Among the top 50 most powerful women outside the US, according to a
list by Fortune, we have India’s top three women bankers – SBI chief
Arundhati Bhattacharya, ICICI head Chanda Kochhar and Axis Bank CEO
Shikha Sharma. At the same time India ranks 103 out of a total of 141
countries in terms of women representation in politics with less than
12% female representation. A paradox!
Today in the 21st century, although we talk of gender equality and justness, such debates are confined to pen and paper. The ground reality is different. Women are still the subordinated section of a family – restricted to low education, lack of freedom to work outside, and cursed for not delivering a male child! But was this system prevalent in ancient India? Scholars believe that in ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in all aspects of life. Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period. Rigvedic verses suggest that women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their own husbands. Scriptures such as the Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi. However, this egalitarian status declined with the foreign invasion, notably from 500 BC.
To remedy the low participation of women electors, India in 1994 established quotas through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments to reserve 33% of the seats in local governments for women. The Women’s Reservation Bill (108th amendment) has also been introduced in the Parliament to reserve 33% of the Lok Sabha seats for women, but the bill is yet to be passed.
As an administrator, I shall stress to improve the social imbalance through following measures:
1) Educating Women: One of the key challenges faced by women is lack of education which hinders their political involvement. We recommend bridging this gap by providing quality education to women in the country. Awareness about their rights and privileges as mentioned in the Constitution can only be ensured once women are appropriately educated. Educated women not only contribute to national growth but also become aware of their rights, are able to take care of their children and contribute to health and well-being of the family.
2) Ensuring Safe Workplace: If the working environment is safe, more women would join the workforce.
3) Skilling the Mid-aged: Vocational trainings and camps can help in making the not-so-educated housewives to get into some productive work. SHGs should be encouraged and properly funded.
4) Voice Against Inequality: Sensible citizens should protest against any gender inequality in any sector of the society. The issue of gender-based violence and provision of safety and security of women should be addressed on a priority basis to promote gender equality in the social and political arenas. Although the Government of India has initiated the National Mission of Empowerment of Women in 2014 with the broad objective of gender empowerment, the progress of this project is not up to the mark.
5) Help Resolve Conflicts: Women are vulnerable to social ills and a slower justice system breaks their career. A faster trial would allow them to start afresh.
There are a various other schemes launched by both the central and state governments to empower women. The results are yet to be felt. It is thus imperative to strengthen its functioning and implementation.
In addition, there is need for capacity building of prospective women leaders by imparting leadership training to the female members of political parties. Women empowerment was a part of the famous MDGs and the current SDGs.
Even when they comprise 50% of us, absorbing their rights wholeheartedly is the unfinished business of the 21st century!
"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." ―Malala Yousafzai
Today in the 21st century, although we talk of gender equality and justness, such debates are confined to pen and paper. The ground reality is different. Women are still the subordinated section of a family – restricted to low education, lack of freedom to work outside, and cursed for not delivering a male child! But was this system prevalent in ancient India? Scholars believe that in ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in all aspects of life. Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period. Rigvedic verses suggest that women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their own husbands. Scriptures such as the Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi. However, this egalitarian status declined with the foreign invasion, notably from 500 BC.
To remedy the low participation of women electors, India in 1994 established quotas through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments to reserve 33% of the seats in local governments for women. The Women’s Reservation Bill (108th amendment) has also been introduced in the Parliament to reserve 33% of the Lok Sabha seats for women, but the bill is yet to be passed.
As an administrator, I shall stress to improve the social imbalance through following measures:
1) Educating Women: One of the key challenges faced by women is lack of education which hinders their political involvement. We recommend bridging this gap by providing quality education to women in the country. Awareness about their rights and privileges as mentioned in the Constitution can only be ensured once women are appropriately educated. Educated women not only contribute to national growth but also become aware of their rights, are able to take care of their children and contribute to health and well-being of the family.
2) Ensuring Safe Workplace: If the working environment is safe, more women would join the workforce.
3) Skilling the Mid-aged: Vocational trainings and camps can help in making the not-so-educated housewives to get into some productive work. SHGs should be encouraged and properly funded.
4) Voice Against Inequality: Sensible citizens should protest against any gender inequality in any sector of the society. The issue of gender-based violence and provision of safety and security of women should be addressed on a priority basis to promote gender equality in the social and political arenas. Although the Government of India has initiated the National Mission of Empowerment of Women in 2014 with the broad objective of gender empowerment, the progress of this project is not up to the mark.
5) Help Resolve Conflicts: Women are vulnerable to social ills and a slower justice system breaks their career. A faster trial would allow them to start afresh.
There are a various other schemes launched by both the central and state governments to empower women. The results are yet to be felt. It is thus imperative to strengthen its functioning and implementation.
In addition, there is need for capacity building of prospective women leaders by imparting leadership training to the female members of political parties. Women empowerment was a part of the famous MDGs and the current SDGs.
Even when they comprise 50% of us, absorbing their rights wholeheartedly is the unfinished business of the 21st century!
"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." ―Malala Yousafzai
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