In India, men make up nine out of every 10 legislators. The bleak data is arguably influenced by the still poor social status of women.

Since independence, promises that democracy would lead to greater equitable representation of men and women have been made.&nbsp;

Reservation has made it possible for women to participate in local government since the 1990s. Since then, major political parties have supported a bill that would add reservations to the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the Indian Parliament - and the state legislatures.

But it never got passed.

The Women's Reservation Bill has been passed after three decades of inaction. But the question is, when will it deliver the results?

<h2>Key components of the women's reservation bill&nbsp;</h2>

The bill calls for 33 per cent female representation in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and Delhi's National Capital Territory. The seats designated for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will likewise have similar reservations made. The bill suggests keeping the reservation in place for 15 years. After each exercise in delimitation, the seats designated for women will be switched.&nbsp;

Being a bill that requires a constitutional amendment, it has a long way to go.

It must first receive a special majority vote in both chambers of parliament. The Constitution Amendment Bill must then be ratified by at least 50% of the states in accordance with Article 368's provisions. Because it impacts their rights, their permission is required.&nbsp;

<h2>How tough is it to get this bill passed?&nbsp;</h2>

Majority of both houses of parliament, and not less than two-thirds of the members who are "present and voting" are required to pass the constitution amendment bills in order for them to become law. Given that the bill has the support of most political parties, passing the bill shouldn't be an issue. The states and Delhi Union Territory are all on the same page in this regard.&nbsp;

<h2>So why was this bill not passed in 30 years?&nbsp;</h2>

Well, that's a long story. Here's some history:

By inserting articles 243D and 243T into the Constitution by the Constitution Act of 1992 (73rd Amendment) and the Constitution &nbsp;Act of 1992 (74th Amendment) respectively, reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities - local governance bodies -&nbsp; was made possible.&nbsp;

The Constitution Bill, 1996 (81st Amendment), which was introduced on September 12 in the 11th Lok Sabha, was the next step in this direction.&nbsp;

It aimed to reserve for women not fewer than one-third of the total number of seats filled through direct election in the Lok Sabha and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.&nbsp;

It didn't make much headway.

On December 23, 1999, the Constitution Bill, 1999 (85th Amendment), was introduced in Lok Sabha, constituting yet another effort. &nbsp;

However, that bill had also not been pursued because the political parties were unable to agree.&nbsp;

The bill was again introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2008 by the Congress-led Manmohan Singh administration and was eventually approved in 2010.&nbsp;

It then went to the Lok Sabha, which was dissolved ahead of elections, and thus could not be passed and expired.&nbsp;

Journalist and political Commentator Neerja Chowdhury told WION, “The reason was everyone wasn’t ready for it.”

"There were a lot of political parties with a lot of resistance not due to patriarchal attitudes- but because every parliamentarian won due to women. The real fear was losing the seats - be it Etawah, Manipuri, or even the top leaders, and then if the candidate won, it would be rotational in nature like if a woman gets a seat today it would change rotationally. So, the real reason was - the fire on the shoulders of the OBC [Other Backward Class] leaders.”

“[Former prime minister] Rajiv Gandhi wanted to enact a constitutional amendment for a one-third reservation to women, but he could not do it during his term - due to a lot of resistance from the states. It seemed that Rajiv was reaching out over the heads of the state government to the panchayats and villages. Narasimha Rao passed it in 1992-93 and the country’s focus was the Babri Masjid. We had women sarpanch but the husband used to call the shots. Today, women also have become aware of their roles. At the local level today, there is a huge poll standing outside, waiting for the assemblies,” she added.&nbsp;

<h2>A comparative analysis: What is the situation in India’s neighbouring countries?&nbsp;</h2>

Nepal&nbsp;

33% of women participated in the National Assembly during the adoption of the Nepalese Constitution. Additionally, it has been ensured that there are 34% of women in the Provincial Assembly and 40% at the local level.

Bangladesh &nbsp;

In 2022, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament in Bangladesh did not change in comparison to the previous year. The proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament remained at 20.86 per cent. The proportion of seats held by women is the percentage of parliamentary seats with elected women representatives in a single or lower chamber.

