Women in smaller states have better access to healthcare, education: Report

Goa, where girls are least vulnerable overall, ranks first on protection, fifth on education, sixth on health

Small states occupied six of the top 10 positions on a new gender vulnerability index (GVI) that ranked states by women’s status on education, health, poverty and protection from birth to 18 years.

“Poor nutrition and education at birth can correspond to much more than just economic and health consequences in [a girl’s] future,” Plan India, the India chapter of Surrey, UK-based child rights advocacy Plan International, said in its first Gender Vulnerability Index Report.

“Most, if not all, of these challenges are hand in glove.”

The index scores go from zero