India is a vast, diverse and populous country with significant social, economic and cultural disparities within – and between – the country’s different regions.
In 2001, India was home to one-sixth of the world’s population: some 1,032 million people. Of these, over 35% live on less than US$1 a day. While poverty affects both men and women, it is India’s women – particularly dalits, those from the lowest caste, and women from tribal communities – who suffer most.
India’s progressive Constitution attempts to address this marginalisation through policies of positive discrimination, often ‘reserving’ public sector and government jobs for those from scheduled castes and tribes. However, such policies are neither well received by some sections of India’s wider population, nor have they yet impacted significantly on the health, education and income of marginalised communities.
Strong social, cultural and religious traditions continue to hinder women’s progress towards full and active participation in their own lives, within their families, their communities and their country. For many of India’s women, there is a wide disparity between their country’s progressive reforms and their daily experience.
Fact File:
- Population: 1,032 million (at 2001)
- Of these, 531 million are women
- 62% of women are illiterate
- India has the 2nd highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world
- 5.1 million Indians are infected
- 38% of those living with HIV are women
- For every 1000 boy babies born in the country there were only 933 female infants
- Neglect of girl babies and female foeticide exists in 27 of India’s 32 states
- One woman dies every 5 minutes in childbirth
- Over 100,000 woman die each year from pregnancy-related causes
- More than 15,000 women every year are victims of dowry-related violence
Unequal access - women’s position in Indian society
India’s Constitution recognises women’s equality with men as a fundamental right and has initiated a number of policies to progress and support women’s rights and freedoms. In recent years significant legislation has been introduced to both reduce, and in many cases end, discrimination against women in issues of marriage, divorce, inheritance and employment. Amongst the most important of such reforms is the devolving of power to local government through the Panchayati Raj Institutions, where 33% of seats are reserved for women, thus enabling women to take a strong and focussed role in creating policies that directly address their needs and concerns.
However, despite new legislation and legal sanctions, a powerful combination of deeply ingrained cultural concepts, religious and social practices continues to place serious and substantial restrictions on women’s human and civil rights; their ability to move freely in society and to play their part in decision-making within their families, their community and their country.
Women in Tamil Nadu engaging in anti-liquor protest
India’s legacy of social/caste hierarchy has long impacted on women – determining their status as ‘subordinate’ from birth. The extreme nature of such a concept is poignantly reflected in the ratio of female infants to male. A century ago, 972 baby girls were born for every 1000 boys; today that figure stands at 933 female infants, while the figure for male babies remains constant. Neglect of girl children combines with incidences of female foeticide in 27 of India’s 32 states. From birth onwards, Indian girls face unequal access to food, healthcare, education. As they grow up they may also face real discrimination and inequality in employment and all too many will experience some form of violence associated with the practice of dowry.
In addition, the heavy burden of HIV/AIDS falls disproportionately on Indian women. The country now has the 2nd highest rate of infection in the world. And the rate of infection is rising fastest amongst women – 38% are now HIV positive, up from 25% only a few years ago. Women’s low social and economic status, their poverty, illiteracy and exposure to multiple forms of violence, increases their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Lack of access to basic education, human and civil rights awareness and health care perpetuates the burden, damaging lives and limiting women’s ability to contribute to their own – and their country’s – development.
Escalating religious and regional tensions have also placed an additional burden on women, who are often seen as ‘representative’ of their particular religious tradition. Enforcing stricter conformity to many of the more conservative aspects of that tradition can result in women being confined to the private, domestic sphere – thus restricting and hindering their ability to move, and participate fully and freely within their families and communities.
More recently, the devastating effects of the Tsunami on one of India’s poorest states – Tamil Nadu – has had a substantial impact on some of the country’s most marginalised and vulnerable women, increasing poverty and economic insecurity. While relief efforts in the aftermath concentrated on rebuilding livelihoods based on fishing, the specific needs and concerns of the area’s women were often disregarded.
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