Status of women in India: An interstate comparison

Using the 1992-93 National Family Health Survey data, a close scrutiny of s elected indicators which reflect the status of women in India was undertake n. This was done for important states as well as urban areas of India where ver possible. The indicators used were: literacy and education, exposure to mass media, work status, age at marriage, fertility and use of family plan ning methods. The analysis revealed that women in two states, one in extrem e north (Himachal Pradesh) and the other in extreme south (Kerala) enjoy be tter status as per the indicators used. Rajasthan has the dubious distincti on of occupying the last rank. Present analysis has also shown that economi cally progressive states need not be socially progressive. Maharashtra occu pies first rank as far as economic indicators are concerned, however, it do es not fare well on other aspects of social development.