India Eco Summit: 'India at bottom half in man-woman equality index'

India may be the world's second fastest growing economy but when it comes to man-woman equality the country figures among the worst performers at 114th among 134 countries on the World Economic Forum rankings.

Worse, sharing concern of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen over female foeticide and 25 million "missing women" in India, the WEF has placed the country at the bottom of the table on health and survival issues, reflecting the huge gender gap.

The India Gender Gap Review 2009 released at the India Economic Summit here ranked the country at 114th position, behind Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal - showing thereby that women in these countries share resources with men more equally than in India.

The Geneva-based international organisation, known for its global conferences and studies, has made strong remarks against the wide inequalities between the health facilities extended to males and females.

"We find that there are still persistent gaps in health and survival, a fact that contributes to India's 'missing' women," it said.

It said close to 300 Indian women die every day during childbirth or of pregnancy-related causes, and the country has the worst sex ratios at birth in the world, ranking 131st on this variable.

Participating in a session on female talent at the IEF, PEPSICO Chairperson and CEO Indra Nooyi said, "If you do not treat women fare well, society will not progress."