CRITICAL EVALUATION OF PLANS OF SOCIAL SECTORS

Population and Family Welfare

Population control and family welfare has been an important part of local and district planning to reduce growth rate of population, reduce infant mortality rate and provide nutrient food to pregnant ladies and mothers of infant child so that more healthy population growth may be achieved. For this purpose plan outlay on family welfare has been increased for the country as a whole from Rs. 31208 crore in Seventh Plan to Rs. 65000 crores in Eight Plan. In Ninth and Tenth Plan there has not been separate allocation for family welfare; it has been merged with social services. In plans before Seventh Plan family welfare has been merged with health. But beginning from First Plan Uttar Pradesh along with other states has given adequate attention to reduce birth and death rates and made programmes for healthy families. However, in Uttar Pradesh population growth rate has been higher than all-India (Table 8.1) in recent decades. Table 8.1: Population Growth Rate in U.P. Compared with all-India (Rates in percentages) Census U.P. All-India 1951 16.44 18.65 1961 1981 1991 19.54 25.39 25.61 24.80 24.65 23.87

2001 25.85 21.54 Source: Registrar General of India. Note: U.P. population growth rate after 2001 is estimated at 20 percent which is higher than all India average of 1.9 percent. During 1951-61 population growth in U.P. at 16.49 percent has been lower than all-India growth of 18.65 percent. During 1961-71 also U.P.'s growth of population was lower than that of India as a whole but after 1971 U.P. population has been growing faster than all-

India and during 1991-2001, the gap has increased. The faster growth of U.P. population in last three decades and after 2001 can be either due to higher fertility of women in U.P. or due to increase in migration or lesser use of contraceptives. There is no reason to believe that in last 30 years migration to U.P. has increased. Actually due to employment opportunities outside U.P. more people are leaving the state. Hence, higher growth of population in U.P. as compared to all India is basically due to higher birth rates in U.P. coupled with fall in death rates. In order to find out success or failure of family planning some persons were contacted. According to them after emergency of 1975 was lifted in 1977 couples produced children with vengeance who were scared during emergency period. Hence for decade of 1971-81 rate of population growth of U.P. exceeded that of all-India. It is because poor persons do not believe in family planning because they feel that more hands will mean more persons to earn. Further, Muslim community which accounts for 14 percent of population of U.P. do not believe in family planning so all the programmes of family planning have failed in illiterate rural U.P. So far only in cities and towns people are taking to family planning. The programmes of operations, condoms etc. have reached to a very limited extent to rural U.P. The second part of family welfare is that of infant mortality rate which should comedown. In this respect also U.P. has very low position at 28th rank (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2: Infant Mortality Rate in U.P. Year 1961 U.P. 131 128 130 Males Females (per 000 births) Total

All India 2002 U.P. All India 2003 U.P. All India 2006 U.P.

122 76 62 69 57 70

108 84 65 84 64 73

115 80 63 76 60 71

All India 56 59 57 Source: Economic Survey 2007-08 from data released by Registrar General of India, page 5-115. It is evident from Table 8.2 that between 1961-2006 infant mortality rate t in U.P. has declined from 130 per thousand birth in 1961 to 71 in 2006 but it is much higher than lowest in Kerala where in 2006 it was only 10 and in last 42 years there has been much faster improvement than in U.P. in India as a whole. As mortality rate is highly correlated with health facilities, and poverty U.P. could not achieve similar results as some other states. Life expectancy at birth in U.P. during 1996-2002 at 59.1 years is lower than allIndia average of 62.5 years and the highest of 73.9 years in Kerala perhaps because of high literacy rate and higher per capita income as compared to U.P. It seems that low family welfare in U.P. should not be blamed to failure of plan programmes alone. It is combination of many factors as poor response of people to family planning, low level of education and high rate of poverty which all has contributed for low achievement in family welfare in U.P. than what is desired.

