Lok Sabha Question No. 427 (STARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Global Gender Gap Report
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: R.K. Singh Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 427 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2022

## GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT

- *427. SHRI R.K. SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  India's  ranking  in  the  Global  Gender  Gap Report;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to bridge the gender gap in the country; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to improve the health of women and enhance their economic-political participation in India?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (D)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  427  FOR  01.04.22 BY SHRI R.K  SINGH  PATEL REGARDING 'GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT'

(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. As per the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 published by the World Economic Forum, India is ranked at 140 out of 156 countries with a score of 0.625 (out of 1).  The  Global  Gender  Gap  Report  provides  the  scores  on  Global  Gender  Gap  Index (GGGI) which examines the gap between men and women in four dimensions, namely, Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political  Empowerment.  According  to  the  Global  Gender  Gap  Report  2021,  India  has scored 0.326 in Economic Participation and Opportunity, 0.962 in Educational Attainment,

- 0.937 in Health and Survival and 0.276 in Political Empowerment.

(c) and (d) Government of India has given utmost priority to bridge the gender gap in India, reducing disparity between men and women, improving the health of women, increasing their socio-economic status and participation in various fields. Some major initiatives taken by the Government of India for removing the gender gap in all aspects of health, economic and political life are as follows:

## Health and Nutrition

- o Government  has  approved  Mission  Poshan  2.0  and  Saksham  Anganwadi  to strengthen  nutritional  content,  delivery,  outreach  and  outcomes  with  focus  on developing  practices  that  nurture  health,  wellness  and  immunity  to  disease  and malnutrition.
- o Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojna aims to provide maternity benefit to pregnant and lactating mothers.
- o Implementation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N)
- o Rollout of Comprehensive Primary Health Care including health promotion through Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Centers (AB-HWC)
- o Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for  pregnant  women  delivering  in  public health institutions and  sick infants accessing public health institutions for treatment.
- o Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) to provide financial assistance to pregnant women for encouraging institutional delivery.
- o Surakshit  Matritva  Aashwasan  (SUMAN)  to  provide  assured,  dignified,  respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services
- o Pradhan  Mantri  Surakshit  Matritva  Abhiyan  (PMSMA)  to  provide  comprehensive and quality ANC to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
- o LaQshya  initiative  to  improve  the  quality  of  care  in  Labour  room  and  Maternity Operation Theatres.
- o Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana  empowers  women  and  protects  their  health  by providing LPG cylinder free of cost.

## Economic Participation

o

- o Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ensures the protection, survival and education of the girl child.
- o Working Women Hostel ensures the safety and security for working women.
- o The National Crèche Scheme ensures that women take up gainful employment through providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment to the children.
- o Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana aims to provide housing under the name of the     woman also.
- o Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana aims to enable a large number of Indian youths including women to take up industry-relevant skill training in securing a better livelihood.
- o Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Urban Livelihoods Mission focuses on creating opportunities for women in skill development, leading to marketbased employment.
- o Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna - Under this scheme, girls have been economically empowered by opening their bank accounts.
- o Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojna is an exclusive training programme of MSME aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in coir Industry.
- o Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.
- o Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provides access to institutional finance to micro/small business.

## Political Participation

- o To bring  women in the mainstream of political leadership at  the grass  root  level, government  has  reserved  33%  of  the  seats  in  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  for women.  Capacity  Building  of  Panchayat  Stakeholders  including  Elected  Women Representatives  is  conducted  with  a  view  to  empowering  women  to  participate effectively in the governance processes.
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