GENDER DISPARITIES IN LAND HOLDING IN INDIA

Abstract

This study explores the persistent issue of gender inequality in land ownership in India, a critical dimension of socio-economic disparity that persists despite legal efforts to promote gender equality. Utilising data from the NSSO Debt and Investment Survey 2019, the study assesses landholding patterns among men and women through various inequality metrics, including the Gini coefficient and Generalized Entropy indices. The study indicates that while average landholdings are similar across genders, substantial within-group inequalities reveal that women encounter significant barriers in accessing and controlling land resources. Although legal reforms have improved overall equity, deep-seated cultural and institutional norms undermine women's land rights. This paper advocates for the formulation and implementation of policies that empower women by ensuring that legal entitlements to land translate into effective and meaningful control. Addressing these entrenched inequalities is essential for enhancing women's economic security and fostering broader economic development. Such efforts are pivotal in advancing sustainable gender equality, particularly within the rural regions of India, and are critical to achieving the broader goals of inclusive development and social equity.