The Hindu Newspaper Review
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Published: March 02, 2006
3/2/2006
ABSTRACT BY Dr.
JITENDRA KUMAR SHARMA
Confronting gender disparity
Gender inequality remains a persistent global phenomenon. It is a social
inertia that perpetuates poverty as it excludes women from the development
process. Therefore, the recent high-level consultation by the World Bank with
the U.N. agencies and some member nations on promoting gender equality and
women's empowerment in different regions assumes significance. Many targets set
for the Millennium Development Goals to correct gender imbalances have been
missed. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) aim at eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender
equality, reducing child mortality, and improving maternal health as well as
combating HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the targets for 2005 to correct gender
imbalances in primary and secondary education have not been achieved.
Worldwide, six million girls will not be enrolled in school by 2015, even
though gender gaps in schools are decreasing in some parts of the world.
Sub-Saharan Africa and some South Asian countries are the worst in this
respect. Schooling levels are rising but only about half the countries have
achieved gender parity in primary education and about 30 per cent in secondary
education. That the parity at the primary school level in developing countries
is because boys' enrolment has dropped is a disconcerting fact.
MDG specifies other gender parity indicators such as labor market
opportunities for women, literacy rates, and their participation in the
political process. Progress in these areas is also not optimum.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have made creditable progress. Bangladeshi schools have recorded higher
enrolment and attendance by eliminating school fees for girls, provision of
toilets and safe drinking water. In India the gender gap persists despite
progress in the numbers going to school. The difference in the enrolment rates
of boys and girls is nearly six percentage points compared to three in
Bangladeshi schools. India has also not improved maternal and child mortality
rates and low levels of female literacy compared to men. Investing in
innovative approaches to girls' education can impact on women's well being and
contribute to their empowerment, income growth, and productivity. Policy and
programs need to build in gender sensitivity (such as gender budgeting) at all
levels. Mainstreaming of gender is critical for addressing disparities and achieving
human development goals.
An
abstract of article published in The Hindu
Dated 3/1/2006, submitted by Professor
Jitendra Kumar Sharma
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