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Emancipation of Women - Need of the Hour
By Sunny Singh
May 30, 2008 |
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Patna has
the distinction of being one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world with
a rich mosaic of different culture, beliefs and
social followings. It is a well accepted truth
that women today continue to play a marginal and
peripheral role in the overall national context
despite constituting almost half the population
with a critical role in production and social
processes and the condition of women in the
capital city is not an exception either.
There was never a spontaneous revolution against
the social establishment because the traditional
ethics and morality inherited from ages
prevented them from taking any decisive steps
against their parental linage; yet women always
have proved that they are of relevance and that
they are very competent and capable in all round
aspects of modern social framework.
Unfortunately such an uncalled bias is not only
inequitable but also hampers development with
high efficiency cost. For, no nation can sustain
its development if it under utilises its women
as a productive resource.
Even in an era of rapid modernization where
education has become the prime instrument to
rise above the hardships and leave a trail,
despite a heightened consciousness and a greater
awareness of role of women, the society seldom
treats its women as well as its men.
Consequently, women continue to suffer from
diverse deprivations. All this leaves one with
an uncomfortable feeling of frustration, of
opportunities missed and challenges avoided. The
discrimination against women is structural and
entrenched, reflected in the persistent pattern
of under-representation in Parliament,
administration, management, professional, and
technical work and share in earned income.
However it is equally true that very little has
been done in a constructive direction and that
the divide continues to exist. The correction of
this tradition of unhappy and unequal
development of women necessitates, focused
intervention targeting education, training,
child-care, health, nutrition, credit,
employment, welfare services support and legal
safeguards. Investing in women's capabilities
and empowering them is the surest way to enhance
overall development.
Historically, the role of women has increased
manifold. During India's struggle for
Independence, the contribution of women to the
national cause was significant. For, as Mahatma
Gandhi stressed, "subjugation and exploitation
of women was a product of man's vested teachings
and women's acceptance of them". It was, thus,
realised that political freedom must ultimately
lead to emancipation of women. Even no one can
ever forget the figures like the Rani Lakshmi
Bai whose dauntless determination and ability
has been an example for others to follow.
There was a time in Bihar too when women rose to
prominence in administration and politics;
former Union Minister Tarkeshwari Sinha, former
MP Kishori Sinha and bureaucrats like Krishna
Singh and Radha Singh (both IAS) did leave a
mark, but this was only restricted to social
elites. Even today, Union Minister Meira Kumar
and Shyama Singh, once a representative of the
Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency have proved
their worth equally well. It failed to descend
to the larger sections of the social network.
However, it is also true that, in traditionally
patriarchal societies any improvement in the
status of women has far-reaching consequences
and produces fundamental political changes.
Therefore it is always resisted by the
established powers. Obviously, it seems certain
that they will ultimately have to relent,
because the emancipation of women is both
necessary and desirable. It will provide for a
greater degree of social justice and thus
benefit everyone. Indeed, from the beginning,
the great "feminists" or champions of women's
rights have always insisted that they worked in
the interest of the whole human race. The
feminist movement therefore has always been a
humanist movement. Some of its representatives
were reformers, others revolutionaries, but
virtually all of them worked for a better, more
equitable, and more humane world. Much can be
learned from their experiences.
The attempts to provide complete equality to
women were not carried to their logical
conclusion necessitating their reinforcement by
tougher laws, stricter enforcement and exemplary
punishment. There is also a compelling need to
resolve certain basic issues about the
socialisation processes inherent in a
hierarchical society, resource and power
distribution patterns and cultural values.
Evidently, E-components — education, employment,
earnings, empowerment, entitlement to property
and effects of violence — as also health-care,
vulnerability of women to trafficking,
legislation to Advance Rights continue to be
important in India.
Reservation for women at the level of villages,
districts and local bodies was introduced to
empower roughly about a million women at the
village council level. But a situational
analysis reveals that the majority of positions
were cornered by men acting on behalf of women
and women continued to suffer from several de
facto inequities because of pronounced gender
bias in the complex socio-economic milieu.
Further, the scuttling, despite both a
functional and moral case, of the Constitutional
Amendment Bill seeking to reserve thirty three
per cent seats for women in national and state
legislatures restricted political participation
of women in the decision-making process.
The need for greater serious initiatives for
emancipation of women, exploratory questions
such as what development, development for whom
and when need to be raised. These questions are
not merely academic but are central to the
process of emerging development in India. This
necessitates an identification of the factors
responsible for impeding advancement of women,
such as inadequate access to housing and basic
services, limited support services and
technologies for reducing drudgery and
occupational health hazards and for enhancing
their productivity and devising a broad-based
strategic action plan for realisation of equal
partnership of men and women.
If the nation has to attain the ambition of
being a developed superpower; the upliftment of
women is indispensable to the current scenario.
We all must endeavour to put up a united
mechanism and work in positive direction.
Certainly together we can and we must make the
difference!
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Comments: |
Exceptional and heart-touching!
The article brought tears to my
eyes. I am an engineering student at
IIT, Madras; originally a native of
Patna. I have been brought up in
Patna. Really the methodical way in
which you have illuminated the topic
and suggested long term implications
is exemplary. Kudos to you sir! It
is because of some very good people
like you; the hope for a better
future remains intact. I am really
optimistic that this touching
article will certainly boost the
morale of women and motivate them to
come ahead. Prachi Sharma - May
30, 2008 |
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