Education and Literacy

There has been considerable improvement in education facilities and literacy rate in U.P. over the years. Even in short period of four years (2000-01 to 2004-05) the number of primary / basic schools has gone up from 97886 in 2000-011 to 129976 in 2005-06 showing a growth of 32.78 percent due to plan efforts. Now every village has a school within a distance of 1 to 3 km. There has been increase in middle and senior level and higher education institutes also (Table 8.3). Table 8.3: Growth of Educational Institutes in U.P. in Recent Years Type of Recognized Education Institute
l. Primary / Junior Basic Schools 2. Middle / Senior Basic Schools 3. High Schools / Senior Intermediate Schools 4. Colleges for General Education 5. Professional Education Institutes 6. Universities / Deemed Universities 97886 22119 9918 758 189 30 129976 36876 12706 1729 5179 5179

2000-01

2005-06

Percent Change
32.78 61.49 28.11 128.10 2640.21 17163.33

Source: Economic Survey 2007-08. It is clear from Table 8.3 that there has been phenomenal increase in Primary, Junior, Middle and Senior basis schools. This increase is much greater than increase in the population of the state which suggests that adequate facilities have been created for education up to middle school (eighth class) education but at higher level there has been reduction in number of institutions at high school level because in some schools there were not enough students. There has been steep decline in number of professional education institute but in recent years it has been more than compensated by setting up large number of colleges in the private sector especially in Western U.P. districts for teaching management and engineering education but for other professional education especially medical acute shortage continues. In Table 8.4 enrolment of girls and boys in the age group of 6 to 14 years is given from which it is clear that percentage of girls sent to school is much less than boys, both for

primary and secondary education because of reluctance of parents to send their children to schools. Hence, it is not enough to open schools but children should enroll themselves for studies. With an increase in educational facilities literacy rate in U.P. has gone up steeply from 12.02 percent in 1951 to 56.27 percent in 2001 (Table 8.5). Though it is a big improvement but in 2001 U.P.'s literacy rate is much below 90.86 percent of Kerala and 64.84 percent for all-India (Table 8.5).
Table 8.4 Enrollment Ratio in Classes I-VIII in Uttar Pradesh in 2005-06

Rate Class I-V (6-11 Years) Class VI-VIII (11-14 Years) Boys 110.63 57.82 Girls 14.15 46.29

Source: Ministry of Human Resource Government of India - Selected Education statistics.

Table 8.5: Trend in Literacy Rate of Uttar Pradesh (1951-2001) Year 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 Uttar Pradesh 12.02 20.87 23.99 32.65 40.71 All-India 18.33 28.30 34.45 43.57 52.21 Highest Kerala 47.18 55.08 59.75 78.85 89.81 90.86 UP as % of All-India 65.58 73.75 69.64 74.94 71.97 79.0

2001 56.27 64.84 Source: Registrar General of India.

It will be observed from Table 8.5 that, over the years gap in literacy rate of U.P. and India has declined in last fifty years. While in 1951 U.P., literacy rate was 65.58 percent of all-India in 2001 the gap has narrowed down when U.P. literacy rate has increased to 79.07 percent of all-India. However, U.P. literacy rate at 56.27 percent was much lower then 90.86 percent for Kerala which may be said to be fully literate state. In Tale 8.6 various aspects of education and literacy are given based on survey from which following points emerge. 1. The parents are not satisfied with the quality of education imparted in government schools because in some places there is no proper building, there is lack of desks and chairs and often teachers are absent because of which education suffers. Moreover, in many schools teachers take long time and education suffers because substitute is rarely provided. 2. The level of dissatisfaction in more for higher classes which forces parents to send their wards to private schools even in rural areas. Same is the case with general education colleges but wards are satisfied with professional colleges. However in the opinion of public their number is far too small in relation to demand which results that many students are not able to get admission. 3. The number of schools is adequate but the reason of low literacy is that wards of U.P. do not send all their children to school specially girls because of certain inhibition. It is felt that there is no need for higher education to girl child.
Table 8.6: Education and Literacy Survey of Western Uttar Pradesh

Number of Respondents

200 Percent of Respondents

1. Are you satisfied with the quality of education in government primary schools?

Yes No

12 88

2. Are you satisfied with middle level schools of government? Yes No 3. Are you satisfied with government general colleges? Yes No 3 97 7 93

4. Are you satisfied with professional institutions of government? Yes No 91 9

5. Do you feel that number of junior level institutions adequate? Yes No 94 6

6. Do you feel that number of general education colleges adequate? Yes No 17 83

7. Are you satisfied with number of colleges for professional education (public and private)? Yes 94

No 8. What are the reasons for your dissatisfaction? (a) (b) (c) All the students who want to take admission are not admitted Classes are over crowded Many areas of State do not have adequate facilities

