Gender inequality is one of the most pervasive forms of inequality. Across India, gender inequality results in unequal opportunities, and while it impacts the lives of both genders, statistically it is girls and women that are the most disadvantaged. For instance, according to the Global Gender Gapreport 2021, the estimated earned income of women in India is only one-fifth that of men’s, which severely undermines their purchasing power, devalues their work and signifies that women are more likely to live in poverty.

Causes of poverty among women in India include:

• Unpaid care work: Women bear a disproportionate share of the work and responsibility of feeding and caring for family members through unpaid household work. For instance, accordingto an Oxfam report in 2019, women in India spend around five hours a day on unpaid carework while men devote a mere half an hour on average, thus contributing to women’s time poverty and loss in well-being.
• Low female labour force participation rate: Social stigma, violence against women in public places, risk of sexual assault, unsafe work environment etc. discourage Indian women from entering the labor market, thereby resulting in continuous fall in the Female Labour ForceParticipation Rate (FLFPR) over the last three decades.
  • According to the World Bank, in 1990, India’s FLFP was 30.3 per cent and by 2019, it had declined to 20.5 per cent.
• Gender gaps in nutrition, education and health: The gender gaps in nutrition, education and health are greater especially in poorer households, thereby putting them at a disadvantage.
• Low wages: According to an Oxfam report, women still receive 34% less wages than their male counterparts for the same work. This is a disincentive for working women as well as those who are looking to enter the workforce.
• Lack of decent work conditions: Most women in India are employed in the informal economy, where they are less likely to have employment contracts, legal rights and social protection, and are often not paid enough to escape poverty.

• Legislative measures: The government has enacted various legislations to promote socio- economic empowerment of women such as the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 raising maternity leave and providing crèche facility in work place etc.
• Schemes to address gender inequality: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, One Stop Centre (OSC)Scheme, Ujjawala Scheme are some of the initiatives launched by the government to address the issue of gender inequality.
• National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): It aims to strengthen the overall processes that promote the all-round development of women.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK): It aims to provide micro-finance services to bring about the socio-economic upliftment of poor women.
• Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP): It aims to ensure sustainable employment and income generation for marginalised and asset-less rural and urban poor women across the country.
• Working Women Hostels: It aims to ensure safe accommodation for working women away from their place of residence.