Pakistan&nbsp;

The current makeup of Pakistan’s parliament is only 21 per cent female. In the National Assembly, which consists of 342 members, female representation is only around 3 per cent if reserved seats are excluded; there are 60 seats reserved for women. These numbers are emblematic of a male-dominated political culture which -- along with other socio-economic factors -- creates a glass ceiling for women’s political advancement.

China&nbsp;

In 2022, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament in China did not change in comparison to the previous year. The proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament remained at 24.94 per cent.

Bhutan&nbsp;

The most recent NC elections, held in April 2023, had candidates from all 20 of Bhutan's dzongkhags, or districts. Only nine women registered to run for office from a total of seven districts, despite the fact that women outweigh males in the population of the nation. In addition, only five women candidates out of 84 who applied for seats made it through the Dhamngoi Zomdu, or selection process, for candidates.&nbsp;<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KXmYqhUGYpMZzcZOfZWOvPUgZ19IoMde4t-ewkr1bvvbsmrrOzD-DEITHbMsC8pDZsWuAjKwZiB-pnYf3jOFExxrOlfCXrBwRtwmVt1uqLSOzsC_9UWJeX3MjQ1tTLOXyZQPV6W-CI4P0pgtFrzzbH8" />

Here are five countries with the highest proportion of women in parliaments: &nbsp;&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Rwanda (61%)</li>
	<li>Cuba&nbsp;(53%)</li>
	<li>Nicaragua (52%)</li>
	<li>Mexico (50%)</li>
	<li>New Zealand (50%)</li>
</ul>

Here are five countries with the least proportion of women in parliaments: &nbsp;&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Iran (5.6%)</li>
	<li>Qatar (4.4%)</li>
	<li>Nigeria (3.6%)</li>
	<li>Comoros (3%)</li>
	<li>The Republic of Yemen (0%)</li>
	<li>Vanuatu: It has elected only one female lawmaker since 2008 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

What does the future hold for India?&nbsp;

There are 542 members in the Lok Sabha at the moment, out of which 78 (14.39%) are women.&nbsp;

The average percentage of women MLAs in assemblies across the country is only 8%, according to the government's response to a parliamentary query late last year.&nbsp;

Now, there will be an increase in female members of both the Lok Sabha and the States/UTs assembly, although the increase will be more pronounced in those bodies.

The new bill includes a clause that states: "The provision of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first census taken after the commencement of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Act 2023 have been published."&nbsp;

That's a tricky area.

It means the population data should be available for the bill to take effect.

The Census, which was scheduled to be finished in 2021, got delayed due to Covid pandemic.&nbsp;

In addition, the government has already said that, by current law, the subsequent delimitation exercise may be carried out following the first census to be held after the year 2026.&nbsp;

So in theory at least, implementation of the bill cannot happen before 2029, taking all these factors into consideration.&nbsp;

Expert Neerja Chowdhury said, “Sonia [Gandhi, Congress leader] gave it a push in 2010 but she didn't give a push in the lok sabha. The BJP promised to bring it in their manifesto in 2014. &nbsp;It's a big day for the women of the country but the criticism is why delimitation? The bill gets passed but doesn't get enforced till delimitation is undertaken. It is just the declaration of intent in 2024. The reality happens only in 2029."&nbsp;

Women's political empowerment is seen as an essential tool for eradicating prejudice and gender inequity.

But in India, it will take a few more years, and a lot of political will and consensus, for it to happen.

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In India, men make up nine out of every 10 legislators. The bleak data is arguably influenced by the still poor social status of women. Since independence, promises that democracy would lead to greater equitable representation of men and women have been made.

