Educating and empowering rural Indian girls and women
THOUGHTS OF THE MONTH
Womens empowerment continued:
"The President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil, Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Women Ministers of the Union, Cabinet, Women Governors, Speakers of State Assemblies, Chief Ministers, MLAS, Pradhaans, Sarpanchs, Mayors, Corporate, IAS IPS like Kiran Bedi, and others present a happy optimistic picture of women's empowerment. We have another side of the coin, too. A great many are still illiterate, backward, dependent, slum dwellers, labourers and so on. Now the question is, what is being done and should be done for women’s empowerment?
The birth of girl child is taken as a burden on the family. Therefore, a female infant is killed among the much backward, illiterate and poor families residing in remote areas. By the modern machines, the sex of the foetus can be known in mother's stomach. The foetus is aborted if it is a female. Absence of strong laws and the improper implementation of the existing laws also add gravity to it. Women's economic dependence and lack of women empowerment and emancipation are also the reasons for it.
The government, the political parties, the NGOs, the Society, the media, the individuals and so on are trying their level best for women empowerment. The governments are providing reservation to women in jobs and political set up imparting education free of cost etc. The political parties are ensuring their participation at all levels and with maximum possible ratio. The media publish atrocities on women. Others are also contributing.
Governments should enact stringent laws and implement effectively. There must be a complete ban on the detection of sex of the foetus. Steps should be taken for women's empowerment and emancipation. The state should impart free education to girls up to college. Social awakening and political drive should be launched against it. These ways, we can maintain the balance; otherwise the problem will become uncontrollable.
The efforts are laudable but the results are not up to the expectation. Women in political set-up are not empowered. Their power is used by their husbands. Economic strength may make women realistically empowered. Wife's consent in all decisions should be made mandatory. Access to Higher Education must be ensured. In these ways, Women's Empowerment can be made certain otherwise humanity can't progress as per expectation".
Written by Tripti, class 12 and Renu class 10 of Veerni Institute, March 2011.
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"The issue of women’s empowerment through health, education and development continues to be debated in the international arena. Why is it that there is so little progress made, why so many women have children they don’t want, die needlessly from pregnancy related causes, remain uneducated, suffer oppression and violence? Because there is no POLITICAL WILL in many countries to do anything about it."
Posted by Celia Yves
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"I want to make my parents happy, I want to eliminate poverty in India and I want to adopt a little girl."
Sunita, 18, when asked: If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
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"I want to study law in Jaipur. Then I will fight for the rights of Indian women."
Sarog, 17, when asked: What would you like to do in the future?
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"I want to become a doctor and build a hospital and school in my village."
Kanchan, 13, when asked: What would you wish for if you could have anything you wanted?
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"I'd like to become a police woman. Police women support other women. They are idols of all women by being physically + mentally strong."
Vimlesh, 14, when asked: What would you like to do in the future?
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"I want to be independent, I want to be a math teacher and I want to help my mother."
Pramod, 12, when asked: What would you like to do in the future?
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"I would like two girls, a wonderful home, a smart husband and I want to help poor women."
Sohba, 17, when asked: What would you have if you could have anything in the world?
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"Earning money makes me happy, it is an awesome feeling. My parents treat me better now."
Kanshalya, 17, advanced sewing course graduate