Page 1 of 8

European Journal of Business &

Social Sciences

Available at https://ejbss.org/

ISSN: 2235-767X

Volume 07 Issue 02

February 2019

Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 634

Women Empowerment in Haryana: A Study of Educational

Dimension

Dr Neelam, Asstt. Prof. in History, L.N. Hindu College Rohtak, Email:

drsschahar@rediffmail.com

Dr. Neera Rani, Asstt. Prof. in Political Science, AIJHM, College, Rohtak.

Abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to study the educational dimension as a weapon

of women empowerment in Haryana. The new education policy 1986 focused on

girls education to change their socio economic status. This is a fact that in Haryana

there are socio economic and political considerations in the educational and social

participation of women apart from rural urban disparities. In view of all this in

Haryana a number of schemes have been launched to empower women including

“Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”. The Haryana government has declared free education

for girls up to the level of graduation. 33% post of teachers has been reserved in

government’s schools. Moreover 50 % seats of teachers are reserved for rural areas.

Women cells have been established in colleges to create awareness about the gender

related issues. The state has large numbers of educational institutions and as many as

241926 students are enrolled in higher education and 4978146 students enrolled in

schools with 2325363 girls. Despite all this the female literacy is 65.94% against

84.06% males. Moreover, the problems of female foeticide, crime against women

and secondary treatment to girls in the family as well as non availability of senior

secondary schools and colleges in nearby places of rural areas are there. The

enrollment of girls students has declined significantly from 2012 to 2016. Therefore,

more schools and colleges should be opened in rural areas apart from providing free

books and study material up to the graduation level.

Page 2 of 8

European Journal of Business &

Social Sciences

Available at https://ejbss.org/

ISSN: 2235-767X

Volume 07 Issue 02

February 2019

Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 635

Key Words: Women Empowerment, Educational Dimension, Beti Bachao Beti

Padhao, Female foeticide.

Introduction: Status of women is a matter of concern in every country in view of

gender discrimination. India is also a daughter deficit and son surplus country with

940 girls for 1000 boys. Haryana is the worst with 877 girls for 1000 boys in

comparison to 900 girls in 1966. The birth rate of female child has declined in 17

states including Haryana as per NITI Aayog report, 2018 e. g. in 1966 the birth ratio

of male female was 158149:129868 and in 2011- 296328:248292.

From social point of view, Haryana is strictly a patriarchal system where son

is kept at the centre stage in the family. Most of the traditions, customs and festivities

are centered around boys. Moreover, the girls are assigned the domestic chores,

sibling care, collection of water, fodder etc. The women giving birth to son is treated

well and those with girls are neglected and insulted.

Despite the number of health institutes has increased from 785 on 1966 to

3242 in 2011 as well as the patient beds from 4584 to 10006, the health status of

women is miserable in Haryana. The state nutrition fact-sheet released by the Chief

Minister of Haryana on December 17, 2017 makes it more clear that 71.1% women

have anemia against 56.1% in 2006. Further 55% pregnant women and 63.1% non- pregnant women are anemic. It is very sad that 62.7% girls in the age of 15-19 years

are anemic against 29.7% boys and 49.3% girls are very weak. Only 25.6% girls

have average health status. Moreover, the pre-nental health care is negligible. Female

sterilization is 17 times higher than males. Maternal mortality is 73 per lakh against

55 at the national level.

Economically, in India the work participation rate (WPR) is 24% much lower

than Bangladesh and women earn 25% less than men. However, in Haryana the

WPR is 28.8% , much lower than UP, Kerala, AP and West Bengal. About 12%

households are led by women and most of them are very poor as per Socio- Economic Census Report, 2015. Haryana was one of the states to oppose the idea of