Gender Inequality in India: A Long Road to Equality

Despite significant strides in women's rights globally, the journey toward gender parity remains long and uneven. According to recent data, the world is still 134 years away from achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5), which focuses on gender equality. For India, the road is even more challenging, with progress lagging well behind global benchmarks.

According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, India ranked 129th out of 146 countries, slipping two places from the previous year. While the country has managed to close 64.1% of its overall gender gap, the remaining disparity highlights the urgency of more inclusive action—especially in the areas of education and political empowerment, where slight regressions were reported.

Root Causes of Gender Inequality in India

India’s gender gap is deeply entrenched in socio-cultural traditions, economic constraints, and systemic bias. Despite being a country that worships female deities and has seen powerful women in politics and leadership, everyday life for many girls and women still reflects inequality.

Some of the key reasons for gender disparity in India include:

• Patriarchal norms that prioritize sons over daughters
• Low female literacy and school dropout rates, especially in rural areas
• Limited access to skill development and economic opportunities
• Underrepresentation of women in politics and leadership
• Early and forced marriages, curbing educational and personal growth
• Gender-based violence and safety concerns, both at home and in public

The Ripple Effect of Inequality

When girls are denied education, they are also denied the opportunity to be independent, healthy, and economically active. This perpetuates cycles of poverty and disempowerment.

In the political realm, according to the Reuters women occupy just 82 out of 550, or about 15% of seats in the lower house, with the number dipping further in the upper house, where they occupy 31 out of 250 seats, or 12%, one of the lowest representations globally. Similarly, as per ILO, the current global labour force participation rate for women is just under 47%.

Toward a Gender-Equal India: The Way Forward

To close the gender gap, multi-layered interventions are essential. This includes:

• Strengthening girl child education through scholarships, safe infrastructure, and awareness
• Empowering women with skills and financial literacy
• Enforcing laws against early marriage and gender-based violence
• Encouraging women’s leadership in politics and public life
• Promoting gender-sensitive policies in workplaces and educational institutions

At Likhari Foundation, we are deeply committed to being part of this change. By educating, mentoring, and financially empowering underprivileged girls, we aim to break intergenerational cycles of inequality and unlock their potential as leaders of tomorrow.

Conclusion

Gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it’s a national development issue. An empowered girl becomes an empowered community, and a progressive India can only be built when every girl has the freedom to dream, learn, lead, and thrive.

Let’s not wait for another century. Let’s begin today. Educate. Empower. Equalize.