Despite finding its place among countries with medium human development on the Human Development Index, India has found itself in a less flattering category. The latest twin indices for women's empowerment (WEI) and global gender parity (GGPI), brought forth by the UN's powerhouses - UN Women and UNDP - have placed India among nations classified as having low empowerment.
A staggering 3.1 billion women and girls, equivalent to more than 90 per cent of the global female populace, are inhabitants of countries where women's empowerment is hardly a star feature. Also, none of the 114 countries that underwent scrutiny have achieved full women's empowerment or managed to tip the scales towards complete gender parity.
Global figures reveal that women achieve a mere 60 per cent of their potential, according to the WEI, while they lag behind men by 28 per cent in significant dimensions of human development, as indicated by the GGPI.
Delving into India's specifics, the WEI indicates a 48 per cent empowerment deficit and a 44 per cent gender gap, according to the GGPI. India's WEI score, however, surpasses the central and southern Asia regional average, where the empowerment deficit stands at 50 per cent,. The gender gap in India slightly exceeds the regional gender gap of 42 per cent.
Notably, 77.5per cent of women in the reproductive age have their family planning needs met through modern methods.
However, the report uncovers areas for improvement, such as the substantial number of young women (aged 15-24) not engaged in education, employment or training, which is in stark contrast to their male counterparts.