By IANS,
New Delhi : Though social schemes seek to empower the girl child, India’s patriarchal system continues to run the writ, according to voluntary organisation Plan India.
Over 70 percent of the children live in families where father is the sole decision-maker, Plan India’s study on the girl child’s status released Friday said.
“Over 70 percent of children in the age group of 10-14 years reported their father as the main decision-maker in the family,” the study said.
“In the higher age group of 15-35 years, the men were in the forefront of deciding family size and spending of money,” the study added.
Spanning across the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Karnataka, the study surveyed around 6,000 respondents to questions on the rights of the women.
The study said that 80 percent of girls in the age group 10-14 years groomed at an early age for household chores such as cleaning and washing clothes.
“The mindset to leave the onus of certain things is deep rooted in girls,” Plan India executive director Bhagyashri Dengle said.
“The report wants to focus on how we can engage boys and men in protecting the rights of women,” she added.
While the situation remained largely similar in rural areas, urban sections were also far behind in giving women the right to ownership.
“Women in the age group of 15-35 held fewer bank accounts and property, compared to men in the same age group,” the study said.
“Forty-five percent women said they could not withdraw money without the permission of their family,” the study added.