100 100 98

9. Do you send all your children in the age group of 6-11 years to school? Yes No 39 61

10. Do you send your ward in the age group of 11 to 14 years to school? Yes No 11. Why do you not send your children to schools? (a) Education is not useful in life (b) Children help family in earning (c) Girl children do not need education 75 39 43 40 60

Health
Heath is considered wealth and U.P. planners also so believed and have made an ambition plan as discussed in Chapter 3. It was decided that there should be primary health centers for all by 2000. It was planned to establish one sub centre for primary health care for 5000 rural population and one sub center for 3000 population in internal areas. It was also decided to have one Primary Health Centre with a MBBS doctor for

every 30,000 rural population in plains and one for every 20,000 persons in hilly, tribal, backward and difficult areas. But even in 2006 targets have not been fully achieved and more important issue is that quality of services is very poor. The subentries lack in basic facilities of a proper building for a center and other infrastructure. Primary Health Centre has to be visited regularly by a qualified MBBS doctor as per programme. But there are many places where no doctors are available either because of shortage of doctors or frequent leave by doctors. Most of the times prescribed medicines are not available and patients, therefore, are forced to buy medicines from the market. The cleanliness, proper toilets, equipment other accessories and staff also lacks.

Table 8.7: Evaluation of Status of Sub Centre and Primary Health Centre in U.P. Number of Respondents 1. Is there public health Sub centre within a reasonable distance from your place Yes No 2. Is there a Public Health Centre near your village? Yes No 3. Are you satisfied with the facilities / services available in your sub centre? Yes No 37 63 87 13 93 7 20 0

4. If you are not satisfied with sub centre what are its deficiencies? (i) Building is very shabby & dirty (ii) There is shortage of equipment (iii) Tables and other infrastructure is very poor and dirty (iv) Staff often is absent (v) Staff is discourteous (vi) There is shortage of bandages and prescribed medicines 5. Are you satisfied with public health center of your locality? Yes No 6. If you are dissatisfied what are the reasons for you dissatisfaction? (i) (ii) Poor building Poor furniture and other infrastructure 9 91 92 98 91 32 79 67

92 98 90 87 89 57 43 97

(iii) Dirty toilets (iv) Dirty linens (v) Doctor does not visit regularly allocated is often out of service (vi) Necessary equipment is not available and whatever is (vii) Prescribed medicines are not available in the stock (viii) Junior staff is discourteous

It was decided to establish one Community Health Centre (CHC) with specialist facilities for treatment of rural masses either for one lakh population or for four Public Health Centre. But so far target has not been achieved and those which have been set up have a number of deficiencies which in brief are as under: 1. There is not adequate minimum infrastructure for diagnosis like pathology lab, ECG machine, X-ray machine which are minimum necessities.

2. The equipment supplied is often out of service, forcing patients to get diagnosis by private centers by paying though their nose. 3. There is lack of cleanness. 4. There is shortage of staff, medicines, beds, linen and supporting staff causing great inconvenience to patients. It was planned in Sixth Plan of U.P. to have 200 bedded hospitals in each district having population upto 10 lakhs, 300 bedded hospitals in each district having a population of above ten lakhs and 500 bedded hospital at divisional headquarters. But none of these targets have been achieved. In last 57 years in U.P. only four medical colleges have been added at Jhansi, Allahabad, Kanpur and Meerut in the public sector and at Meerut, Ghaziabad and Bareilly in the private sector. At present out of 70 districts only nine districts have medical colleges. There are other 58 districts with populations of 10 lakhs or more each; none of these districts have 300 bedded State hospital leaving the public at the mercy of private doctors and hospitals and where they have been established they have a number of deficiencies which were as under: 1. Most of the hospitals are overcrowded and so doctors are not available to examine patients properly. 2. All the hospitals lack modern equipment like ultrasound, angiography and other equipment. 3. The pathology laboratories are highly inadequate in number of technicians and equipment. 4. Number of doctors have increased very slowly and are not adequate to care for all the patients who visit these hospitals. 5. There are only a few district hospitals who have specialists for specific diseases and general physicians look after all patients.

