The literacy rate for women in India was just 54.5%, compared to 76.9% for men. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India), only around 40% of girls under 14 are not in education. A prominent cause of this is that the status of women in India is lesser than that of men. In many cases, girls have their marriages arranged by their parents at very young ages and this can mean they have to compensate their education in order to care and support their husband.
Although it is written in India's constitution that women are legal citezens and have equal rights to men, the social normaties and traditions still suggest that women are less important than men.
Could this therefore suggest that the best way for the government to help improve the status of Indian women is to encourage and support the education of girls in schools. A girl who is well educated is likely to have far greater prospects in the future. Many women become dependant on their husbands for income and would not be able to survive alone even if they wanted a divorce. An educated woman however, would be more likely to find a good job and be able to gain financial independence.
This article supports the need for the equality of women in India:
http://global_india1.tripod.com/current.htm
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