|
|
March 8th, is observed as the
International Women's day. On this day, everybody, who is somebody,
tries to show his concern for the fair sex. It is so, right from the
street level politician at the lowest level, to the President, Prime
Minister, Governors, Chief Ministers, at the highest level.
Concerned bureaucrats dealing with women, try to beat the other in
their expression of love and concern for women. The first
International Women's Day or IWD was observed on March 19, 1911 in
Germany, Austria, Denmark and some other European countries. This
date was chosen by German women because, on that date in 1848, the
Prussian king, faced with an armed uprising, had promised many
reforms, including an unfulfilled one of votes for women.
It was during International Women's Year in 1975, IWD was given
official recognition by the United Nations. From then onwards, many
governments who had not, previously known of its existence, started
observing it. International Woman's day has inspired many women's
movements in the world. It was in 1982, that women in Iran did
courageously discard their veils on IWD. Though its impact has not
been uniform, bu it still has its influence. Women in Taiwan are
awarded an extra day's holiday by the government as part of a new
"Gender Equality Act". Under new legislation, women are entitled to
take a day off a month during their menstrual period, and those who
suffer miscarriages can take five days to four weeks off. Men and
women can apply for up to two years' maternity leave.
In India, though position is not, as it should ideally be, women are
occupying some of top-of-the-line manager's jobs including that of
the Governors, Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries to the
governments, Secretaries to the Government, Additional Secretaries,
Income tax and Customs Commissioners, Inspectors Generals of Police,
Deputy Commissioners, the Superintendent of Police. However in all
sectors, and government jobs, women will always have to prove
themselves. They have to work doubly, as hard as men, in order to
carve a niche for themselves. It is a fact that traditionally men
have enjoyed greater positions of prestige and power than the women
all over the world. The opportunities in the world, largely belong
to men. But still Women's Day celebration is not a meaningless
exercise, though one day celebration does not change their status.
Nevertheless, it is an occasions when women all over the world,
share their thoughts and feelings, leading to greater empowerment,
self respect, statues and identity as a person, as well as greater
bonding. It is also a fact, that Women are women's best friends, as
well as their worst enemies. Kofi Anan Secretary General of the
United Nations has affirmed the UN commitment " to build on the
contribution of women in managing conflict and building peace."
Indian Political parties have still
not been able to forge a consensus to guarantee a third of the seats
in the Indian parliament and state legislatures for women. The idea
of reserving seats for women was first mooted in 1995. It has been
blocked in successive parliamentary sessions. It has never been put
to a vote. However, some States have done reservation for the women
in the Panchayats and Municipalities. Although we had the world's
first female prime ministers, Indira Gandhi there were only 44
female MPs in the 545-member in the dissolved, 13th Lok Sabha (lower
house) of parliament and just 17 in the 247-seat upper house. BJP
had 15 women Lok Sabha members and the main opposition Congress,
which is headed by a woman had only 10. The two main Communist
parties, accounted for a total five females.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) conducted between 1998-99
by the International Institute of Population Sciences the following
startling facts were revealed. 40 per cent women felt that
neglecting the house or children was reason enough for the husband
to beat up his wife. Another 36 per cent felt that if a woman goes
out of the house without informing her husband, she needs to be
thrashed. Others reasons, which women think justify domestic
violence, include the wife's inability to cook properly or failure
to respect her in-laws. The survey also revealed that women in
patriarchal societies in India have been conditioned not only to
silently accept and tolerate violence as part of their lives but
also rationalise it. Interestingly, while women justify violence on
trivial issues like the wife not being a good cook, they feel that
dowry related violence is unjustified. While 90 per cent of
Meghalaya women had experienced domestic violence, 40 per cent of
Tamil Nadu women said they had been physically mistreated by family
members from the age of 15.
Women's exploitation, irrespective of their education continues,
Sometimes back a sex scandal judicial circles in Rajasthanwhere ia
Deputy Registrar of High Court was suspended on the charge of
seeking sexual favours for himself and a couple of judges from a
woman litigant. The women suffer handicaps even after scoring high
marks. They receive less approval and recognition from male bosses
and are slower to be promoted. 91 per cent of women work in the
private corporate sector and only nine per cent in the public
sector. A survey shows that 46 per cent of women between the age
group of 22 - 35 years work in the position of executives or
assistant managers. Only 10 per cent are managers. Only two per cent
are general managers while only one percent are vice president. The
data analysed shows 59 per cent of women work in Indian companies
while 41 percent work in multinationals. The reason for the small
representation of women in the age group of 45-60 years working in
management positions in the corporate sector is the
non-acceptability of working women by Indian society at that point
of time. In 1987, the percentage of working women was 13, two years
ago it was 20, now it is 28.
Women in India are still subjected to sexual harassment and rape. It
is so because the of the very difficult position in which victims
are put in. A large number of accused are well known to the victims
as the following date about Delhi, which is the National Capital
would show. |
|
|
Though INDIA has been
independent for over five decades, real independence and
emancipation of an ordinary woman is far away. It will come about
only, if the woman is able to stand on her own on terms of economic
equality with man. We cannot have fifty per cent people enjoying all
the fruits and the other fifty percent, almost living like serfs. It
is a kind of a battle, between haves and have not. The best way, we
can do anything, for the cause of woman, is at least, ensure that in
our own families and in the families known to us, the women are
treated with consideration and respect, and are made available, the
opportunities of the best
available education. Only then the emancipation, of woman will come
about. It is high time that we got rid of the inequality and
indignity to women in our country. It is a fact that whatever women
do, they must do twice as well, and if possible better than men, to
be thought half as good. It is a challenging situation. This
challenge among other things includes sensitising policy, having a
criminal justice, which mete out justice more promptly and
efficiently and above preparing our girls to be able to defend
themselves and know their rights.
|
