According to a recent study conducted by the World Bank (2019-20), 67.6 per cent of females aged between 15 to 49 years in Karnataka own a house or land, solely or jointly with other family members.
The number is quite high in several states in the country as well. In states like Maharashtra, the ownership figure stands at 22.9 per cent, 43.5 per cent in Odisha, 43.6 per cent in Gujarat and 22.7 per cent in Delhi, as of 2019-20. While the national average stands at 43.3 per cent, the numbers in Karnataka have taken an interesting turn with the property ownership proportion rising by over 15 per cent as compared to 2015-16.
Based on this observation and its implication on women’s autonomy and independence, it shows that not only has it enhanced their ability to travel to places outside the community but it also allows them to make decisions on key issues like employment, health and finances.