Topic: GS-1: Social empowerment
GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
2. Socio-economic status and educational background of women play an important role in determining life expectancy. Analyse. (250 words)
Reference: Down to Earth.
Why the question:
According to the estimates from the Sample Registration System (SRS)-based Abridged Life Tables 2014-18 of the Census and Registrar General of India, the life expectancy of an Indian child born on World Health Day 2021 is below the world’s average. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Analyse in what way Socio-economic status and educational background of women play an important role in determining life expectancy.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with the definition of life expectancy or some key data on it.
Body:
It is an estimate of the average number of additional years that a person of a given age can expect to live. The most common measure of life expectancy is life expectancy at birth. India’s life expectancy (for a child born in 2021) which is 69 years and 4 months is less than the world’s average lifespan of 72.81 years.
Discuss the underlying causes for such declining life expectancy.
Then explain the key role that empowered women can play in improvising the life expectancy.
Discuss how their socio-economic background and education can prove to be key factors.
Conclusion:
Increased government intervention for women empowerment combined with better access to healthcare, rising living standards, better nutrition, and improved water and sanitation facilities will lead to reduced mortality rates at all ages.
