Girls in India gain rights, but economic independence lags

Across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, India, women who were once married as children are now working as nurses, completing their education, and running businesses.

Individuals and programs intervened to prevent their marriages and support their futures. National Family Health Surveys show improvements in girls’ lives across India, with declining rates of child marriage and increased school attendance and bank account ownership.

The surveys reveal that 20.1 percent of women aged 20 to 24 were married before the age of 18 in 2019-21, a decrease from 26.8 percent in 2015-16. School attendance for girls aged six and above rose from 68.8 percent to 73.7 percent over the same period, and the percentage of women with bank accounts increased from 53 percent to 89 percent. However, the proportion of women earning their own income remains low, rising from 24.6 percent to 30.8 percent.

Organizations like UNFPA India are working with government initiatives, such as the Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness programme and the Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat initiative, to provide health education, life skills training, and opportunities for girls. These programs aim to expand their reach so that every girl receives the support needed to succeed, connecting skills training to job opportunities and ensuring digital safety.

Sanon is UNFPA India’s honorary ambassador for gender equality and Wojnar is UNFPA India representative and country director Bhutan.