Despite efforts by governments, NGOs and social activists, the plight of adolescent girls continues with discrimination and skewed opportunities
Aamir Khan starrer Dangal had a catchphrase “Hamari choriya choro se kam hai ke.” (Are our daughters any lesser than boys) The film was a super hit as it cherished the empowerment of girls and won all the accolades. Turns out the reality is way different. Adolescent girls in India get few opportunities to prove their mettle. India has the largest adolescent population in the world, which is 252 million. and every fifth person is between 11 to 18 years. India will definitely get benefitted socially, politically and even economically if this large number of adolescents are educated, healthy, safe and equipped with life skills to support the country’s continued development.
However, the stark reality points to very gloomy pictures than the statistics project. About 43 per cent of girls drop out before completing secondary education due to economic background and household responsibilities. Early marriage is a norm. A total disconnect between their skillset and employability leaves them with very limited economic opportunities. Add to it the stigma of living alone while doing a job in a city.
Child marriage, a deeply rooted social norm, provides glaring evidence of widespread gender inequality and discrimination. Estimates suggest that each year, at least 1.6 million girls under 18 get married in India. This makes our country the home to the largest number of child brides in the world. Their plight doesn’t end after an early marriage, it is actually the beginning. They face various forms of violence and harassment, including domestic, sexual assault, street harassment, and trafficking. These issues not only compromise their safety but also impact their physical and mental health, self-esteem, and ability to participate fully in society.
Education plays a crucial role to bring change in society. Although efforts have been made to improve access to education for girls in India by the government, an agency like UNICEF and non-governmental organisations, however, there is still a gender gap in terms of enrolment and retention rates due to a lack of resources, safety concerns, and societal expectations that prioritise their domestic roles over education.
Of late the government is trying hard to reverse this scenario with education. Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, emphasises the importance of providing quality education to girls in India, focusing on vocational education to ensure employability and relevance to the demands of the industry. “Vocational education is a crucial aspect of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It emphasises the importance of providing 21st-century skills to girls to participate in the economy.”
Some organisations like Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) and UNICEF are working to reverse it though with limited reach. Subhrakant Panda, president of FICCI and Trustee at BIPF, highlights the importance of investing early in adolescent development. “India has the largest adolescent population in the world. Given that approximately 47% of this cohort are girls, the need is their technical and educational upliftment so they go on to have skillsets to tackle any challenges and be equal partners in India's progress,” said he.
Adopting a multi-sectoral approach, working together with businesses, we need to ensure early access to technology, digital, and life skills training. We need to redouble efforts that address harmful gender stereotypes within and outside families including online abuse,” says Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and Founder CEO, Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation.
(The author is a business consultant and development writer)
