In last many days, I came across few things through articles, speeches regarding women empowerment. Today, I would like to share with you. I will try to avoid same old song about discrimination of women in our society and its implication on us as a society.
Let us start with some religious facts (Or, you can say historical facts), though I am not a big believer of any religion. I will talk about Hindus with no intention to undermine any other religion or any individual's religious sentiments (If unintentional I do so, please forgive me). In Hindu religion, Goddesses hold most important portfolios i.e. education ministry by Saraswati, finance ministry by Laxmi. Apart from this, home ministry is being held till today by women only. In-fact, women are responsible for family culture in India; something you and I as an Indian must be proud of. What I want to say is that there is no need to worry. History along with present shows us that we have given very high status and high respect to females. We just need to reinvent the wheel and everything will be fine again. This is about history, but we will be fool if keep boasting about past and don't show any will to address the problems of present. Here I will talk about some solutions rather than the problem as you all are aware about it.
Being Independent is the first and foremost criteria to achieve gender equality in the society. I had talked about it in previous posts and discussions also (You can read in the given links). So, will not elaborate much about it. Bottom line is that education to the girls is not giving the expected results. Girls should COMMAND equal independence with equal responsibilities to change the present scenario. Now, what small changes can be done in our society to do this. Also, I am supporter of laws rather the awareness programs to achieve results on mass scale. Hence, in many points, you will find me taking about enacting new laws.
1. Name/Surname change after Marriage: Why should women change their surnames after marriages? In some parts, there is a tradition to change also the name of girl after marriage. Why this tradition? Why should one leave one's identity to show loyalty? Only husbands or groom sides can't be blamed for this. Even, girls's parents told them to do so at the name of tradition. Why not enact a law to get rid of the issue? Regarding this, best example is Ashutosh, IBN 7, one of few honest journalists in the country, who dropped his surname to get rid of caste based identity. Lets focus back on women issue. We will talk about this issue some other time
2. Unbiased laws: Dowry is still in our system. Only strong law can eradicate this. But present law is highly biased in favor of girls. Many are using dowry law as an instrument. I was really surprised that Amir didn't raise it in his show, Satymev Jayate. By making laws in favor of girls, considering girls as innocent and putting label on boys, not only in Dowry cases but in majority of other issues also, I think, we will never able to achieve gender equality. In-fact, by this way, we are giving unnecessary power in the hands of those who don't need it. Even, we are promoting inequality by saying that girls are weak, they need protection by law. We need to remember, these laws are there and awareness programs are going on from last so many years with minimal results, it is time to change the goal post. Make unbiased laws and put culprits, whether it's a boy or a girl, behind the bars, it is as simple as that. Both, frivolous and genuine complains must be dealt with tough hands.
3. Mothers' name compulsory in Schools: In schools, it is compulsory to write father's name with child's name while mother's name is voluntary. Why not reverse the situation? After all, mother gives birth to the child.
4. Property purchase: Until one has to save oneself from income tax, most of the time people used to buy property with men's names. Why not make a law about some exemption in stamp duty for those who buy property against women's names? Will it not encourage people to buy property with women as the owner on paper?
5. Entrepreneurship: It is well known that real talent of India lies in villages and females are not exception in this. One can find many women in villages running dairies and working in farms specially those living in the poor conditions. Somewhere, isn't it indicating their business skills? This talent can be tapped with proper support from government and corporate. What!!! I am looking crazy here. No, I am not. You may be surprised to know that such a scheme with name "Mission Mangalam" has been started in Gujarat in which four stake holders are: government as a watchdog only; nothing else, corporate to provide raw material and markets to finish products, NGOs to develop skills of women and poor villages women. Turnover of this company is Rs. 1000 crore. (I took this figure from a speech of Gujarat's CM). So, I am not sure how much it is true. But it is worth to try this idea.
6. Apart from this, why not government make laws like while giving lands or houses to the poor under various schemes, make women as the owners.
All this will give a sense of independence to the women. Along with point 5, Gujarat government made laws about Mother's name compulsory in schools and Property purchase.
Note: Mentioning some of Gujarat government's initiatives doesn't mean I am supporting some individual here. In-fact, how can an individual give so many ideas? These are ideas of our social scientists and IAS officers who are working hard behind the scenes. One is just helping them to implement their ideas. Please don't make any political comment on the post. Any discussion and/or more information and/or criticism on the points mentioned above is/are most welcome.
