Subject: Indian Society

Answer:

The persistence of gender-based challenges in India reflects deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural barriers that continue to impact women across temporal and spatial dimensions. The intersectionality of these challenges manifests through various forms of discrimination and inequality.

Socio-Cultural Challenges

• Gender-Based Violence: According to NCRB data, crimes against women increased by 12.9% between 2018-2022, with 66.4 crimes per 100,000 women in 2022, highlighting the persistent nature of violence.

• Patriarchal Norms: Despite improvements in education, women face restrictions on mobility, decision-making, and personal autonomy (e.g., khap panchayats dictating marriage choices).

• Property Rights: NFHS-5 data shows declining land/homeownership among women in 11 of 22 states, reflecting persistent patriarchal inheritance practices.

Economic Barriers

• Workplace Discrimination: Women face challenges in career advancement, wage gaps, and sexual harassment (addressed through Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013).

• Labor Force Participation: Despite improvements, women's participation remains low, with significant regional variations across states.

• Digital Divide: Limited access to technology and digital literacy creates barriers in the increasingly digital economy (addressed through PM DISHA initiative).

Political and Institutional Challenges

• Political Representation: Despite 33% reservation in PRIs, women's representation in higher political offices remains inadequate.

• Legal Barriers: Recent Supreme Court judgments (2023-25) highlight ongoing discrimination in institutions like armed forces and prisons.

• Implementation Gaps: Despite progressive legislation, weak implementation hampers women's access to justice and rights.

Regional Disparities

• Urban-Rural Divide: Rural women face additional challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

• State-wise Variations: Significant differences exist in women's status across states, reflected in health, education, and employment indicators.

India's journey towards gender equality requires addressing these multifaceted challenges through targeted interventions like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, MUDRA Yojana, and Mission Shakti. The way forward lies in strengthening institutional mechanisms, changing societal mindsets, and ensuring effective implementation of women-centric policies and programs.