The Gender Vulnerability Index is useful in understanding the situation of states in India in every dimension of gender. This is an attempt to develop collective perspectives and generate a
normative consensus on the status of girls and women in India, has broken new
ground and pioneered a gender vulnerability assessment tool designed to be used
by policymakers, development practitioners, academicians, gender experts, NonGovernment Organisations among others. The Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI), is
an initiative towards a landscape analysis taking into account four core dimensions:
a) Education
b) Health and Survival
c) Poverty
d) Protection
5. Plan India5
Indices with regard to children in India
INDIA CHILD RIGHTS
INDEX
DIGITAL GENDER
ATLAS FOR GIRLS’
EDUCATION IN INDIA
WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
INDEX’ (WEI)
HEALTH OUTCOMES
INDEX
SCHOOL EDUCATION
QUALITY INDEX (SEQI)
POVERTY AND
VULNERABILITY IN
URBAN INDIA
KIDS RIGHTS
INDEX
HDI
GENDER
INEQUALITY
INDEX
MULTIDIMENSI
ONAL POVERTY
INDEX
Though multiple indices are available on different aspects the
girls and women face but there is no comprehensive index
which covers the issues and different aspects that has an
influence on the life of girls and women; hence the concept of
developing GENDER VULNERBILITY INDEX has been floated.
7. Plan India7
Research Framework for ‘Plan for Every Child’
initiative
Deliberations with subject matter experts in
gender
Key take away: Need redefine vulnerability
under SDG ambit and measure it
Key decision: Construct Gender Vulnerability
Index and rank states accordingly
Conceptualisation of Gender Vulnerability Index
8. Plan India8
Step 5: Calculating
the Index
Step 6: Ranking
the states based
on GVI and
Dimension Values
Step 4:
Normalising
the values
International standards adopted to be in line with other prominent studies.
The steps to arrive at the index
The Gender
Vulnerability
Index
Methodology - Steps
Plan’s Lifecycle Approach has
been utilised for establishing and
defining Vulnerability for girls and
women in India
Step 2: Finalising
the Dimensions
Step 1: Establishing a
Conceptual
Framework for
Gender Vulnerability
Out of 9 dimensions,
4 are finalized:
Protection, Health &
Survival, Education,
Poverty
170 indicators from different data sources
have been identified under four dimensions
Protection- 26 Health- 57
Education- 68 Poverty- 19
Data from 30 states (including Delhi)
considered for consolidation of data.
Step 3: Identifying the
Indicators and
consolidating the data
Positive and Negative
Indicators have been
normalized to bring the values
on a uniform scale
Standard global practice of
Yehulashet principal has been
used to normalise the values.
Index value is calculated using
Harmonic Mean across dimensions
and GVI.
The index scores can be measured
on a scale of 0 to 1. The closer the
score is to 1, the better is the
performance.
Formula for statistical ranks is used to
calculate Ranks.
The states are given a rank of 1 to 30.
1- best performance
30- worst performance
9. Plan India
Methodology
Step 1: Establishing a Conceptual Framework for Gender Vulnerability
Plan’s Lifecycle Approach has been utilised for establishing and defining Vulnerability for girls
and women in India as it incorporates native issues and challenges, which are relevant to the
local context and eliminate the static definitions of gender by covering major challenges faced
by girls and women across the lifecycle.
• Pre Birth Gender selection
• Survival
• Development
• Protection, Participation
• Inclusion
Before birth to age 1 year
• Female Feticide and
Infanticide
• Adverse health events
such as absence of or
incomplete immunization
• Discrimination in parental care
• Discrimination in access to food and health
care
• Low school enrolment and school drop-outs
• Restriction on play
• Vulnerable to trafficking, child labour, child
marriage
• Abuse, exploitation and violence
Age: 1 to 11 years
• Child marriage
• Early child bearing
• Frequent pregnancy and abortions
• Susceptibility to STDs and HIV/AIDS
• Maternal morbidity and mortality
• Marital and domestic violence
• Dowry harassment, desertion, polygamy,
divorce
• Limited access to information and services
• Lack of voice whether in home or society
Age: 12 to 18 years
• Frequent illness due to malnutrition and anemia and micronutrient deficiency
• Restriction on mobility
• Unpaid and unrecognized work and drudgery
• Domestic chores including heavy domestic work such as commuting long distances to collect firewood or drinking water
• Looking after younger siblings
Secondary
school/
household work
Living with
husband:
getting to know
the spouse
Early
childhood
10. Plan India
Step 2: Finalising the Dimensions
At the initial phase of the deliberation, the following dimensions were identified
Girls Vulnerability Index
Safety /
Protection
Health &
Survival
Challenges
Illiteracy
Poverty
Policy
Framework&
Implementatio
n
Climate
Change &
Migration
Digitalisation
Vulnerabilities
Cultural
Social
Practices
Urban /Rural
Vulnerability
The two key challenges faced during the process
were
1) Lack of data in many dimensions, or in other
words, insufficient indicators to develop a
composite index
2) The dimensions are strongly correlated as they
can’t be seen in isolation and need to be aligned
to one or the other dimensions.
