A Study of Gender Disparities among the Districts of Haryana

642

IRA-International Journal of Management &

Social Sciences

ISSN 2455-2267; Vol.04, Issue 03 (2016)

Pg. no. 642-655

Institute of Research Advances

http://research-advances.org/index.php/RAJMSS

A Study of Gender Disparities among the

Districts of Haryana Shailendra Singh Rana

Assistant Professor

Amity Law School

Amity University, Lucknow, India.

Type of Review: Peer Reviewed.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jmss.v4.n3.p15

How to cite this paper:

Rana, S. (2016). A Study of Gender Disparities among the Districts of Haryana. IRA-

International Journal of Management & Social Sciences (ISSN 2455-2267), 4(3), 642-

655. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jmss.v4.n3.p15

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IRA-International Journal of Management & Social Sciences

643

ABSTRACT

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”-

Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

India’s demography is changing. At present, India is known worldwide for its demographic advantage on

account of the young population at the time when world’s population is rapidly aging. Different aspect of

this demographic advantage is the gender disparity.

Women comprise almost half of the human population of the world. No development can be thought

without their help and support. Manusmriti(the ancient legal text of Hinduism) says,“yatr naryasto

pojyantay, ramantay tatra devta [3/56](where women are provided place of honor, gods are pleased and

reside there in that household)”but in much of South Asia and particularly in India sons are preferred

over daughters and both are raised differently for a number of financial, economic, religious and social

reasons including property inheritance, old age security, dowry, family lineage, power and prestige,

rituals and beliefs about religious duties and salvation. A report by the United Nations' Department of

Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has revealed that the Indian girl child is the most vulnerable in

world. Gender disparity is prevalent in different dimensions of life.

This paper is an attempt to study the inter district gender disparity in the Indian state of Haryana by

examining the variables which have a bearing on gender and equity issues.

I INTRODUCTION

“Women do two-thirds of the world’s work; receive ten percent of the world’s income and own one

percent of the means of production” (Robbins 1999: 354). Haryana is one of the richest states in India but

is often criticized for its low sex ratio and large gender disparities which begin in the womb itself where

female embryos are selectively aborted and continues as the girl child grows older in the form of smaller

ration of food and nutrition available to her, fewer schooling and higher education opportunities and

higher involvement of girls in household chores relatively to boys. This gender disparity goes on in the

later stages of a female’s life first in the labor market where they get fewer chances of employment and

lower wages relative to their male counterparts and at home where they have a lesser say in major

economic and financial decisions.

This paper focuses on inter district gender disparities in the areas of education, health, marriage and

nutritional status in Haryana.

II ABOUT HARYANA

Haryana is a north Indian state came into existence in 1966 on 1st of November when it was separated

from the state of Punjab on the grounds of different language. It stands 21st in terms of its area, which is

spread about 44,212 km2 (17,070 sq mi). It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north and

by Rajasthan to the west and south. Haryana shares its capital with Punjab. There are total 21 districts in

Haryana out of which Gurgaon and Faridabad are among the fastest growing districts.

III OBJECTIVES

Objective of this research is to study the inter district gender disparity by using selected variables which

have direct bearing on gender issues like sex composition, education, marriage and health status.

IV METHODOLOGY

Area of study- All 21 districts of Haryana

Data used- secondary data

Sources of data-National Family Health Survey 4 and Census of India 2011


644

Figure 1

V DISCUSSIONS AND RESULTS

(A)SEX COMPOSITION

Sex composition is one of the major demographic characteristic to measure the degree of gender disparity

and it is concluded from the discussion below that sex ratio and sex ratio at birth are not uniform across

the 21 districts in Haryana.

SEX RATIO

Lower value of Sex ratio is a major indicator of women disempowerment. Census data and the different

rounds of Sample Registration Surveys have revealed that the problem is acute in the economically

progressive northern states of Punjab,Haryana, Delhi and Gujarat.

