Women suffers in India: problems and prospect
One of the first issues to receive countrywide attention from women’s groups was violence against women, specifically in the form of rape, and what came to be known in India as ‘dowry deaths’ – the killing of young married women for the ‘dowry’ or money/goods they brought with them at marriage. This was also the beginning of a process of learning for women: most protests were directed at the State. Because women were able to mobilize support, the State responded, seemingly positively, by changing the law on rape and dowry, making both more stringent. This seemed, at the time, like a great victory. It was only later that the knowledge began to sink in that mere changes in the law meant little, unless there was a will and a machinery to implement these. And that the root of the problem of discrimination against women lay not only in the law, or with the State, but was much more widespread.
Perhaps the most significant development for women in the last few decades has been the introduction of 33% reservation for women in local, village-level elections. In the early days, when this move was introduced, there was considerable skepticism. How will women cope? Are they equipped to be leaders? Will this mean any real change, or will it merely mean that the men will take a backseat and use the women as a front to implement what they want? While all these problems still remain, in a greater or lesser degree, what is also true is that more and more women have shown that once they have power, they are able to use it, to the benefit of society in general and women in particular.
Women’s political participation appears rather hollow when we remember that women continue to be abysmally underrepresented in the Parliament and Assemblies. With great fanfare, the UPA Government passed the Women’s Reservation Bill (providing 33% reservation in Parliament and Assemblies) in the Rajya Sabha. But this was pure political theatre – and the same Government, using the old excuse of ‘lack of consensuses, has carefully avoided placing the Bill for vote in the Lok Sabha. In Parliament, MPs across political lines openly aired their patriarchal prejudices while opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill. There is now talk of truncating the reservation provisions to 20% or less. AIPWA condemned the ploy to scuttle the Women’s Reservation Bill by pitting caste and community against gender. AIPWA said that the demand for a quota for OBCs and minorities could be incorporated within the ambit of 33% seats for women, and such a demand must not become a pretext to stall or dilute the Bill.
In panchayats, 50% of the seats are reserved for women, and elected women representatives are challenging patriarchal forces. However, discrimination against elected women representatives, continues – for instance, in the ‘panch pati’ syndrome where the husband acts on behalf of the elected woman, and in various forms of caste and gender discrimination. At the workplace, too, gender bias is rampant. Even in MNREGA, for instance, women are often denied work on the grounds of gender. There are an estimated 45 lakh domestic workers in India. Their working conditions remain completely unregulated, and they remain deprived of basic rights and social services. The global sex industry preys on women in poor and backward countries like India. With globalization, women in India have become even more vulnerable to sex trafficking. Within the country too, sex trafficking is rampant.
A large number of sex workers in India are brought into sex work by force, kidnapping and violence. An even larger number opt for sex work as a means of survival in the absence of secure and properly paid work. Sex workers work in conditions that are extremely hazardous to their health as well as safety. They also bear the brunt of the stigma attached by social hypocrisy.
It is the urgent need to find possible way to eradicate such kind of violence? It is the raising question of the hour when and how the exact implementation of the women rights will have been possible? Still thousands of women right violation cases are within the red-Tape of the legal Procedure. Not only in India is the whole world scenario the same in some form. Still maximum rights have been entrusted to women but frequently women rights have been violated in different forms. Since the ancient ages women are being dominated and often a big gap is to be found regarding the social sanction of women. Even in the much liberal developed country women are also being victimized of social discrimination and superstitions. Question arises why? In various international women related conventions philosophers and prominent persons discussed on women related issues and try to find a way for actual development of women status today. With the changing demand of the society such conditions of women deprivation must be reformed, as the world wide picture shows “deeply entrenched attitudes and practices perpetuate inequality and discrimination against women, in public and private life; on a daily basis, in all parts of the world.” Under these consequences it can be trace that with the changing motion of social atmosphere the women should lead towards a progressive stand, even they must have been socially politically empowered. Above all these short comings, recent development of women status shows that slowly but steadily women are being emerged as a strong section of the society, having participating in various field outside home. It is a hopeful prospect that women understand that only self development will rescue them from social Hazards. Women must aware of their strength first and then prepare themselves to fight for the justification of their right as well as to make up their mind to take bold steps for self development. As a valuable part of the society women must raise their voice for liberty and fraternity as well as equality. To develop a country in positive way this section of society must produce the best of their effort and must be guaranteed of freedom and liberty. Women have to play the role as mother, daughter, and wife and as a society member, however in the work place. During the way towards performing such type of responsible duties, women must understand themselves first and must be conscious to preserve their own respective status. Although wave of Globalization touch all around, women should not devoid of their rights, as well as they must not forget of their own duty and responsibilities simultaneously. One should not be floated with the stream of globalised society, It is important to manipulate the liberal standard and status in constructive way for the better prospect of much more women welfare.
As long as poor women remain deprived of secure, properly paid employment, they will inevitably seek refuge in demeaning and dangerous sex work. While resisting the social stigma and violence faced by sex workers, we must demand an end to trafficking; protection of sex workers from exploitation and violence; social services for sex workers and their dependants; as well as rehabilitation in alternative and remunerative employment. Are the existing laws enough to deal with the reality of violence on women? After sustained campaign by women’s groups, the Government has drafted the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2011 to expand the scope of sexual assault laws. This Bill widens the definition of rape beyond penis-vagina penetration, covering atrocities like penetration by objects and other forms of sexual violence on women as well as on children of both sexes. However the Bill excludes marital rape from the category of sexual offences, thereby condoning rape within marriage. The Bill also fails to recognize and provide more stringent punishment for organized sexual violence on women, as in communal or
Caste violence.
There is also a proposed and long-pending Bill against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, which covers women in organized as well as unorganized sector. But this Bill provides for punishment against the complainant in case the complaint is found to be false or malicious in intent – a clause that can only deter and intimidate women, who are in any case reluctant to lodge complaints.
Laws against acid attacks and stalking are also urgently needed, given the huge rise in such crimes.
Dowry deaths and dowry-related harassment continue unabated. Yet, it is shocking that the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee is considering a petition demanding that offences under Section 498-A (severe domestic violence and dowry-related torture) be made non-cognizable, bailable and compoundable. The Law Commission has just recently recommended that Section 498A be made compoundable. If the law is amended in keeping with these demands, henceforth policed will not have to accept any case under this section, and all women will have to file all such complaints before magistrates; police cannot arrest anyone under this section without an order from a magistrate; and there will be greater pressure on women to compromise.
Section 498A is the only legal avenue for justice open to women suffering severe domestic violence and dowry-harassment.
The women’s movement in India today is a rich and vibrant movement, which has spread to various parts of the country. It is often said that there is no one single cohesive movement in the country, but a number of fragmented campaigns. Activists see this as one of the strengths of the movement which takes different forms in different parts. While the movement may be scattered all over India, they feel it is nonetheless a strong and plural force. As activists never tire of repeating: out of the deepest repression is born the greatest resistance.
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