6. When any doctor goes on leave a substitute is not provided and patients suffer. 7. Linens, beds etc. are very dirty and often are not replaced when they need to be replaced or require repair. 8. When any equipment goes out of order it takes very long time to get it repaired and in the mean time patients are forced to visit private clines for diagnosis. 9. There is shortage of medicines most of the time and even poor persons are forced to buy them from chemists. 10. The behaviour of staff many a times is not courteous and sympathetic. In state and center plans special efforts are required to control blindness, TB leprosy, malaria and other communicable diseases. In this respect efforts are far from adequate. Number of cases of contract treated every year is less than new cases. Hence backlog instead of declining is increasing. In case of malaria state has completely failed to eradicate the disease but in case of leprosy and TB. There has been considerable success.

Labour and Employment

Is per 2001 census in U.P. there were 5.30 crore workers in a population of 16.61 crore that is 31.91 percent of total population. Out of total workers 65.8 percent are employed in agriculture (cultivators plus labourers). Employment in household industry is of 5.6 percent of total; the rest 25.5 percent are employed in other activities (Table 8.8). Table 8.8: Employment in U.P. as per 2001 Census Total Workers (Crores) Categories of Workers (Percentage of Total) Cultivators 41.1 42.7 Agriculture Labour 24.7 20.1 Household Industry Workers 5.6 4.7 All Others 28.5 32.5 Source: Registrar General of India 36.1 39.6 8.3 16.0 Total 5.30 Males 4.10 Females 1.20

It is a point to be noted that cut of total workers 27.1 percent are marginal workers who get employment only when extra hands are needed during sowing and harvesting season. Further, as would be noted from table 8.9 even in Western Uttar Pradesh there is high incidence of unemployment of educated persons; the situation in other parts of the state is expected to be worse.

Table 8.9: Status of Unemployment in Districts of Agra, Mathura and Meerut of Educated Persons Agra Mathura Meerut Number of Respondents 75 75 75 Percentage of Respondents 1. Are You employed? Yes 50 42 58 82 18 60 40 95 5 No 50 2. Are you employed throughout the year? Yes No 3. Are you satisfied with your pay scale? Yes 5 4 96 11 89 No 95 4. Are you Satisfied with the nature of your job? Yes No 73 27 78 22 65 35 90 10

5. How long are you employed? (a) Six months or less (b) Six months or one year (c) One year to two years (d) Over two years 21 16 49 14 15 20 51 14 11 23 58 8

The survey suggests that 40 to 58 percent of educated youth surveyed are employed for a period of six months over two years. The largest numbers of educated persons who are unemployed fall in the bracket of one year to two years. There is Minimum Wages Act for workers. The survey suggests that except in peek season unskilled workers are not being paid minimum wages. Further, most of the workers do not get work round the year. In rural areas they get work only when there is season of season of sowing and harvesting and rest of the year there is little work. (Table 8.10) Table 8.10 Status of Unskilled Workers in Uttar Pradesh Number of Respondents 1. Do you get work throughout the year? Yes No 2. Which are the months when do you get work? (i) Sowing season of crops (ii) Harvesting season (iii) Other Seasons 3. Are you a construction worker? Yes No 4. Are you able to get work round the year as construction 12 88 95 100 20 24 76 200 Percentage

worker? Yes No 5. What are the periods of year when you do not get employed? Rainy Season Other Season 6. Are you getting wages as prescribed by government of U.P? Yes No. Do not know 7. Are there improvement in employment opportunities during last five years of employment? Yes No. Do not know 81 12 9 27 61 12 87 13 15 85

Poverty Elevation
The basic purpose of all the five-year plans, whether of states or center, has been to gradually remove poverty so that every citizen of India may live comfortable life. However, these efforts have miserably failed specially in Uttar Pradesh. Incidence of poverty is estimated by the Planning Commission on the basis of the large scale sample surveys on household consumer expenditure conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation. The latest such survey relates to the 55th round conducted in 1999-2000 and no official estimates are available beyond this date. The next official estimates of poverty incidence will be based on the NSSO round of large scale sample survey conducted in

