Read the following Paragraph.
If a community does not stress the importance of sending its girl children to school, many opportunities will be lost to these young women when they grow up. Their career choices will be severely curtailed and this would affect other aspects of their lives.
Which of the pillar of human development is denied here to the girls.?

Sustainability

The correct answer is option 2: Sustainability

NCERT directly gives the same example under the heading “Sustainability”:

NCERT: "Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities. All environmental, financial and human resources must be used keeping in mind the future. Misuse of any of these resources will lead to fewer opportunities for future generations. For e.g. If a community does not stress the importance of sending its girl children to school, many opportunities will be lost to these young women when they grow up. Their career choices will be severely curtailed and this would affect other aspects of their lives. So each generation must ensure the availability of choices and opportunities to its future generations."

Other Options:

Option 1 : Equity — Equity means equal access to opportunities irrespective of gender, caste, income, etc. Although the example indirectly relates to inequality faced by girls, NCERT has specifically placed this example under the explanation of sustainability, not equity.

Option 3 : Productivity — Productivity refers to improving human labour efficiency by enhancing people’s capabilities through education and health. The paragraph is not focusing on work efficiency or output.

Option 4 : Empowerment — Empowerment means having the power and freedom to make choices. While education can lead to empowerment, the paragraph mainly stresses preserving opportunities for future life, which NCERT categorises under sustainability.