March, 8th is celebrated as the International Women’s Day.India too has been celebrating the Women’s Day with its usual fanfare.But on this day it is our duty to introspect how far women in India enjoy their freedom and progressed in various fields and take steps to plug the loopholes that hampers the women’s growth and freedom.
When we proceed to analyse the actual progress attained by women, it gives us a mixed reaction.No doubt the Indian constitution confers the women the equal status with women in education, employment etc.And the women are not lagging behind in any field including the military.In politics, we have a woman as our President, namely Mrs.Pratiba Patil.Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, is the party president of Congress I.Ms.Jayalalitha is the General Secretary of a regional party called AIADMK.BJP party has some top level women leaders in its rank.Mrs.Lalu was the former Bihar Chief Minister.In Rajasthan, BJP has installed a woman Chief Minister.But it is unfortunate to note that the women’s reservation Bill providing 33 % reservation to women still remains a bill only and our political leaders can not arrive at a consensus to pass the bill. Even a few days ago, Mr.Manmohan Singh, our Prime Minister has again proposed to initiate talks to arrive at a consensus.But God only knows whether the bill will see through our Parliament.
According to an UN study, rural girls in India above the age group of 14-15, remain illiterate and become drop-outs from schools, which points out some inherent weakness in our social and educational system.
Similarly,in some remote rural areas of Tamil Nadu,female babies immediately on their birth are either forsaken by their parents or killed by some crude methods.It is an irony that a mother prefers to beget and deliver a male child but not a female child and in most cases female foetus are being aborted.While on the one hand we speak for women’s upliftment, in some remote areas such dastardly crimes against future women are committed.Immediate action is required to spread awareness against such maladies.
Recent steps and concessions awarded to girl children in the Railway budget and to Senior Women citizens in the finance budget are steps in the right direction.
India need to catch up with international standards in women’s upliftment.