2004-05, results of which were expected in 2006-07 but have not been released as yet. According to 1999-2000 data U.P. was 10th Poorest State in terms of poverty with 31.15 percent population below the poverty line as against national average of 26.10 percent. There are twenty states where poverty rates are below national average and in eight states namely Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Goa and J & K is below ten percent. Between 1997-78 and 1999-2000 the poverty rate for the country as a whole has declined from 51.3 percent in 1977-78 to 26.1 percent in 19992000 but rate of poverty reduction in U.P. has been very slow. In U.P. poverty rate declined by less than nine percent from 40 percent in 1993-94 to 31.15 percent in 19992000 and continues to be above all India average even in later years as per discussions with government officials. The numbers of states have been successful in significantly reducing the incidence of poverty by improving productivity of agriculture, faster development of industrial and service sectors and greater success in poverty removal programmes. Actually in many districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh poverty rote is much higher than the average and these districts have poverty rate equal to Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. In order to reduce poverty rate over the years anti-poverty programmes have been strengthened to generate additional employment, create productive assets, improve productivity of agriculture, improve technical and entrepreneurial skills, raise the income level of poor, strengthen cottage and rural industries and encouraging setting up more small, medium and large scale industries in the State. A number of programmes have been started for rural development, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Sampoorna Gram Razgar Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Udaya Yojana, Antyodaya Anan Yojana, Annapurana, Indira Vikas Yojana, Jaiprakash Rozgar Guarantee Yojana, Swaran Jayanti Sahari Rozgar Yojana, Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana etc. The U.P. has lagged behind because of two factors. First, allocation to U. P. has not been in relation to its overall poor

population. Secondly targets could not be achieved because state government could not allocate its financial quota and authorities have been lethargic in implementation of programmes. Further, politicalisation of most of the schemes and frequent changes in government has also resulted in slow progress. The main employment generating sector has been agriculture followed by trade and other services. In view of lack of intensive cultivation in central, Eastern and Bundelkhand regions of U.P. the employment in agricultural sector has grown very slowly and in the years when there have been floods there has been negative growth in employment generation in rural sectors. Moreover, growth of trade, industry and service sectors could not be achieved. As a combined result of all these factors per capita income of U.P. has remained one of the lowest in India as discussed in earlier chapters. Moreover, poor, ignorant and literate persons have not paid due attention to family welfare and planning because of which poverty rate in Uttar Pradesh continues to be high as compared to India as a whole and neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation

As per data made available the State Government all the villages have been provided safe drinking water but as per housing census of 2001, 10 percent villagers are required to bring water from far away places from their houses. The problem of water continues to require attention in Bundelkhand region. Sensation facilities are far from adequate for which partly state government is responsible. Today even in towns served by Nagar Nigams there is not proper system of disposal of waste. It stinks in residential colonies. The position in smaller towns and villages is worst where as yet only at few places there is drainage system, and at most of the places there is no drainage and waste disposal system causing diseases and abs noxious atmosphere.

Housing

As per 2001 census In U.P. there are 3.43 crore houses for a population of 16.61 crore that is one house for every 4.84 persons which means that every family of 5 persons has a house but the position is not satisfactory. Out of total houses only 3.30 crore houses me occupied and out of them only 2.42 crore are being used for residential purposes which means that there is one house for 6.86 persons and some persons have more than one house. There is also serious problem of slums in towns and cities of the state like Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi etc. Moreover, in places where there are adequate number of houses 29.1 percent are made of grass, bamboos etc. which is very risky and every year they are subject to fire risk. There are other 31.8 percent houses of tiles, slate, and metal and asbestos sheets and stone which are not comfortable during summer season (Table 8.11). Table 8.11: Quality of Houses in U.P. S. No Material of Roof Number of Houses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Grass thatch, bamboos, wood etc. Plastic, ply Tiles Slate Metal, asbestos sheets Bricks Stone Concrete Other Materials 247.60 Source: Registrar General of India Further, it may be noted that 68.5 percent of houses do not have latrine and in 49 percent houses there is no separate kitchen. It seems that in the matter of providing latrine state (Lakh) 74.97 1.04 48.68 1.59 2.41 71.41 29.38 27.31 6.81 Percent % of total houses 29.1 0.4 18.9 0.6 0.9 27.7 11.4 10.6 0.4 100.00

has failed miserably, causing problem of sanitation and privacy. In villages ladies, children and males have to go to jungle for easing out or children are asked to ease near house causing problem of sanitation. Further, if one looks to achievement under various schemes of house construction like Indira Awas Vikas Yojana, EWS Scheme, Slum dwellers houses the achievement year after year is far below target. In case of Sulabh latrines achievements are very poor forcing people to go in open for latrine.