Haryana is the state which lags behind the national average (943*).Sex ratio for almost every district of

Haryana suggests the same. Out of 21 districts in Haryana, 20 districts are below 943while Bhiwani is the


645

only district higher at 980.Panchkula which is second in women literacy rate(85.7)has the lowest sex ratio

of 780 while Ambala which is at the top in women literacy (90percent) is among the six districts having

the worst sex ratio. Contributing to the shock is the fact that Gurgaon often referred to as India’s fastest

growing city is the second district after panchkula which has the worst sex ratio(812) .While Mewat(35.6

percent women literacy rate) and Sirsa(70.3 percent women literacy rate)which are predominantly rural

and less literate have higher sex ratios of 932 and 913 respectively. This correlation between sex ratio

and literacy rate shows inverse relationship.

DISTRICT SEX

RATIO(arranged in

descending order)

WOMEN LITERACY RATE

Bhiwani 980 76.2

Mewat 932 35.6

Rohtak 916 78

Sirsa 913 70.3

Fatehabad 908 71.8

Jhajjar 894 82.5

Rewari 894 77.6

Jind 893 77.2

Kurukshetra 892 80.4

Kaithal 889 73.1

Hisar 883 73.3

Karnal 881 78.4

Palwal 880 59.8

Mahendragarh 876 79

Yamunanagar 867 84.3

Ambala 846 90

Panipat 846 78.6

Sonipat 830 82.1

Faridabad 826 74.2

Gurgaon 812 74.6

Panchula 780 85.7


646

Chart 1

846

980

826

908

812

883

894

893

889

881

892

876

932

880

780

846

894

916

913

830

867

Ambala

Bhiwani

Faridabad

Fatehabad

Gurgaon

Hisar

Jhajjar

Jind

Kaithal

Karnal

Kurukshetra

Mahendragarh

Mewat

Palwal

Panchkula

Panipat

Rewari

Rohtak

Sirsa

Sonipat

Yamunanagar

Sex ratio


647

Chart 2

SEX RATIO AT BIRTH

In case of sex ratio at birth also, situation is not very different.Panchkula and Ambala which top the list in

women literacy rate are among the six states having the worst sex ratio at birth. Faridabad which is the

largest district (its population is almost the double of next most populated city Gurgaon) of Haryana and

has almost the same women literacy rate(74.2 percent) as Gurgaon(74.6) falters on sex ratio at birth front.

Out of 21 districts only 9 districts (Bhiwani Fatehabad,Gurgaon, jind, kaithal,Palwal)have the values of

sex ratios at birth more than their sex ratio.If we assume the effect of fertility,mortality and migration

constant,the higher values of sex ratio at birth when compared with the sex ratio will affect the sex ratio

positively in these nine districts in future.But in the remaining 12 districts sex ratio at birth is alarming

and it is below the sex ratio(except karnal where both the ratios are almost equal) which can again distort

the sex ratio in times to come.

90

76.2

74.2

71.8

74.6

73.3

82.5

77.2

73.1

78.4

80.4

79

35.6

59.8

85.7

78.6

77.6

78

70.3

82.1

84.3

Ambala

Bhiwani

Faridabad

Fatehabad

Gurgaon

Hisar

Jhajjar

Jind

Kaithal

Karnal

Kurukshetra

Mahendragarh

Mewat

Palwal

Panchkula

Panipat

Rewari

Rohtak

Sirsa

Sonipat

Yamunanagar

Women Literacy


648

SEX RATIO AND SEX RATIO AT BIRTH

Chart 3

(B) EDUCATION

Literacy is one of the main components of human development index.It is the component of gender

inequality index also which was introduced in 2010 in Human Development Report by United Nations

Development Programme.

COMPARISON OF WOMEN AND MEN LITERACY

Disparity in male and female literacy rate is a major indicator of gender based inequality.

Ambala is the district having the highest women literacy(90 percent) and Mewat has the minimum

women literacy rate(35.6 percent).

