WOMENS' EMPOWERMENT

SOCIAL MINDSET MUST CHANGE TO ENSURE EQUAL STATUS FOR WOMEN

Akshey Kumar*

India is a great paradox. Nowhere is this more evident than the situation with regard to the status of women in India. Our scriptures regard women as the goddess, the incarnation of compassion, provider of food and destroyer of evil. But in practice, women have had to be content with a subservient role within the house for centuries.There have been exceptions but, by and large, the social mindset has been that of discrimination against women right from the birth. For a majority of Indian women, life itself has been a long hurdle race, both within and outside the family.

However, there are certain redeeming features.The post-Independence period has seen a number of positive and concerted efforts by the Government to improve the socio-economic status of women. In fact, the process had set in much earlier with efforts of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwarchand Vidyasagar and others resulting in the abolition of the Sati System. Mahatma Gandhi’s call to Indian women to join the freedom struggle and the inclusion of ‘equal status of women’ in his famous 9-point agenda saw many women coming out of their veils and fighting the British shoulder to shoulder with men. The Sarada Act of 1925 raised the age of marriage to 15. After Independence, attainment of equal status for women in every sphere of life was enshrined as one of the main objectives of the Indian Constitution.

Right from the First Five Year Plan, the issue of providing equal status to women has been sharply focussed in our development process. While, the first four plans focussed on organising various welfare activities and giving high priority to women’s education, the Fifth and Sixth Plans witnessed a shift in approach from welfare to overall development of women with a three-pronged thrust on health, education and employment of women.

The Seventh Plan came up with a significant dent with efforts to identity and promote ‘beneficiary-oriented programme’ with the intention of extending direct benefits to women.The Eighth Plan (1992-97) made a further significant shift from ‘development’ to ‘women’s empowerment’.It recommended 30 per cent reservation for women at all levels of Government. It also envisaged that benefits of development from different sectors do not bypass women.

The strategy of the women’s component Plan in the Ninth Plan provides for ensuring that a minimum of 30 per cent of benefits or funds flow to women from all Ministries and Departments.

Some positive indicators of women’s development can be seen in the female literacy rate which rose from 8 per cent in 1947 to 54 per cent in the 2001 census. Similarly, life expectancy rose from 40.6 years in 1961-71 to 58.1 years during 1981-91and the projections for 1991-2001 put it at 62 years. Also, the total fertility rate has come down from 5.97 in 1951-1961 to 3.3 in 1997 signalling a comparatively greater acceptance of family planning and late marriage norms.Women’s presence in Parliament has increased from 4 per cent in 1952 to 8.9 per cent in 1999 – not very significant.But, at the village and the district levels, nearly 1 million women are heads and members of the local self-Government institutions changing the destiny of their own and also that of others – thanks to the 73rd Constitution Amendment.

While the foregoing are positive indicators, there are some disturbing trends as well.The sex ratio in 0-6 age group which was 945 female per 1000 males in 1991 has further declined to 927 per 1000 males in 2001 indicating a systemic bias and unhealthy use of ultra-sound pre-natal test devices. According to the 1991 census, of the 324 million illiterate,197 million, i.e., 61 per cent, are girls and women.According to an estimate for 1995-96 only 43.2 per cent girls attended primary schools, 39 per cent at middle level and 35.3 per cent at secondary stage-signalling a considerable number of drop outs.The percentage of women labour to total workforce has declined from 28.98 per cent in 1951 to 26.8 per cent in 1996.Women, 94 per cent of the work-force in the unorganised sector in the country (working in the fields, construction and other such sectors), find themselves at a loss in the organised sector.Their share in paid employment in industry and services stands at a mere 15 per cent.In the decision-making capacities (IAS,IFS and IPS), the number of women, though increased from 311 in 1985 to 501 in 1996, still needs to be improved. Their placement and postings, too, need a review.To top it all, girls are still considered as a financial burden in the Indian homes. Nowhere this indignity is more apparent than at the time of marriage and even after marriage. Problems of dowry and subsequent ill-treatment to women emanate from this single factor.The number of bride-burning case has risen from 427 in 1983 to 6917 in 1998 – a horrifying fact.

 

Media’s Role

While the legislative, reformative, educational, health and employment strategies have given Indian women a significant boost in their struggle for equal rights in the society, a lot is yet to be done in terms of giving them enough confidence to carry this struggle further. Not only they have to fight against the age-old bias, they also have to develop their own personality and capabilities against all odds as they have to maintain the social equilibrium and are the nerve centre of not only the Indian value system but also the guiding factor to our future generations.

The society has to change its mindset. While the legislative and other measures may trigger the process, a persuasive approach through mass communication techniques together with involvement of social and family groups will have to be worked out through collective efforts of all concerned. This , of course, has to be aimed at adopting a harmonious path striking a delicate balance between the individual aspirations and family obligations. In the Indian context the family is a basic social security unit and it has to be strengthened through mutual cooperation in a spirit of a fair give-and-take within its constituents.

Creating such an atmosphere is really a challenge as well as an opportunity for the journalists. It calls for strengthening the ongoing process of social engineering by creating a conducive social climate through awareness and due motivation. Needless to say, a great role lies ahead for the journalists in this. But the question is that in the present day atmosphere of a predominantly politics- oriented journalism do the journalists have enough motivation and incentives to work in this direction? Surely the space-crunch due to over-emphasis on advertising revenue has further complicated the matter. But, thankfully the growing tendency of colour-page supplements can be of some solace.Our friends in the media have to devote attention to this cause which is closely associated with the well-being not only of half of our population but also on the future of the country as a whole, because the well-being of the women alone can ensure the well-being of our future generations(.keralamonitor.com)

* Director , Public Relations, PIB, New Delhi