What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard. (150 words)
Factors Responsible for Gender Inequality in India
- Socio-cultural norms and attitudes: traditional attitudes and beliefs about gender roles and responsibilities often perpetuate gender inequality in India.
- Education: lack of access to education and limited educational opportunities for girls and women is a significant factor in gender inequality.
- Economic factors: poverty, lack of access to economic resources, and limited economic opportunities for women contribute to gender inequality in India.
- Political factors: lack of representation and participation of women in politics and decision-making processes also contribute to gender inequality.
Contribution of Savitribai Phule
- Savitribai Phule was a social reformer and educationist in 19th century India who worked to promote education and upliftment of women and the lower caste communities.
- She opened the first school for girls in India in 1848 and later established a training school for women teachers.
- She also advocated for the abolition of the caste system and for the rights of women, particularly in the areas of education and employment.
- Her work was instrumental in breaking down barriers to education and employment for women and helping to improve the status of women in Indian society.
- Her works and activism have been considered as the foundation for the women’s education and empowerment movement in India.
![The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance. However, the stone mining to still prevalent in the border district of the affected State with connivance of certain corrupt forest officials and politicians. Young and dynamic SP who was recently posted in the affected district promised to himself to stop this menace. In one of his surprise checks with his team, he found loaded truck with stone trying to escape the mining area. He tried to stop the truck but the truck driver overrun the police officer, killing him on the spot and thereafter managed to flee. Police filed FIR but no breakthrough was achieved in the case for almost three months. Ashok who was the Investigative Journalist working with leading TV channel, suo moto started investigating the case. Within one month, Ashok got breakthrough by interacting with local people, stone mining masia and government officials. He prepared his investigative story and presented to the CMD of the TV channel. He exposed in his investigative report the complete nexus of stone mafia working with blessing of corrupt police and civil officials and politicians. The politician who was involved in the mafia was no one else but local MLA who was considered to be very close to the Chief Minister. After going through the investigative report, the CMD advised Ashok to drop the idea of making the story public through electronic media. He informed that the local MLA was not only the relative of the owner of the TV channel but also had unofficially 20 percent share in the channel. The CMD further informed Ashok that his further promotion and hike in pay will be taken care of in addition the soft loan of 10 lakhs which he has taken from the TV channel for his son’s chronic disease will be suitably adjusted if he hands over the investigative report to him. [2022]](https://www.iasexpress.net/wp-content/plugins/pt-content-views-pro/public/assets/images/lazy_image.png)
