The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) for 2023–24, released on Friday, highlights significant progress in Assam across education, digital access, and financial empowerment when compared to the previous NFHS-5 data from 2019–21. Initiatives such as the Orunodoi scheme have been credited with reducing spousal violence and enhancing women's dignity within households.
Educational and Digital Gains
Education levels have improved markedly. Women's schooling has increased by nearly eight percentage points, while men's schooling has risen by over six percentage points. Internet usage has more than doubled among both genders, reflecting the transformative impact of digital access in the region.
Decline in Child Marriage
Child marriage rates are declining, with fewer women marrying before age 18 and fewer men marrying before age 21.
Empowerment Indicators
Women's financial inclusion has seen notable improvements. Bank account ownership among women jumped by 13 percentage points, mobile phone usage rose by nearly 10 percentage points, and the use of hygienic menstrual protection among young women increased by 8 percentage points.
Challenges Remain
However, not all trends are positive. Women's participation in household decisions dropped by more than five percentage points, and property ownership increased only marginally.
Gender-Based Violence Reduction
The most striking change is in gender-based violence. Spousal violence has halved, declining by 16 percentage points from NFHS-5 levels. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed this decline to economic empowerment, stating, "I have said this many times, economic empowerment is one of the strongest tools for social change. Today, NFHS-6 data vindicates that belief. Assam has recorded a 16% decline in spousal violence against married women, with Orunodoi emerging as a key factor behind this change."
Work Participation and Health
Women's work participation has improved, with a 6.6 percentage point increase in paid employment. Health indicators also show positive trends: tobacco use fell by nearly 6 percentage points among women and 7 percentage points among men, while alcohol consumption declined slightly across both genders.
Conclusion
Overall, Assam's NFHS-6 data tells a story of rising education, digital access, and financial empowerment, with schemes like Orunodoi playing a significant role in reducing violence and strengthening dignity at home. The challenge ahead lies in ensuring women's voices in household decisions and expanding property ownership to make empowerment truly lasting.
