Bhubaneswar: Even as the UN Women has made “Rights. Equality. Empowerment” its key theme this Women’s day, a look at the National Family Health Survey – 5 findings that shed light on the moorings of women in the State tells a big tale.
The Survey finds women in Odisha have a strong preference for sons than daughters. Even, couple’s family planning narrative in the State has been set by number of sons a woman have.
For which, the NFHS-5 states, “In Odisha, there is a strong preference for sons.”
SON FIRST
The Survey brings out the following facts.
- 13% of women want more sons than daughters
- 14% of men want more sons than daughters
- ONLY 3% of women want more daughters than son
- Only 2% men want more daughters than son
SON YEARNING
- 78% women would like to have atleast one son
- 72% men would like to have atleast one son.
- Little less than three-quarters(3/4th) of women want atleast one daughter
- Two-thirds (2/3rd) of men want at least one daughter.
SON NARRATIVE IN FAMILY PLANNING
The Survey has the following numbers that shows how the count of son dictates the imperative of family planning strategy of couples in the State.
The NFHS says, “Women’s desire for more children is strongly affected by their current number of sons.”
- 95% women with 1-2 sons want no more children
- Only 71% of women with daughters want no more children
- The above number shows a higher number of women who have atleast 1 son go for family planning
- But a lower proportion woman with 2 daughters goes for family planning.
- See the image below
‘EQUALITY’ CASUALITY IN GIRLS SCEONDARY EDU IN ODISHA
While the second pillar of the Women’s Day theme – Equality – seems a casualty in the State, if one goes by the NFHS-5 report.
- The survey shows the attendance of girls in primary schools stands at 96%
- The attendance of boys in primary schools also stands at 96%
- Attendance of girls in upper primary schools estimated at 86% vis-à-vis 88% for boys
- However, when it comes to secondary education – the phase of education that prepare the girl to know her rights, empower and gain equality, the attendance of girls show a big drop.
- The attendance of girls in secondary education is estimated at 47% vis-à-vis 56%
- The drop in boys is attributed to they taking up jobs elsewhere to supplement family income.
- But in case of girls, despite free education upto graduation, households in State make them sit at home and contribute domestically.
- For which, Niti Aayog report released recently said, women constitutes half of the population, but GDP contribution is mere 18%.