In India, men make up nine out of every 10 legislators. The bleak data is arguably influenced by the still poor social status of women. Since independence, promises that democracy would lead to greater equitable representation of men and women have been made. Reservation has made it possible for women to participate in local government since the 1990s. Since then, major political parties have supported a bill that would add reservations to the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the Indian Parliament - and the state legislatures. But it never got passed. The Women's Reservation Bill has been passed after three decades of inaction. But the question is, when will it deliver the results? Key components of the women's reservation bill The bill calls for 33 per cent female representation in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and Delhi's National Capital Territory. The seats designated for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will likewise have similar reservations made. The bill suggests keeping the reservation in place for 15 years. After each exercise in delimitation, the seats designated for women will be switched. Being a bill that requires a constitutional amendment, it has a long way to go. It must first receive a special majority vote in both chambers of parliament. The Constitution Amendment Bill must then be ratified by at least 50% of the states in accordance with Article 368's provisions. Because it impacts their rights, their permission is required. How tough is it to get this bill passed? Majority of both houses of parliament, and not less than two-thirds of the members who are "present and voting" are required to pass the constitution amendment bills in order for them to become law. Given that the bill has the support of most political parties, passing the bill shouldn't be an issue. The states and Delhi Union Territory are all on the same page in this regard. So why was this bill not passed in 30 years? Well, that's a long story. Here's some history: By inserting articles 243D and 243T into the Constitution by the Constitution Act of 1992 (73rd Amendment) and the Constitution Act of 1992 (74th Amendment) respectively, reservation for women in Panchayats and Municipalities - local governance bodies - was made possible. The Constitution Bill, 1996 (81st Amendment), which was introduced on September 12 in the 11th Lok Sabha, was the next step in this direction. It aimed to reserve for women not fewer than one-third of the total number of seats filled through direct election in the Lok Sabha and in the Legislative Assemblies of the States. It didn't make much headway. On December 23, 1999, the Constitution Bill, 1999 (85th Amendment), was introduced in Lok Sabha, constituting yet another effort. However, that bill had also not been pursued because the political parties were unable to agree. The bill was again introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2008 by the Congress-led Manmohan Singh administration and was eventually approved in 2010. It then went to the Lok Sabha, which was dissolved ahead of elections, and thus could not be passed and expired. Journalist and political Commentator Neerja Chowdhury told WION, “The reason was everyone wasn’t ready for it.” "There were a lot of political parties with a lot of resistance not due to patriarchal attitudes- but because every parliamentarian won due to women. The real fear was losing the seats - be it Etawah, Manipuri, or even the top leaders, and then if the candidate won, it would be rotational in nature like if a woman gets a seat today it would change rotationally. So, the real reason was - the fire on the shoulders of the OBC [Other Backward Class] leaders.” “[Former prime minister] Rajiv Gandhi wanted to enact a constitutional amendment for a one-third reservation to women, but he could not do it during his term - due to a lot of resistance from the states. It seemed that Rajiv was reaching out over the heads of the state government to the panchayats and villages. Narasimha Rao passed it in 1992-93 and the country’s focus was the Babri Masjid. We had women sarpanch but the husband used to call the shots. Today, women also have become aware of their roles. At the local level today, there is a huge poll standing outside, waiting for the assemblies,” she added. A comparative analysis: What is the situation in India’s neighbouring countries? Nepal 33% of women participated in the National Assembly during the adoption of the Nepalese Constitution. Additionally, it has been ensured that there are 34% of women in the Provincial Assembly and 40% at the local level. Bangladesh In 2022, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament in Bangladesh did not change in comparison to the previous year. The proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament remained at 20.86 per cent. The proportion of seats held by women is the percentage of parliamentary seats with elected women representatives in a single or lower chamber. Pakistan The current makeup of Pakistan’s parliament is only 21 per cent female. In the National Assembly, which consists of 342 members, female representation is only around 3 per cent if reserved seats are excluded; there are 60 seats reserved for women. These numbers are emblematic of a male-dominated political culture which -- along with other socio-economic factors -- creates a glass ceiling for women’s political advancement. China In 2022, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament in China did not change in comparison to the previous year. The proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament remained at 24.94 per cent. Bhutan The most recent NC elections, held in April 2023, had candidates from all 20 of Bhutan's dzongkhags, or districts. Only nine women registered to run for office from a total of seven districts, despite the fact that women outweigh males in the population of the nation. In addition, only five women candidates out of 84 who applied for seats made it through the Dhamngoi Zomdu, or selection process, for candidates. Here are five countries with the highest proportion of women in parliaments: Rwanda (61%) Cuba (53%) Nicaragua (52%) Mexico (50%) New Zealand (50%) Here are five countries with the least proportion of women in parliaments: Iran (5.6%) Qatar (4.4%) Nigeria (3.6%) Comoros (3%) The Republic of Yemen (0%) Vanuatu: It has elected only one female lawmaker since 2008 What does the future hold for India? There are 542 members in the Lok Sabha at the moment, out of which 78 (14.39%) are women. The average percentage of women MLAs in assemblies across the country is only 8%, according to the government's response to a parliamentary query late last year. Now, there will be an increase in female members of both the Lok Sabha and the States/UTs assembly, although the increase will be more pronounced in those bodies. The new bill includes a clause that states: "The provision of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose after the relevant figures for the first census taken after the commencement of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Act 2023 have been published." That's a tricky area. It means the population data should be available for the bill to take effect. The Census, which was scheduled to be finished in 2021, got delayed due to Covid pandemic. In addition, the government has already said that, by current law, the subsequent delimitation exercise may be carried out following the first census to be held after the year 2026. So in theory at least, implementation of the bill cannot happen before 2029, taking all these factors into consideration. Expert Neerja Chowdhury said, “Sonia [Gandhi, Congress leader] gave it a push in 2010 but she didn't give a push in the lok sabha. The BJP promised to bring it in their manifesto in 2014. It's a big day for the women of the country but the criticism is why delimitation? The bill gets passed but doesn't get enforced till delimitation is undertaken. It is just the declaration of intent in 2024. The reality happens only in 2029." Women's political empowerment is seen as an essential tool for eradicating prejudice and gender inequity. But in India, it will take a few more years, and a lot of political will and consensus, for it to happen. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

