India ranks 135 on women empowerment index of UN: Govt

NEW DELHI: India ranks 135 among 147 nations on women empowerment as per United Nation's Human Development Index, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said today.

"According to the Human Development Index as reported in the Human Development Report 2014 published by United Nation Development Programme, India ranks 135 out of 147 countries," Gandhi said in a reply to Lok Sabha.

The report titled 'Women and Men in India-2015' by Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation highlights the status of women covering health, education, work and decision making along with social obstacles in women empowerment.

She also said over 80 per cent women in India do not receive full ante-natal care during pregnancy, while replying to another question.

"As per the Rapid Survey of Children Report 2013-14, full Ante-Natal Care (receipt of 3+ ANC, at least one dose of TT and consumption of 100 Iron Folic Acid Tablets/syrup) has been received by 19.7 per cent of pregnant women," she said.

The reason for low full ANC may be due to multiple factors, like inaccessibility, illiteracy, ignorance, non-functional facilities in their vicinity, besides myths and beliefs about IFA consumption and fear of out of pocket expenditure, Gandhi said.