Gender
Vulnerability
Index
Safety /
Protection
Health &
Survival
Challenges
Literacy
Poverty
11. Plan India
Step 3: Identifying the Indicators and consolidating the data
Dimension No of Indicators
Protection 26
Education 68
Health 57
Poverty 19
170 indicators are taken from the different Data sources
Note: the data for Union Territories and few smaller states are not available; hence discarded from this list (Delhi is included)
Census 2011 NFHS HMIS DISE RSOC
AES RBI Report ASER NAS
12. Plan India
Step 3 : Remarks
Skewness of data: When the dimensions are to be decided the scenario few
dimensions have more indicators, this may tend to the skewness in the final
score of the index. This has taken care as the final score is an aggregate of the
four dimensions not all indicators together , the final score got equal
representation and hence the skewness towards a single dimension is negated
and invariably the limitations and void
Data from different sources and timelines : To reduce the same and made
the limitation void, the values for the indicators have been normalised. While
normalising standard yelchauset’s principal has been used.
Agency and Individual
Indicators related to agency and individual is considered in a single dimension
this may be questionable. The response to this is as this calculated at state
level and normalised scores has been applied the same will be negated, hence
forth the composite score will be taken when district level GVI is calculated.
12
13. Plan India
Step 4: Normalizing the values
Normalising the values to bring them on a uniform scale, as the data points are of different
time’s periods, sources.
Every Indicator is either a Positive indicator or a Negative Indicator. The normalisation is done
as per below
For Positive Indicators=
(where increase in the
value means performance
in the same area is good)
(Actual value – minimum value in the array)
maximum value in the array – minimum value in the array
For Negative Indicators=
(where decrease in the
value means performance
in the area is good)
(Maximum Value in the array – Actual Value )
maximum value in the array – minimum value in the array
14. Plan India
Methodology
Step 5: Calculating the Index
From the Normalised values under each dimensions, the mean is calculated which becomes
the state value and the same is calculated using the Harmonic mean value which becomes the
Dimension Index value for state and further the total GVI.
For calculating State aggregate = Average (Normalised Values of the data points in the
Dimension)
For calculating Index = Harmonic mean (State Aggregates)
The index scores can be measured on a scale of 0 to 1.
The closer the score is to 1, the better is the performance.
15. Plan India
Purpose of using Aggregate mean and Harmonic
Mean:
To avoid the skewness a twostep calculation
method has been used to calculate the index. At
step 1 for a dimension the average of the
normalised values calculated, then to calculate
the index with in the same Harmonic mean has
been used to avoid the scenes in the scores.
Also by using the harmonic mean we negated
any Null”, values in the array of normalised
scores.
15
16. Plan India
Methodology
As a final step, for each dimension and GVI, the ranks have been calculated using a formula
for statistical ranks.
The states are given a rank of 1 to 30, 1 being the state with the best performance and 30
being the state with the worst performance.
Step 6: Ranking the states based on GVI and Dimension Values
The GVI is presented as a single figure at the country level, further estimations are presented
for each state, by each dimension as well as at the level of the country.
Using The Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI), with 170 indicators, we can identify our current
status across the four dimensions of Education, Health, Poverty and Protection, and draw
integrated conclusions.
22. Plan India22
District Vulnerability Index and SDG Tracker
• Based on the Key Dimensions ; Indicators will be selected which
are in sync with SDGs.
• SDGs Index for the district will be calculated with GVI
dimensions as a prima face
• An Online SDG tracker tool for districts will be developed based
on index scores
• Any one can access the tool and input the data as and when
updated to see the status .
24. Plan India24
Current Indicators of GVI aligned to SDG
SDG No of Indicators
Clean Water and Sanitation 1
Decent Work and Economic Growth 3
Gender Equality 30
Good Health and Well Being 53
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 2
No Poverty 7
Quality Education 69
Zero Hunger 6
Grand Total 171
26. Plan India26
SDG Index : Weighted methods
26
SDGs covered in Index and Tracker
(10% weightage)
<25 25-50 51-75 75>
SDGs Not
covered in Index
27. Plan India27
SDG Tracker Example – SDG 4 :Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys
complete free, equitable and quality primary
and secondary education leading to relevant
and effective learning outcomes
Proportion of children and young people:
(a) in grades 2/3
(b) at the end of primary; and
(c) at the end of lower secondary achieving
at least a minimum proficiency level in (i)
reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.