Empowerment of Social Disadvantage Groups

In our country some persons do not get all facilities enjoyed by rest of the society based on caste, religion, sex, age, level of income, physical disabilities or for some other reasons. These persons are called a disadvantageous group which is against the principle of Indian constitution. Therefore, various, central, state and district plans have made efforts to reduce social injustice by empowering socially disadvantageous groups but so far progress has been very slow throughout the country and Uttar Pradesh is no exception and Social injustice continuous to be in many forms. Article 17 has abolished untouchability and its practice in any form is not only for bidden but also punishable by law. However, it continues unabated especially in rural areas. The society is divided into various castes continues to be so even now and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes continue to be discriminated specially those who are poor and do not command any authority. As in Uttar Pradesh there are more poor persons they continue to be disadvantage groups. There have been occasions when there have been austerities on scheduled castes and other backward classes but those guilty have gone unpunished or got very little punishment.

Another historical fact for disadvantageous groups has been that small farmers have been in the clutches of land lords. Hence zamindari has been abolished but even now many of poor framers with small land holdings continue to b depressed and exploited by big farmers throughout U.P. Economic poverty and illiteracy are other causes of large under privileged population. State government has been successful in reducing illiteracy rate in U.P. as already discussed but Uttar Pradesh continues to be very poor which is one of the factors for high number of depressed persons. Physically a disability is another cause of disadvantage State government has taken mainly two steps in this direction. Firstly to help disabled persons to get free limbs and training them to do some jobs efficiently, in spite of disabilities. Secondly, in government jobs there is certain reservation of posts for disabled persons. However, there have been cases when even after selection they are not allowed to join posts and there have been cases when matter has to be reported to the Prime Minister but even then all of them have not got redressed. The discussions with some disadvantage groups and social reformers suggest that disabled persons continue to suffer. Empowerment of Women "The principles of gender equality and equity and protecting womens right have been prime concern in India thinking right from the days of independence1. But plan efforts have not succeeded and the problem is mare serious in Uttar Pradesh because of higher rate of illiteracy. It has been recommended in Ninth Plan that one-third of seats should be reserved for women in Parliament and state assemblies but so far matter could not be resolved because of differences in various political parties. In U.P., however in Panchayats one-third of seats have been reserved for women, which has been
1

Ninth five-Year Plan, page 313.

implemented. But it has been learnt that women are members on panchayat only but even now they continue to be dictated by their husband and very few women take independent decisions. The Ninth Plan and Tenth Plan have decided that not less than 30 percent of funds / benefits flow to women in other development sectors". But data has not been published about funds allocate for women welfare. It is not possible to say that to what extent they have benefited to. However, social groups and NGO's told to the researcher that due share is not being spent on welfare of women. To help women to take education special efforts are made for girl education. Government of U.P. made special efforts in this direction. In 2006 Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojana has been started under which 5.5 lakh intermediate girl student are given funds by U.P. Government and up to October 2006 Rs. 1100 crores have been distributed2. There are also facilities for free education for all girls up to B.A. However, due to apathy of parents even at primary level all the girls of age group of 6-14 years are not sent to school which is wholly due to thinking of parents toward educating girl child; but government of U.P. has created adequate facilities for their education. Special efforts have been made to provide credit to women entrepreneurs not, by state run institutions but also by banks but so far insignificant number of women have come forward to take to enterprises. A number of laws have been passed for empowering women in following areas, the Violence against women Gender sensitization
2

Advertisement Issued in November 2006 by Information and Public Relations Department of U.P.

 Dowry Prohibition Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act Immoral Traffic Prevention Act Moreover, there are problems of equality to women of certain minority groups specially Muslim Women who continue to suffer and U.P. government has not done anything to ensure equality to women in matters of marriages, divorce, freedom of movement because of special personal laws for them and apathy of state government to intervene.