New Delhi, Aug 08 : According to the findings of study ‘Growth, health and gender imbalance: evidence from India’ by Area Development and Policy journal, lack of healthcare facilities leads to declining participation of women in workforce and it is the major contributing factor in this matter across country. The study has also revealed that economic growth is not sufficient for positive effect on gender equality on immediate basis.
In this study, the data from major 16 states viz., Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Karnataka, for the different years i.e., 1993-94, 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2011-12 were analysed. This study also used data related to infant mortality rate. The findings of the study led to the conclusion that healthcare facilities enhance survival of girl children leading to balanced gender ratio. It also improves survival of female foetus in population with higher gender ratios, according to Arup Mitra, the author of this study of Department of Economics from national Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development. The study highlighted female foetuses and infants are subject to health risks due to negligence, poor nutritional support and apathy.
There had been continuous decline in gender ratio till 1991, but improvement was noticed in 2001. However, the areas which were showing fair child gender ratios are declining over time. It indicates neglect of women in process of growth as well as female foeticide or infanticide as part of family planning. But, in this scenario, better healthcare facilities would lead to remarkable outcomes in maternal and infant mortality.
