Expressing concern over a 10 per cent fall in female labour participation rate in India, industry chamber Assocham on Saturday said there was “urgent need to create more jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities to promote women empowerment.”

According to an Assocham-Thought Arbitrage Research study, ‘Female Labour Force Participation in India,’ though there was a spurt in the number of working women in India during 2000-2005, from 34 per cent to 37 per cent, the female labour force participation (FLFP) rate had seen a continuously fall. It reached 27 per cent in 2014, the period in which economy was experiencing unprecedented growth, according to World Bank’s report on World Development Indicators.

“There are certain primary reasons for low participation of women in the labour force such as lack of access to higher education, dearth of opportunities to work and even lack of flexibility in working conditions,” said the study, adding that these tend to dissuade women from joining the labour force as they turn to domestic duties.  The study also said in India, marriage decreased the probability of FLFP by about 8 per cent in rural areas and more than twice as much in urban areas.

 “As per the latest available data, the FLFP rate in India was about 36 per cent as of 2011-12, with 31 out of 35 States and Union Territories scoring rates below national average, while only Andhra Pradesh (erstwhile), Chhattisgarh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh faring better in this regard,” it added.

Deeds and needs  It said while initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Make in India, Start-up India and others are positive steps, promoting skill training programmes for women, setting up child care centres in large numbers, ensuring women safety and security, among others were also needed.

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