India women’s reservation bill: Need of the hour, but how many years to go?

Every year International Women’s Day is celebrated to bring the conversation about gender inequality to the forefront and to acknowledge the milestones that have been reached in the journey towards a more equal world. This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias, but in the context of India, gender discrimination is a complex, sprawling problem that encompasses a skewed sex ratio, female infanticide, cultural preference for boys, early marriages, malnourished young mothers deprived of not just bodily autonomy but also the chance to seek higher education and gainful employment.

In rural areas, a widely prevalent notion considers daughters to be socially and economically disadvantageous. The point being, we will possibly need more than just a hashtag to break the bias against girls. And this bias begins its systematic dissemination of shame among young girls when they begin to step into adolescence. Misinformation about menstruation and other bodily changes makes them feel disempowered but this story can be changed via positive interventions at many levels.

The power of information

Anecdotal evidence during our work in the social sector encourages us to believe that there is an attitudinal shift in rural areas with adolescent girls negotiating with their parents to delay early marriages to be able to focus on their studies. This shift owes a lot to the outreach work done in the field of sex education by local schools, social organisations, and local health workers.&nbsp;

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of dispensing correct information about the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges of adolescence to the most underserved young people in the country. For young girls especially, this information can potentially make the difference between a life that offers them academic opportunities, adult choices, and reproductive health, and another that deprives them of even basic bodily autonomy. It is particularly important for them to understand the power of exercising choice, understanding the meaning of consent, setting boundaries, exploring sexuality in a healthy way, and getting adequate information, resources and support to improve reproductive health.

Getting past taboos and orthodoxy&nbsp;

Here it would be important to acknowledge that in orthodox and traditionally patriarchal cultures, educating daughters itself is a big step forward, and discussing sexual health with them is virtually unthinkable. During Covid-19, so many economically challenged families sought to marry off their daughters without comprehending that sending young girls unprepared into marriage will not only deprive them of healthy reproductive choices but also perpetuate the cycle of poverty, misinformation, and disempowerment. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In rural areas, SRH (sexual and reproductive health) information is tough to access and so young boys and girls rely on each other or unreliable sources like films and media to assuage their curiosity. The lack of accurate information regarding the reproductive process and their own bodies makes them feel frustrated and anxious. They feel reluctant to talk to their parents and often cause self harm through unhealthy choices. &nbsp;Girls especially cannot always talk to ASHA or Anganwadi workers because of the fear of speculation. At such a point, a school where a standardised sexual education curriculum is imparted by teachers and supported by counselors can inspire trust and allay fears. Even parents can be counselled by educators to discuss supposedly taboo subjects with their children.

