Constitutional exercise to establishment gender equality and human rights for women in India Dr. Shahi Sandeep Social Mobilaisation Network, UNICEF, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: dmc.lucknowsandeep@gmail.com Online published on 27 June, 2017. Abstract India has been ranked in the bottom half among 134 countries in terms of gender equality, in WEF's latest ranking that assessed the distribution of resources and opportunities among males and females. Slipping one place from last year, India has cornered the 114th position in the World Economic Forum's ‘The Global Gender Gap Index 2009 rankings ’which is topped by Iceland. Gender is seen closely related to the roles and behavior assigned to women and men based on their sexual differences. As soon as a child is born families and society begin the process of gendering. The birth of the son is celebrated, the birth of a daughter filled with pain; sons are showered with love, respect, better food and proper health care. Statistics reveal that in India males significantly outnumber females and this imbalance has increased over time. The sex ratio according to 2001 census report stands at 933 per 1000 males. Out of the total population, 120 million are women who live in abject poverty. The maternal mortality rate in rural areas is among the world's highest. From a global perspective India accounts for 19% of all live births and 27% of all maternal deaths. The deaths of young girls in India exceed those of young boys by over 300, 000 each year and every 6th infant death is specifically due to gender discrimination. Women face discrimination right from the childhood. Gender disparities in nutrition are evident from infancy to adulthood. In fact, gender has been the most statistically significant determinant of malnutrition among young children and malnutrition is a frequent, direct or underlying, cause of death among girls below age 5. Girls are breast-fed less frequently and for a shorter duration in infancy. In childhood and adulthood, males are fed first and better. Top Keywords Constitution, gender equality, human rights, social justice, human development. Top |