4.2. By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have
access to quality early childhood development,
care and pre-primary education so that they
are ready for primary education
Proportion of children under 5 years of age
who are developmentally on track in health,
learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex
.
% of children received Pre- Primary
Education
4.3. By 2030, ensure equal access for all women
and men to affordable and quality technical,
vocational and tertiary education, including
university
- % of women completed ten years of
schooling
4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of
youth and adults who have relevant skills,
including technical and vocational skills, for
employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
- Proportion of girls and young women who
has got a technical training with regard to
information and communications technology
(ICT) skills
28. Plan India28
SDG Tracker Example – SDG 4 :Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
4.5. By 2030, eliminate gender disparities
in education and ensure equal access
to all levels of education and
vocational training for the vulnerable,
including persons with disabilities,
indigenous peoples and children in
vulnerable situations
% increase in Gender Parity in
- Primary
- Secondary
- Higher Secondary
4.6. By 2030, ensure that all youth and a
substantial proportion of adults, both
men and women, achieve literacy and
numeracy
- % of girls achieving with minimum grade
specific literacy and numeracy skills.
4.7. By 2030, ensure that all learners
acquire the knowledge and skills
needed to promote sustainable
development, including, among
others, through education for
sustainable development and
sustainable lifestyles, human rights,
gender equality, promotion of a culture
of peace and non-violence, global
citizenship and appreciation of cultural
diversity and of culture’s contribution
to sustainable development.
29. Plan India29
SDG Tracker Example – SDG 4 :Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
4.a. Build and upgrade education facilities
that are child, disability and gender
sensitive and provide safe, non-violent,
inclusive and effective learning
environments for all
-% of schools with access to: (a) electricity; (b) the Internet for
pedagogical purposes; (c) computers for pedagogical purposes;
(d) adapted infrastructure and materials for students with
disabilities; (e) basic drinking water; (f) single sex basic
sanitation facilities.
4.b. By 2020, substantially expand globally
the number of scholarships available to
developing countries, in particular least
developed countries, small island
developing States and African countries,
for enrolment in higher education,
including vocational training and
information and communications
technology, technical, engineering and
scientific programmes, in developed
countries and other developing
countries
-% increase in girls accessing the schools related to educational
development
4.c. By 2030, substantially increase the
supply of qualified teachers, including
through international cooperation for
teacher training in developing countries,
especially least developed countries and
small island developing States
- Proportion of teachers in:
(a) pre-primary; / (b) primary;/ (c) lower secondary
(d) upper secondary education who have received at least the
minimum organized teacher training (e.g. pedagogical training)
pre-service or in-service required for teaching
(a) pre-primary / (b) primary / (c) lower secondary
(d) upper secondary education who have received at least the
minimum organized teacher training (e.g. pedagogical training) .
30. Plan India
Limitation: There is very little data in multiple dimensions
and the data points are very few like one or two indicators.
Addressing the same: few dimensions have been aligned
to the nearest domain taking in to account that the few
dimensions have only little data , for instance the data on
digitalisation vulnerabilities have only two indicators , hence
the same has been considered under protection.
30
Step 2 : Limitations and addressing the same
32. Plan India32
Limitations of the Index:
The values are normalised and indexed , hence there will be
variations when the same is seen with actual data sets
The GVI and final ranking is based on normalised values, the ranks
generated with actual data may vary.
If there are minute differences in the values of normalised values
they may not be reflected
As the data sources vary and different timelines have been used,
standard statistical tests can’t be administered on the data sets.
These indices are calculated based on the available secondary data;
no primary data has been collected and further the quality of the
data is subjective.
