IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Over 60% women in 12 states and UTs never used internet, survey finds

16th December, 2020 Society

Context: The NFHS-5 (2019-20) was conducted in 6.1 lakh sample households, involving household-level interviews, to collect information on population, health, family planning and nutrition related indicators from 22 states and UTs.

  • Over 60% women in 12 states and union territories have never used the internet, the latest National Family Health Survey has revealed.
  • The survey covered 22 states and UTs in the country.
  • The states and UTs where less than 40% women have used the internet are Andhra Pradesh (21%), Assam (28.2%), Bihar (20.6 %), Gujarat (30.8%), Karnataka (35%), Maharashtra (38%), Meghalaya (34.7%), Telangana (26.5%), Tripura (22.9%), West Bengal (25.5%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (36.7%) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (34.8%), the survey revealed.
  • In comparison, more percentage of men have used the internet.
  • About 50% men have used the internet in seven states - Andhra Pradesh (48.8%), Assam (42.3%), Bihar (43.6%), Meghalaya (42.1%), Tripura (45.7%), West Bengal (46.7%), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (46.5 %), according to the data.
  • According to the survey, Andhra Pradesh (68.6%), Bihar (57.8%) and Telangana (66.6%) accounted for the lowest literacy rates among women, while Kerala (98.3%), Lakshadweep (96.5%) and Mizoram (94.4%) recorded the highest literacy rate among women in surveyed states and UTs.
  • Andhra Pradesh (79.5%) and Bihar (78.5%) accounted for lowest literacy rates among men while Kerala (98.2%) and Lakshadweep (99.1%) recorded the highest literacy rate among men in surveyed states and UTs.
    • Literacy refers to women or men who completed standard 9 or higher and women or men who can read a whole sentence or part of a sentence, the survey said.
  • Less than 40% women had 10 or more years of schooling in eight states and UTs of Andhra Pradesh (39.6%), Assam (29.6%), Bihar (28.8%), Gujarat (33.8%), Meghalaya (35.1%), Tripura (23.2%), West Bengal (32.9%) and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (35.8%).
  • Less than 50% men had 10 or more years of schooling in nine states and UTs of Andhra Pradesh (47.9%), Assam (35.5%), Bihar (42.8%), Gujarat (45.6%), Meghalaya (34.7%), Mizoram (49.1%), Tripura (29.4%), West Bengal (34.7%) and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (49.4%).
  • The NFHS-5 (2019-20) was conducted in 6.1 lakh sample households, involving household-level interviews, to collect information on population, health, family planning and nutrition related indicators from 22 states and UTs.
  • The NFHS results of 17 states and five UTs (Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Mizoram, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu) have been released now as Phase-I. Phase-II covering other states will be released next year, the Health Ministry had said.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/women-in-12-states-and-uts-never-used-internet/article33336980.ece?homepage=true