730

999

686

922

916

776

713

1003

949

880

823

698

891

888

751

918

704

930

847

855

616

846

980

826

908

812

883

894

893

889

881

892

876

932

880

780

846

894

916

913

830

867

Ambala

Bhiwani

Faridabad

Fatehabad

Gurgaon

Hisar

Jhajjar

Jind

Kaithal

Karnal

Kurukshetra

Mahendragarh

Mewat

Palwal

Panchkula

Panipat

Rewari

Rohtak

Sirsa

Sonipat

Yamunanagar

Sex ratio at birth and sex ratio

Sex ratio

Sex ratio at birth


649

There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in the districts of Haryana though disparity as a whole

has decreased in 2015-16. Mewat has the maximum disparity and Ambala has the minimum disparity in

women and men literacy.

Chart 4

PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN WITH 10 OR MORE YEARS OF SCHOOLING-

Panchkula has the highest percentage of women with 10 or more years of schooling (67%) while Mewat

has the lowest percentage (12.7%).

90

76

.2

74

.2

71

.8

74

.6

73

.3

82

.5

77

.2

73

.1 78

.4

80

.4

79

35

.6

59

.8

85

.7

78

.6

77

.6

78

70

.3

82

.1

84

.3

96

.5

86

.3

96

.3

87

.3 90

.9

89

.4 94

.8

89

.5

84

.9

86

.5 92 93

.3

78

92

.2 95

.9

93 9

7.9

89

79

92

.5

94

.7

Women Literacy

Men literacy

SURVEY Male Female Maximum

disparity in

literacy

Minimum

disparity in

literacy

NFHS-4 90.6 75.4 Mewat Ambala


650

Chart 5

(C) MARRIAGE AND PREGNANCY

Early marriage cut shorts the childhood and compromise the fundamental rights of a child.

In 2006, "The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006" was passed to prohibit solemnization of child

marriages in India. This law states that men must be at least 21 years of age and women must but be at

least 18 years of age to marry. Practice of early marriages in Haryana is widespread for both the genders

but the percentage of men age 25-29 years married before 21 years is greater than the percentage of

women age 20-24 years married before 18 years for each district.

District with maximum and minimum percentage of women age 20-24 years married before 18 years are

Mewat(37.6%) and Yamunanagar (6.9%) respectively. For men maximum and minimum percentage of

25-29 years married before 21 years is found in Mewat (70.4%) and Ambala(14.5%) respectively.

Highest disparity is found in Hisar where 15.5% of women age 20-24 years are married before 18 years

and 48.6 % of men age 25-29 years married before 21 years. Lowest disparity is in Fatehabad where

almost the same percentage of women age 20-24 years married before 18 years and men age 25-29 years

married before 21 years is found.

64.2

45.342

38.3

51

42.8

53.2

47.8

40.8

46.649.5 49.6

12.7

33.2

67

54

43.146.7

36.2

54.450.5

Percentage of women age 15-49 years with 10 or years of education


651

Chart 6

PREGNANCY

Medical, economic and psychological impact of early childbearing can be significant for a women.

Mewat (14.2%) has the maximum percentage of women age 15-19 years who were already mother or

pregnant at the time of NFHS-4 survey while Panchkula (1.2%) has the lowest percentage of such

women. Other districts with high percentage of women age 15-19 years who were already mother or

pregnant at the time of NFHS-4 survey are Palwal (12.5%), Rewari (10.8%) and Rohtak(10.2%).

