(a) whether as per United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Report
2011 India ranks 129 out of 146 countries on the Gender Inequality Index;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has any plan to address the issues during the
remaining period of 11th Plan period and the ensuing Twelfth Plan; and
(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken/to be taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b): As per United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Report 2011, India ranks 129 out of
146 countries on the Gender Inequality Index (GII).
GII is a composite measure reflecting inequality in achievements between women and men in three dimensions: i) Reproductive
Health measured by Maternal Mortality Ratio and Adolescent Fertility, ii) Empowerment measured by share of Parliamentary
seats held by each sex and attainment at secondary and higher education and iii) labour market measured by labour force participation rate.
The standard and reasonableness of data used in arriving at the GII may vary from country to country and, therefore, it is
not possible to comment on India’s relative position in their Report.
(c) & (d): The vision of the Government is that every woman in the country should be able to develop to her full potential
and share the benefits of economic growth and prosperity. In this direction the Government has been implementing a number of
programmes and schemes for their socio-economic empowerment and for providing reproductive health services, ensuring higher level
of education, labour welfare measures etc. Special legislations have also been put in place to tackle crime against women, eradicate
social evils, labour welfare etc.
With the objective to secure convergence of schemes / programmes run for the development of women by different Ministries / Departments
of Government of India as well as State Governments /UT Administrations, the Government has set up National Mission for Empowerment
of Women in March 2010.