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were <strong>in</strong>strumental <strong>in</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g the timely publicati<strong>on</strong> of the document. I acknowledge with<br />
gratitude the c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> of various Government Departments, aut<strong>on</strong>omous organisati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
UN agencies, <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al organisati<strong>on</strong>s, research <strong>in</strong>stitutes and voluntary organisati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
who extended full cooperati<strong>on</strong> and shared their documents with us.<br />
The document shows at a glance statistics <strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong>dicators which are available <strong>in</strong> various<br />
published sources. We have put <strong>in</strong> the effort with the hope that this document would be a<br />
useful asset to adm<strong>in</strong>istrators, planners, researchers, academicians, media pers<strong>on</strong>s, and<br />
others c<strong>on</strong>cerned with issues related to women’s empowerment.<br />
Preface <strong>Women</strong> play a pivotal role <strong>in</strong> the overall progress of a country as they c<strong>on</strong>stitute half the human resources of a nati<strong>on</strong>. The ec<strong>on</strong>omic wealth of a country is seriously depleted if about half of the nati<strong>on</strong>’s human resource is neglected. Recognis<strong>in</strong>g the need for <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g women <strong>in</strong> various development activities, the Government of <strong>India</strong> has <strong>in</strong>itiated several affirmative measures by way of programmes and schemes to br<strong>in</strong>g them <strong>in</strong>to the ma<strong>in</strong>stream of development. These affirmative acti<strong>on</strong>s have brought about perceptible changes <strong>in</strong> the socio-ec<strong>on</strong>omic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s of women. The literacy rate of females, which was 8.86% <strong>in</strong> 1951 rose to 54.16% <strong>in</strong> 2001. <strong>Women</strong>’s work participati<strong>on</strong> rate, which was 19.7% <strong>in</strong> 1981, rose to 25.7% <strong>in</strong> 2001. The data base also br<strong>in</strong>gs out the areas where the progress has been slow if not retrograde. The sex ratio <strong>in</strong> the 0-6 years age group dropped from 945 <strong>in</strong> 1991 to 927 <strong>in</strong> 2001, which <strong>in</strong>dicates that society still does not welcome a girl child and the preference rests with s<strong>on</strong>s. Nearly 50% women get married before they atta<strong>in</strong> 18 years of age, and 57.9% pregnant women and 56.2% married women suffer from anaemia. Maternal mortality rate (MMR) is still quite high, at 254 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (<strong>in</strong> 2006). Thus, there is room for much more to be d<strong>on</strong>e to ameliorate the plight of women at the grass root level. The Eleventh Five-Year Plan aims to achieve <strong>in</strong>clusive growth and reduce disparities. A comprehensive picture of <strong>Women</strong> and Girls <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong> as revealed through collected statistics would be a useful reference base to show the progress <strong>India</strong> has achieved so far. This document is an effort to capture statistically the situati<strong>on</strong> of women and girls <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong>, <strong>on</strong> the basis of many social <strong>in</strong>dicators which are available <strong>in</strong> widely scattered sources. Various <strong>in</strong>dicators covered <strong>in</strong> this document are : demography and vital statistics; health and nutriti<strong>on</strong>al status; educati<strong>on</strong>; girl child; work participati<strong>on</strong> of women and children; support measures for women, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g women <strong>in</strong> distress; political participati<strong>on</strong> of women and women <strong>in</strong> decisi<strong>on</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g; prevalence of disability; crime aga<strong>in</strong>st women and children; food security; household expenditure; budget outlays for women <strong>in</strong> the Uni<strong>on</strong> Budget and Budget of the M<strong>in</strong>istry of <strong>Women</strong> and Child Development; and voluntary organisati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the social development activities. The document has been compiled with the efforts of a team of officers and staff of the Institute. Dr. Sulochana Vasudevan, Jo<strong>in</strong>t Director, <strong>Women</strong>’s Development Divisi<strong>on</strong>, provided support and guidance to a team headed by Ms. Meenakshi Sood, and compris<strong>in</strong>g Ms. Himani Nautiyal, who have pa<strong>in</strong>stak<strong>in</strong>gly compiled and updated the <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> and statistics several times over. While Shri Varun Kumar provided computer assistance, Shri A. J. Kaul, Publicati<strong>on</strong>s Officer and other officials of the Comm<strong>on</strong> Services Divisi<strong>on</strong>
were <strong>in</strong>strumental <strong>in</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g the timely publicati<strong>on</strong> of the document. I acknowledge with gratitude the c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> of various Government Departments, aut<strong>on</strong>omous organisati<strong>on</strong>s, UN agencies, <strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al organisati<strong>on</strong>s, research <strong>in</strong>stitutes and voluntary organisati<strong>on</strong>s, who extended full cooperati<strong>on</strong> and shared their documents with us. The document shows at a glance statistics <strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong>dicators which are available <strong>in</strong> various published sources. We have put <strong>in</strong> the effort with the hope that this document would be a useful asset to adm<strong>in</strong>istrators, planners, researchers, academicians, media pers<strong>on</strong>s, and others c<strong>on</strong>cerned with issues related to women’s empowerment. (D<strong>in</strong>esh Paul) Director
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