7.2

21

.5

21

.2

16

.4

36

.8

15

.5

15

.6

15

.8

16

.8

8.4 9

.9

16

.8

37

.6

28

.3

9.6

15

.1 20 2

1.8

15

.6 20

.4

6.9

14

.5

22

.1

16

.2

49

.9

48

.6

25

.1

33

.7

26

.1

38

.1

30

.1

70

.4

42

.9

27

.7

41

.9

23

.6 26

17

.7

Am

bal

a

Bh

iwan

i

Fari

dab

ad

Fate

hab

ad

Gu

rgao

n

His

ar

Jhaj

jar

Jin

d

Kai

thal

Kar

nal

Ku

ruks

het

ra

Mah

end

raga

rh

Mew

at

Pal

wal

Pan

chku

la

Pan

ipat

Rew

ari

Ro

hta

k

Sirs

a

Son

ipat

Yam

un

anag

ar

Percentage of women age 20-24 years married before 18 years and men age 25-29 years

married before 21 years

Women age 20-24 years married before 18 years

Men age 25-29 years married before 21 years


652

Chart 7

(D) NUTRITIONAL DISPARITIES

Adequate nutrition, a fundamental cornerstone of any individual's health, is especially critical for women

because inadequate nutrition wreaks havoc not only on women's own health but also on the health of their

children(Elizabeth I. Ransom and Leslie K. Elder)

BODY MASS INDEX(BMI)

The BMI is an attempt to quantify the amount of tissue mass (muscle, fat, and bone) in an individual, and

then categorize that person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese based on that value.

Commonly accepted BMI ranges are underweight: under 18.5 kg/m2, normal weight: 18.5 to 25,

overweight: 25 to 30, obese: over 30.

Highest percentage of women as well as men age 15-49 years whose BMI is below normal is in

Mewat(27.1% women and 30.4% men )but it is lesser in case of women. Panchkula(6.8%) has the lowest

percentage of women whose BMI is below normal while Sonipat(4.3%)has least percentage of men with

below normal BMI. Ambala, Kaithal and Mewat are the only districts where percentage of men with

lower BMI is more than the percentage of such women. In restof the districts percentage of women with

below normal BMI is more than the men and the highest disparity is in Sirsa where percentage of women

and men with below normal BMI are 20.6 % and 10.9 % respectively.

2.6

4.3

5.8

3.8

1.3

4.6

6.5

4.14.6 4.5 4.1 4.5

14.2

12.5

1.2

6.5

10.810.2

3.9

6.8

1.4

Percentage of women age 15-19 years who are already mother or pregnant at the time of

survey


653

Chart 8

ANAEMIA-

Nutritional disparity is clearly visible when comparing the percentage of anaemic women and men across

the districts of Haryana.For women the highest percentage of anaemic women is 73.2% found in

Gurgaon.The lowest percentage of anameic women is in Faridabad(54.1%) which is even greater than the

highest percentage of anaemic men found in Yamunanagar(33.7%).Across all the districts of Haryana

percentage of anaemic women is more than the percentage of anaemic men.

11

.1

21

.4

14

.4

22

.2

12

.5

14

.9

12

.4

17

15

.3

12

.9

9.2

19

.2

27

.1

16

.9

6.8

10

.4

21

.4

16

.1

20

.6

14

.1

16

.2

11

.4

19

.8

10

.7

13

.2

7.1

9.9

12

.1

11

16

.1

6.4

3.9

14

.7

30

.4

12

.2

7.2

5.5

14

.4

10

.7

10

.9

4.3

6.1

Am

bal

a

Bh

iwan

i

Fari

dab

ad

Fate

hab

ad

Gu

rgao

n

His

ar

Jhaj

jar

Jin

d

Kai

thal

Kar

nal

Ku

ruks

het

ra

Mah

end

raga

rh

Mew

at

Pal

wal

Pan

chku

la

Pan

ipat

Rew

ari

Ro

hta

k

Sirs

a

Son

ipat

Yam

un

anag

ar

Percnetage of women and men age 15-49 years whose BMI is below normal

PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN AGE 15-49 WHOSE BODY MASS INDEX(BMI) IS BELOW NORMAL

PERCENTAGE OF MEN AGE 15-49 WHOSE BODY MASS INDEX(BMI) IS BELOW NORMAL


654

Chart 9

Since anemia develops during pregnancy, Comparison of anemic men with non pregnant anemic women

was again done but the results didn’t very much.