Providing safe spaces

It is in schools that girls can find a safe space to get their queries answered. The supportive role social organisations play is also critical as was seen during the pandemic when all health centres focused their resources on COVID patients, and women and girls could not access hygiene products and contraceptives.

Together schools and social organisations can repair the broken rung of information that can help young girls better relate to their bodies, their gender, their sexuality, and the spectrum of choices available to them. When they understand themselves better and know that there need not be any shame attached to a natural process, they can have a healthier relationship with themselves and their partners in the future.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Decoding consent, boundaries, and risks

In rural areas, a lot of pressure is exercised upon young couples to prove their fertility and when boys and girls are well-informed, they can argue in favour of planned pregnancy and family planning with confidence. &nbsp;Also, be it pre or post-marital sex, young boys too need to grasp the meaning of consent and be taught to respect boundaries. Sex education hence is necessary to build an equitable relationship between both genders. It is so important to disseminate SRH information among the young considering more than half of the India population is under the age of 25. According to Unicef, India has the largest adolescent population in the world (253 million), and every fifth person is between 10 to 19 years. &nbsp;Multiple surveys of this demographic have indicated the dangers of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies and hasty abortions.&nbsp;

A 2019 survey by Guttmacher Institute, New York reported that more than 75 percent of abortions among adolescents in India are unsafe. These could potentially even be fatal and we rank third as far as the number of HIV patients go. That the SRH curriculum is now mandatory in schools from 2018 is a good step towards systematically, sustainably and cost-effectively imparting potentially life-changing and life-saving knowledge to our young. &nbsp;

Such a long journey

It has taken us a while to get here though. In 2007, when the sex education curriculum was promoted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the backlash focused on how the youth could be corrupted, become promiscuous and lose traditional Indian values. Every time such resistance crops up, counselors can help parents understand how knowledge about bodily functions and boundaries can help protect their children and empower them rather than causing them harm. When they know more, they understand how to cope with mental health issues and have less anxiety as well.

Human-centered communication modules that make space for privacy and confidentiality, address cultural taboos with empathy and verifiable information, can lead to generational shifts that will have a huge impact on not just families but the nation.&nbsp;

Information is power and well-informed girls can play a big role in contributing to the health of the economy and of their families. According to unwomen.org, women make up more than two-thirds of the world's 796 million illiterate people. Just 39 percent of rural girls attend secondary school and unesco.org has noted that 11 million girls may not return to school post the pandemic in 2020. As the government and social agencies work towards getting more underserved girls in schools, there may come a time when the biases that come in the way of their progress will become easier to break.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

Every year International Women’s Day is celebrated to bring the conversation about gender inequality to the forefront and to acknowledge the milestones that have been reached in the journey towards a more equal world.

