NSSO reports Half of Odisha's women are not in the workforce

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 13 April 2023

According to the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) recent data, the majority of females in Odisha do not work or complete their educational qualifications. The report of NSSO is the 78th 'Multiple Indicator Survey in India' which mentions that 57.4 per cent of the state’s female population between the ages 15 to 29 are not into education, employment, or training (NEET).

Whereas the NEET population of men is only 20.5 per cent. There is a significant gender gap between both males and females in Odisha. The NEET population of the urban and rural parts of the state doesn't vary much. The women of the urban region are majorly not into education employment, or training which stands for 60 per cent in comparison to the women of rural parts which is 57 per cent.

The top five states which fall under the NEET population of women in this age group are, Punjab at 59.6 per cent, Uttar Pradesh at 59.5 per cent, Assam at 59.2 per cent, West Bengal at 58.6 per cent, and Odhisa at 57.4 per cent. The lowest such population is seen in the northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram with only 7 per cent

The survey was supposed to be taken originally from January to December 2020 but it was extended until August 15, 2021, due to the Covid 19 epidemic. The main aim of this survey was to gather information for the creation of National Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators.

While conducting the survey, NSSO listed down the number of females who are pursuing their higher education and training. They discovered that only 24.9 per cent f women in Odhisa aged 15 to 29 are enrolled in both formal and non-formal educational institutions.

The percentage of NEET men in India who actively seek employment is just 65.3 percent whereas just 5.9 per cent of NEET women indicates a lower inclination of women toward the workforce.

The NSSO report surprised the Academician and State Higher Education Council Chairman, Ashok Das. He said that one needs to examine a number of different reports including the Ministry of Education's enrollment surveys as the participation of girls in higher education is around 55 to 65 per cent.

NSSO Data on Female (15 to the 29-year group)

Not in Education or Work: 57.4 per cent

In Formal and Non Fornal Education: 24.9 per cent

Migration for Education: 1.3 per cent

Migration for Employment: 0.2 per cent