GS-1:Population and Associated Issues

GS-2:Gender, Issues related to women

Key phrases:  NFHS, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Labour Force Participation Rate, Sex Ratio

Why in news:

India has 1,020 females per 1,000 males, according to the latest round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-21). 

Analysis:

Definitions: 

1. Sex ratio: Sex ratio (also known as Gender Ratio) is the ratio of males to females in a population.  
2. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
3. NFHS survey: National Family Health Survey is a country-wide survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with the International Institute for Population Sciences serving as the nodal agency.
4. Child sex ratio: child sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males in the age group 0–6 years in a human population.

Are the findings of the survey surprising?

• India’s projected population was 1.29 billion in 2016. If sex ratio were to be 991, as estimated by NFHS 2015-16, the population would then have comprised 643 million women and 649 million men.
• For a projected population of 1.36 billion in 2021, with a sex ratio of 1,020, there would be 688 million women and 675 million men. Such a break-up means a near-double rise in the population of women against that of men in the last five years (45 million women vis-a-vis 26 million men). The difference seems huge, even after factoring in differing death rates of the sexes.

How do NFHS data and census data compare?

NFHS, while being a large-scale survey that covered roughly 650,000 households in the latest round across states.

• In 2005-06, NFHS reckoned the sex ratio at 1:1, whereas census 2011 revealed it to be 943 females per 1,000 males.
• NFHS estimate, after exhibiting progress between 1998-99 and 2005-06, fell again in 2015-16. 
• The good news is that census data has shown a steady rise in sex ratio for the last three decades. Population experts suggest covid-related migrant flows may have influenced NFHS findings.

Has Beti Bachao Beti Padhao brought the change ?

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) was launched in 2015 to improve the declining child sex ratio (CSR)—girls per 1,000 boys in 0-6 years. Sex ratio at birth (SRB) estimated by NFHS can be an imperfect proxy for CSR. Among the states with low SRB, Delhi (812 to 923), Haryana (836 to 893) and Punjab (860 to 904) showed marked improvements, whereas Rajasthan (887 to 891) stagnated in the last five years.  These states also had a larger representation in the districts targeted under the first and second phases of BBBP (2015-17).

Can it lead to more women in the workforce?

No. Over the last many years ,India has slipped on the labour force participation rate (LFPR) of females above 15 years despite an improving sex ratio. From 38% in 2001, LFPR of females has fallen to 26% in 2020, World Bank data shows. This fares poorly against 78% LFPR of males in India.

A key reason for this gap is a higher participation rate for Indian women, than for men, in unpaid domestic duties. 

Is any regional divide visible in this change?

As many as 30 out of 36 states and Union territories showed improved sex ratios from 2015-16; 23 states reported sex ratio greater than 1,000 in the latest NFHS study.

Despite this progress, there is evident regional disparity with southern states performing better as compared to north and north-western states.

Implications of skewed sex ratio:

• Marriage squeeze: when there are fewer women of marriageable age, a significant proportion of men have to delay their marriage; this is called marriage squeeze.
• More violence against both men and women leading to human trafficking.
• Social consequences of fewer women can lead to increase in practices like dowry and bride price which further can increase dowry deaths disrupting family peace.
• Increase in domestic violence hampering the overall wellbeing of women.
• The issue of one gender dominating the other in all aspects.
• Stronger hold to patriarchal practices.
• Increase in sexual assaults and crimes.
• In states like Punjab and Haryana there are instances where brides are imported from other states.

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a campaign of the Government of India launched in 2015 that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India. The scheme was launched with an initial funding of ₹100 crores.

• Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination
• Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child
• Ensuring education and participation of the girl child

More Women Empowerment Schemes

• One Stop Centre Scheme: One Stop Centres (OSC) are intended to support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace.
• Women Helpline Scheme: It is intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence.
• UJJAWALA: A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation
• Working Women Hostel: The objective of the scheme is to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women, with day care facilities for their children.
• SWADHAR Greh: A Scheme for Women in Difficult Circumstances
• Nari Shakti Puraskar: It is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment.
• Mahila police Volunteers: MPVs will act as a link between police and community and help women in distress.
• Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK): to empower rural women through community participation and to create an environment in which they realize their full potential. 

Way forward:

The United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA)State of World Population 2020 held that sex ratio at birth in India is lower than all the countries in the world except China. Hence it is very important for India to concentrate on its skewed sex ratio

• For India to shed its “Missing Women” tag, it must invest in policies to ensure women are not missing in the workforce.
• Behavioural change in the form of successful campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao should be encouraged and even made to reach even rural pockets of India. ASHA workers can play a major role here.
• Educating and sensitizing the youth regarding the importance of gender balance.
• India must implement the Pre-conception and Pre-natal diagnostic techniques (PCPNDT) Act ,1994 more strictly and dedicate more resources to fighting the preference for boys.
   

Source: livemint

Related prelims question:

Which of the following is the first state/UT to adopt the initiative of Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs)?

(a) Daman and Diu

(b) Haryana

(c) Chhattisgarh

(d) Punjab

Answer: (b)

Mains question:

Q. Despite a skewed sex-ratio at birth, India, now, has more women than men. How is it possible? Elaborate your answers. (15 Marks, 250 Words).