Chart 10

68

.6

64

.8

54

.1

65

.4 73

.2

59

.5

61

.1

62

.7

59

.8 67

54

.6 63

.5 70

.1

60

.2

55

.4

66

.2

65

.1

57

.8

59

.3 66

.5

57

.1

25

.5

14

.2

14

.7

32

23

.1 30

.2

18

.3 21

.5

13

.6

14

.6

25

.9 34

.1

23

.6

11

.9

29

.3

8.7

17

16 1

9.5 23

.7

33

.7

Am

bal

a

Bh

iwan

i

Fari

dab

ad

Fate

hab

ad

Gu

rgao

n

His

ar

Jhaj

jar

Jin

d

Kai

thal

Kar

nal

Ku

ruks

het

ra

Mah

end

raga

rh

Mew

at

Pal

wal

Pan

chku

la

Pan

ipat

Rew

ari

Ro

hta

k

Sirs

a

Son

ipat

Yam

un

anag

ar

Percenatage of women and men age 15-49 years who are anameic

PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN AGE 15-49 WHO ARE ANAEMIC

PRECENTAGE OF MEN AGE 15-49 WHO ARE ANAEMIC

69

.8

65

.6

55

.5 65

.3 73

.6

60

.1

61

.2

62

.7

60

.1 67

.1

55

.9 64

.3 69

.1

60

.3

56

.5 67

.2

65

.6

57

.8

59

.7 66

.5

57

.1

25

.5

14

.2

14

.7

32

23

.1 30

.2

18

.3

21

.5

13

.6

14

.6 25

.9 34

.1

23

.6

11

.9

29

.3

8.7 1

7

16 19

.5

23

.7 33

.7

Am

bal

a

Bh

iwan

i

Fari

dab

ad

Fate

hab

ad

Gu

rgao

n

His

ar

Jhaj

jar

Jin

d

Kai

thal

Kar

nal

Ku

ruks

het

ra

Mah

end

raga

rh

Mew

at

Pal

wal

Pan

chku

la

Pan

ipat

Rew

ari

Ro

hta

k

Sirs

a

Son

ipat

Yam

un

anag

ar

Percentage of non pregnant women age 15-49 who are anameic and men age 15-49 who are

anaemic

PERCENTAGE OF NON PREGNANT WOMEN AGE 15-49 WHO ARE ANAEMIC

PRECENTAGE OF MEN AGE 15-49 WHO ARE ANAEMIC


655

VI CONCLUSION

This paper found regional disparities in gender equality. It is found that sex ratio is low in

Gurgaon,Faridabad and Panchkula districts where the migration rate is high due to industrial development

and their proximity to Delhi or to Chandigarh. Since the women’s education helps in averting child

marriage and early peregnancy,Mewat tops in both due to least female literacy and highest gender

disparity in literacy rate among all the districts of Haryana. Regional disparities are also found in

nutritional status of females and males.Compared with males,females are at higher risk of below normal

BMI and anemia.

Females in Mewat district have the worst nutrition status but few more developed districts like Gurgaon

and Faridabad also falter with high percentage of anemic women relatively to men.

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NFHS-4 District fact sheets for key indicators. Retrieved from

http://rchiips.org/nfhs/factsheet_NFHS4.shtml on August 8, 2016

George, D. & Dahiya, R. 1998: Female Foeticide in Rural Haryana. Economic & Political Weekly,

33(32), 2191-2198.

Visaria, L. 2002

Deficit of women in India: Magnitude, trends, regional variations and determinants.

The National Medical Journal of India-2, Vol. 15, 195.

Sekher T.V. and Neelambar Hatti. eds. (2010). Unwanted Daughters: Gender Discrimination in Modern

India, Rawat Publications, Jaipur.

Agnihotri, S.B. 2000: Sex Ratio Patterns in the Indian Population: A fresh exploration. New Delhi: Sage

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Documents

A Study of Gender Disparities among the Districts of Haryana