Conceptually, we limit ourselves to view vulnerability of girls and
women as intrinsic, without drawing comparisons between other
indices
37. Plan India37
Percentage of Households Practicing Open Defecation
0
20
40
60
80
100
Goa(1)
Kerala(2)
Mizoram(3)
Sikkim(4)
Manipur(5)
HimachalPradesh(6)
Karnataka(7)
Punjab(8)
Maharashtra(9)
TamilNadu(10)
Telangana(11)
AndhraPradesh(12)
Uttarakhand(13)
Nagaland(14)
Chhattisgarh(15)
Gujarat(16)
Tripura(17)
WestBengal(18)
Haryana(19)
JammuandKashmir(20)
Meghalaya(21)
Rajasthan(22)
Odisha(23)
Assam(24)
MadhyaPradesh(25)
ArunachalPradesh(26)
Jharkhand(27)
Delhi(28)
UttarPradesh(29)
Bihar(30)
Households Practicing Open Defecation (%)
GVI
States are ranked as per GVI rank (in parentheses)
Top 8 states Bottom 8 states
States with low GVI has higher percentage
of households practicing open defecation
38. Plan India38
Relation between Women Education and Open Defecation
States are ranked as per GVI rank (in parentheses)
GVI
0
20
40
60
80
100
Goa(1)
Kerala(2)
Mizoram(3)
Sikkim(4)
Manipur(5)
HimachalPradesh(6)
Karnataka(7)
Punjab(8)
Maharashtra(9)
TamilNadu(10)
Telangana(11)
AndhraPradesh(12)
Uttarakhand(13)
Nagaland(14)
Chhattisgarh(15)
Gujarat(16)
Tripura(17)
WestBengal(18)
Haryana(19)
JammuandKashmir(20)
Meghalaya(21)
Rajasthan(22)
Odisha(23)
Assam(24)
MadhyaPradesh(25)
ArunachalPradesh(26)
Jharkhand(27)
Delhi(28)
UttarPradesh(29)
Bihar(30)
Women with 10 or more years of schooling (%) Households Practising Open Defecation (%)
Top 8 states Bottom 8 states
More years of education creates the
awareness to reduce open defecation
and resulted in high GVI
39. Plan India39
Relation between Women Education and Child Marriage
0
20
40
60
80
100
Goa(1)
Kerala(2)
Mizoram(3)
Sikkim(4)
Manipur(5)
HimachalPradesh(6)
Karnataka(7)
Punjab(8)
Maharashtra(9)
TamilNadu(10)
Telangana(11)
AndhraPradesh(12)
Uttarakhand(13)
Nagaland(14)
Chhattisgarh(15)
Gujarat(16)
Tripura(17)
WestBengal(18)
Haryana(19)
JammuandKashmir(20)
Meghalaya(21)
Rajasthan(22)
Odisha(23)
Assam(24)
MadhyaPradesh(25)
ArunachalPradesh(26)
Jharkhand(27)
Delhi(28)
UttarPradesh(29)
Bihar(30)
Women with 10 or more years of schooling (%)
Women aged 20-24 years who were married before the age of 18 years (%)
States are ranked as per GVI rank (in parentheses)
GVI
Top 8 states Bottom 8 states
More years of education delays in
early marriage that resulted in higher
GVI
40. Plan India40
Participation of married women in household decisions
0
20
40
60
80
100
Goa(1)
Kerala(2)
Mizoram(3)
Sikkim(4)
Manipur(5)
HimachalPradesh(6)
Karnataka(7)
Punjab(8)
Maharashtra(9)
TamilNadu(10)
Telangana(11)
AndhraPradesh(12)
Uttarakhand(13)
Nagaland(14)
Chhattisgarh(15)
Gujarat(16)
Tripura(17)
WestBengal(18)
Haryana(19)
JammuandKashmir(20)
Meghalaya(21)
Rajasthan(22)
Odisha(23)
Assam(24)
MadhyaPradesh(25)
ArunachalPradesh(26)
Jharkhand(27)
Delhi(28)
UttarPradesh(29)
Bihar(30)
% of women currently married who usually participate in household decisions (%)
States are ranked as per GVI rank (in parentheses)
GVI
Top 8 states Bottom 8 states
41. Plan India41
A regional perspective to the GVI
Overall GVI
Goa
Kerala
Mizoram
Sikkim
Manipur
Himachal Pradesh
Manipur
Mizoram
Tamil Nadu
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
Meghalaya
Karnataka
Poverty Protection
Goa
Jammu and Kashmir
Himachal Pradesh
Punjab
Tripura
Nagaland
MizoramSmall
States
States with higher ranks
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
Sikkim
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Health Education
Himachal Pradesh
Sikkim
Punjab
Maharashtra
Goa
42. Plan India42
Do the states perform consistently?
POVERTY
PROTECTION
EDUCATION
HEALTH
GVI
Goa 8 1 5 6 1
Kerala 12 11 7 1 2
Mizoram 2 7 13 9 3
Sikkim 18 8 2 3 4
Manipur 1 13 17 10 5
Himachal
Pradesh 15 3 1 15 6
Arunachal
Pradesh 20 17 29 25 26
Jharkhand 26 12 28 28 27
Uttar
Pradesh 29 29 19 27 28
Delhi 21 28 30 24 29
Bihar 30 24 25 30 30
BestPerformersPoorestperformers
Goa, the highest ranking
state performs consistently
well
Bihar. ranks the lowest and
performs poorly across
almost all indicators
Although the dimensions
are interrelated, a good
rank does NOT imply good
performance across the
board