Every year International Women’s Day is celebrated to bring the conversation about gender inequality to the forefront and to acknowledge the milestones that have been reached in the journey towards a more equal world. This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias, but in the context of India, gender discrimination is a complex, sprawling problem that encompasses a skewed sex ratio, female infanticide, cultural preference for boys, early marriages, malnourished young mothers deprived of not just bodily autonomy but also the chance to seek higher education and gainful employment. In rural areas, a widely prevalent notion considers daughters to be socially and economically disadvantageous. The point being, we will possibly need more than just a hashtag to break the bias against girls. And this bias begins its systematic dissemination of shame among young girls when they begin to step into adolescence. Misinformation about menstruation and other bodily changes makes them feel disempowered but this story can be changed via positive interventions at many levels. The power of information Anecdotal evidence during our work in the social sector encourages us to believe that there is an attitudinal shift in rural areas with adolescent girls negotiating with their parents to delay early marriages to be able to focus on their studies. This shift owes a lot to the outreach work done in the field of sex education by local schools, social organisations, and local health workers. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of dispensing correct information about the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges of adolescence to the most underserved young people in the country. For young girls especially, this information can potentially make the difference between a life that offers them academic opportunities, adult choices, and reproductive health, and another that deprives them of even basic bodily autonomy. It is particularly important for them to understand the power of exercising choice, understanding the meaning of consent, setting boundaries, exploring sexuality in a healthy way, and getting adequate information, resources and support to improve reproductive health. Getting past taboos and orthodoxy Here it would be important to acknowledge that in orthodox and traditionally patriarchal cultures, educating daughters itself is a big step forward, and discussing sexual health with them is virtually unthinkable. During Covid-19, so many economically challenged families sought to marry off their daughters without comprehending that sending young girls unprepared into marriage will not only deprive them of healthy reproductive choices but also perpetuate the cycle of poverty, misinformation, and disempowerment. In rural areas, SRH (sexual and reproductive health) information is tough to access and so young boys and girls rely on each other or unreliable sources like films and media to assuage their curiosity. The lack of accurate information regarding the reproductive process and their own bodies makes them feel frustrated and anxious. They feel reluctant to talk to their parents and often cause self harm through unhealthy choices. Girls especially cannot always talk to ASHA or Anganwadi workers because of the fear of speculation. At such a point, a school where a standardised sexual education curriculum is imparted by teachers and supported by counselors can inspire trust and allay fears. Even parents can be counselled by educators to discuss supposedly taboo subjects with their children. Providing safe spaces It is in schools that girls can find a safe space to get their queries answered. The supportive role social organisations play is also critical as was seen during the pandemic when all health centres focused their resources on COVID patients, and women and girls could not access hygiene products and contraceptives. Together schools and social organisations can repair the broken rung of information that can help young girls better relate to their bodies, their gender, their sexuality, and the spectrum of choices available to them. When they understand themselves better and know that there need not be any shame attached to a natural process, they can have a healthier relationship with themselves and their partners in the future. Decoding consent, boundaries, and risks In rural areas, a lot of pressure is exercised upon young couples to prove their fertility and when boys and girls are well-informed, they can argue in favour of planned pregnancy and family planning with confidence. Also, be it pre or post-marital sex, young boys too need to grasp the meaning of consent and be taught to respect boundaries. Sex education hence is necessary to build an equitable relationship between both genders. It is so important to disseminate SRH information among the young considering more than half of the India population is under the age of 25. According to Unicef, India has the largest adolescent population in the world (253 million), and every fifth person is between 10 to 19 years. Multiple surveys of this demographic have indicated the dangers of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies and hasty abortions. A 2019 survey by Guttmacher Institute, New York reported that more than 75 percent of abortions among adolescents in India are unsafe. These could potentially even be fatal and we rank third as far as the number of HIV patients go. That the SRH curriculum is now mandatory in schools from 2018 is a good step towards systematically, sustainably and cost-effectively imparting potentially life-changing and life-saving knowledge to our young. Such a long journey It has taken us a while to get here though. In 2007, when the sex education curriculum was promoted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the backlash focused on how the youth could be corrupted, become promiscuous and lose traditional Indian values. Every time such resistance crops up, counselors can help parents understand how knowledge about bodily functions and boundaries can help protect their children and empower them rather than causing them harm. When they know more, they understand how to cope with mental health issues and have less anxiety as well. Human-centered communication modules that make space for privacy and confidentiality, address cultural taboos with empathy and verifiable information, can lead to generational shifts that will have a huge impact on not just families but the nation. Information is power and well-informed girls can play a big role in contributing to the health of the economy and of their families. According to unwomen.org, women make up more than two-thirds of the world's 796 million illiterate people. Just 39 percent of rural girls attend secondary school and unesco.org has noted that 11 million girls may not return to school post the pandemic in 2020. As the government and social agencies work towards getting more underserved girls in schools, there may come a time when the biases that come in the way of their progress will become easier to break. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The empowerment of girls begins with a healthy relationship with their bodies

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India women’s reservation bill: Need of the hour, but how many years to go?

The empowerment of girls begins with a healthy relationship with their bodies