the family after marriage.
• Aging Population: While India has the highest number of young people, aging is rapidly progressing. The current elderly population of 153 million (aged 60 and above) is expected to reach a staggering 347 million by 2050.
• Disparity in Health Outcomes: In the northeastern states, Assam has the highest infant mortality rate, followed by Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • There is still a wide disparity in health outcomes for children between rural and urban India.
• Barrier to Women's LFPR: Deep rooted patriarchal norms and traditional gender roles often limit women's access to education and employment opportunities. 

  • Societal expectations may prioritise women's roles as caregivers and homemakers, discouraging their active participation in the labor force.

• Absence of Informed Choice in Elections: Lack of education among the masses to make informed choices while voting. Voters also get swayed on the basis of their caste and religious identity.
• Informal Women Entrepreneurship: Women led enterprises are primarily rural, small-scale, and informal. They operate mostly from home-based setups which includes textiles, garments, handicrafts, food processing etc. 
  • They lack formal funding and social security benefits.

Way Forward

• Balanced Sex Ratio: Periodical meetings with proprietors of scan centres need to be organised for enforcement of Pre conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic technique Act,1994. Ensure legal action on quacks who indulge in illegal abortions.
  • To prevent unwanted pregnencies the use of contraceptives like Oral pills, injectables and intrauterine devices can be encouraged.
• Handling Aging Population: India needs to provide specialised healthcare for seniors, foster intergenerational bonding to enrich society, and use technology to make healthcare and social services accessible and affordable for the elderly. It will give boost to the silver economy.
  • Silver economy includes all those economic activities, products and services designed to meet the needs of people over 50.
• Boosting Women's LFPR: Child-care subsidies free up mothers’ time to enter the labour force and have had significant implications in impacting female employment.
• Supporting Women Entrepreneurship: Formalisation of women enterprises, institutional finance and skilling can ensure greater participation and equity for women entrepreneurs.