India’s Dehumanizing Gender Gaps
- Arijit Bose
- Apr 9, 2019
- 3 min read
In the 21st century women and men are walking shoulder to shoulder and the fairer sex are giving their male counterparts stiff competition. However Oxfam India’s latest report shows despite hard work, perseverance and commitment women are not getting the right amount of money which they deserve as salary.
Oxfam India has comeup with a report which underscores how gender gap in employment patterns is very high in the country.
The Oxfam India report is titled – ‘Mind the Gap – State of Employment in India’.
Professionals who have cut their teeth in the social sector believe, the revelations in the critical report show, things are rather dehumanizing.
Development sector professional, Dr Hironmoy Dhar speaking at the launch of the report at UP Press Club said, “There is a dangerous and dehumanizing gap that exists. The report clearly shows that there is an increased demand for skilled labour. Inavailability of jobs is creating gaps. There is no security of jobs and wages. The rural market has factors like location, education, caste and family structure that have a direct bearing. Sadly even quality of jobs are substandard.”
Only recently in early 2019, reports showed that unemployment rate was the highest since September 2016. The unemployment rate has been recorded to be 7.2%.
Development sector professional, Kanchan Sinha said, “Oxfam has done work on inequality, poverty and allied issues. In India there is economic inequality and unemployment. While the marginalised are bearing the brunt, the question is why this inequality. The four areas where we need to focus on are economic resources reach/ control, capabilities, what are the solutions/choices and what are ones rights in this context.”
Reportedly women are being left out of the economic growth narrative. All this as a consequence of poor policy choices and lack of investment in social security and infrastructure.
Oxfam India CEO Amitabh Behar said, “Despite the rhetoric of job creation and ensuring gender justice, the reality is sobering on the ground. The report draws particular attention to women being left out of the economic growth narrative.”
The report by Oxfam clearly shows that caste plays a big role in someone landing a job.
Furthermore greater number of jobs are generated in the unorganised sector than the organised sector.
Shedding light on the findings Oxfam Regional Manager, Nand Kishore Singh adds, “The report highlights that on an average, women are paid 34 per cent less than similarly qualified male workers for performing the same tasks, In 2015, 92% of women and 82% of men earned a monthly wage less than INR 10,000 in India.”
The ‘Mind The Gap – State of Employment in India’ report points out that decline in rural jobs, transforming urban areas, unequal pay, the burden of unpaid care work, and the continuing prevalence of regressive social norms are factors underlying women’s low participation in the workforce.
Recently, the Congress announced a quasi-universal basic income scheme promising an income guarantee of Rs 6,000 per month to 50 million “poor” families if voted to power. The development has stirred up a debate around how worthwhile this move is. While such promises are no surprise in election season, Oxfam’s report gives us food for thought, given that we are now talking about the world including our nation in the 21st century context.
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