Gender Equality and Development in India - An over View

Our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has rightly pointed out in the 57th National Development Council Meeting, on 27th December, 2012 at New Delhi that "Gender inequality is an important aspect which deserves special attention. Women and girls represent half the population and our society has not been fair to this half. Their socio-economic status is improving, but gaps persist. The emergence of women in public spaces, which is an absolutely essential part of social emancipation, is accompanied by growing threats to their safety and security, the issue of safety and security of women is of the highest concern to our Government. There can be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population and this participation simply cannot take place if their security is not assured". (1) Hence, "Gender Inclusive Development" should be our main aim for the overall development of our country. We have to find out the ways and means, how women could be involved in the development process. In India, despite several years of planed development, improvement observed in education and, to a lesser extent, in health women's improved capabilities do not seem to have been translated into an equal participation between men and women in economic and political activities.