India among world's 10 most gender-biased countries

Empowerment of Indian women is still a long way if the World Economic Forum's report, which has put the country among the bottom 10 when it comes to their participation in economic agenda, is any hint.

According to the World Economic Forum's latest Gender Gap Index report released over the weekend, India has been ranked at 114th position after taking into account economic, political, educational and health parities, among a total 128 countries.

In terms of 'economic participation and opportunity' alone, India has fared even worse at 122nd position, pushing it into the bottom ten.

In the overall ranking, the country has slipped from 98th rank in 2006 when the index included a total of 115 countries. This year's Gender Gap Index has been topped by Sweden with a gender equality of 81.5 per cent, followed by Norway, Finland, Iceland and New Zealand.

The countries ranked below India include Bahrain, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Iran, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Benin, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, Chad and Yemen with  the lowest gender equality of 45.1 per cent.

According to the WEF report, India has an overall 59.4 per cent gender equality, while for economic participation and opportunity it stands at 39.8 per cent.

Compared to its 122nd rank for economic participation, India has fared much better in terms of political empowerment at 21st position. The country has 106 women in Parliament, 118 in ministerial positions and has seen four years with a female Head of State in the last 50 years.

India is ranked at fourth position with 43 per cent gender equality when compared in terms of a women State head.