Indian Women: Progress and Persistent Hurdles

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) for 2023-24 highlights a complex picture for women across India. Significant improvements are evident in educational attainment, with 73.7% of women attending school, and internet usage has nearly doubled to 64.3%. These gains suggest increased empowerment and access to information.

However, persistent social constraints continue to shape women's lives. Property ownership for women, whether alone or jointly, remains below 20%. Furthermore, 20.1% of women aged 20-24 were married before the legal age of 18, indicating only a modest reduction. Female sterilization is still the dominant form of family planning, raising concerns about the unequal distribution of reproductive responsibilities.

Encouragingly, the survey shows a notable decline in violence against women, with spousal violence decreasing from 29.2% to 22.3%. Despite this national trend, Kerala reported an increase in spousal violence. Tobacco and alcohol use among women also continued to decline, though disparities with men persist.