Women: One who gives birth is worth

Indian Women Empowerment: One who gives birth is worth

Abhinava Bhartiya
MA MBA IIS DCEW CCA


Introduction

One who gives birth is worth
………………Self
Women in India are being worshiped as a deity, but regrettable circumstances and some self-seeking decisions, pronouncements, and propagandas have created an imbalance in women stature. Otherwise the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, Plans, and programmes have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres. From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a marked shift in the approach to women’s issues from welfare to development. In recent years, the empowerment of women has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of women. The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels.
No other country but India had most superior and famous women from incarnations like mother Sita, Radha, Parvati to courageous ladies like Droupadi, Savitri, Jijabai, Princes Didda (Kashmir) etc. Even contrary to common belief, the Indian women have exhibited great bravery, leadership, and valor in times of need from ancient era. This tradition blossomed during India's struggle for freedom from British Raj, wherein, stalwarts including Rani Laxmi Bai, Bhikaji Cama, Annie Besant, Vijaya Laxmi Pandit, Begum Rokeya, Indira Priyadarshini, Sofia Khan, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Aruna Asif Ali, Sarojini Naidu , Sister Navideta, Kasturba Gandhi etc played distinct and decisive role. 
Women were integral part of Gandhi's non-violence movement and Satyagrah. For Mahatma Gandhi, the ultimate ahimsa and Satyagraha was when women, in vast numbers, rose up to put an end to the destructive aspects of male dominance in society. The contrary extremist freedom fighters also opined that without the motivation and participation of women freedom would have been a distinct reality. Therefore the fact that there was no material weaponry involved, made women equal, and perhaps even better soldiers, example of Bose’s INA women wing is still breathing. Even the most common and uneducated women sacrificed time and materials volunteering, campaigning, protesting, fasting, and donating to the causes of freedom.
After achieving independence, Indian women is still making difference world over from Mother Teresa to Indira Gandhi and in modern prospective from  Kalpan Chawla to  Ashwariya Rai, Susmita Sen, Sania Mirza etc

So We Need Women Empowerment: Urgently but warily
But than there is an urgent necessity to reinstate or identify such already present genetics and groom them to become Sarojini Naidu or Bhikaji Cama , and more pivotal that identifying and grooming such genetics is to rise above selfishness and support more and more those women of poorer and slum Indian societies, who are facing tremendous problems of basic needs. The other face of Indian women i.e. the poor made servant to Bar girls, Women Beggars to tortured domestic poor lady, who are so compelled and vulnerable have to be supported in as much effort and sincerity as possible.
The persistence of livelihood and poverty in India and other parts of the world is due in large measure to the suppression, marginalization, imbalance, and disempowerment of women. Women suffer from hunger and poverty in greater numbers and to a great degree and also bear the primary responsibility for actions needed to end hunger: education, nutrition, health and family income.
There are some major areas of discrimination against women in India i.e. Economical disproportion, Social paradigms, Cultural effectiveness, Educational inadequacy, Poor Health, and Excessive Family responsibility etc
India has exceptionally high rates of child malnutrition, because tradition in India requires that women eat last and least throughout their lives, even when pregnant and lactating. Malnourished women give birth to malnourished children, perpetuating the cycle. Females receive less health care than males. Many women die in childbirth of easily prevented complications. Working conditions and environmental pollution further impairs women's health. Families are far less likely to educate girls than boys, and far more likely to pull them out of school, either to help out at home or from fear of violence. Women work longer hours and their work is more arduous than men's, yet their work is unrecognized. Men report that "women, like children, eat and do nothing." Technological progress in agriculture has had a negative impact on women. In women's primary employment sector - agriculture - extension services overlook women.  In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in atrocities against women in India, in terms of rapes, assaults and dowry-related murders. Fear of violence suppresses the aspirations of all women. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortions are additional forms of violence that reflect the devaluing of females in Indian society. While women are guaranteed equality under the constitution, legal protection has little effect in the face of prevailing patriarchal traditions. Women lack power to decide who they will marry, and are often married off as children. Legal loopholes are used to deny women inheritance rights.
Various Commitments for Women Empowerment
India has a long history of activism for women's welfare and rights, which has increasingly focused on women's economic rights. We are here not to criticize the present status of the women or the vulnerability she is facing. All we contemplate is to let the world know and now act for the empowerment of women based on above verity. We all know that enough is being done, a range of government programs have been launched to increase economic opportunity for women, although there appear to be no existing programs to address the cultural and traditional discrimination against women that leads to her abject conditions and therefore we need some NGO or such societies in India, and also world, who do more than enough to re-establish the status women use to command in ancient civilized era.
We have to come forward, before we go more backward. Velocity of inactiveness is much quicker and Silence has given enough space for the ills and illicit to become more empowered and stronger. We all must identify and work on certain specific areas on Women empowerment so as to assist the one who gives birth worth of empowerment.
Specific upliftment of women in Economical, Socio-Cultural, Educational, Judicial, Family welfare has to be undertaken with more participation of Youth and Middle-aged of all genders, creed, class and caste. The fact is that though women have made significant advances in many societies, her concerns are still given second priority almost everywhere. Women face discrimination not only from the opposite genders but also from her other women. The face discrimination and marginalization in a subtle as well as in flagrant way.

Women are 70% poorer in the globe and her Economic Empowerment is one way out in present materialistic environment. Wherein there is Mainstreaming in her Gender Perspective Development and Poverty Eradication. Extensive guidance, directions and education is provided in the subject like Women Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Agro Industry, Health, Indigenous and Handicraft work, Domestic Support Services, Natural resources co-operation, Horticulture, Commercial horticulture, Post Harvest management, Nutritional Gardening, Affordable Rural Agriculture Technologies, Art , Craft etc. Further In under developed or developing countries there is enough Generation of Gainful Employment in Rural, local and habitat areas. In fact Countries Like India , China have done well , by government or non government policies, to Guide and support Capable women in Micro credits schemes on market development and capacity buildings. Indian government schemes of guidance in Trade related entrepreneurship assistance and development for women (TREAD), Guidance for Rural Entrepreneurship development programmes (REDPs), Guidance in Artisan Guild, Mother Units , Common Service Centers, Rural Non- farm enterprises, Women Vikas Volunteer Vahini Programmes etc, Guidance  in Assistance to Rural Women in Non- Farm Development (ARWIND) is doing faster progress. Several NGO i.e. Care, Women, Sweear, Amul, etc are also accelerating the cause of women economic empowerment.

Further I firmly opine that if you want to rule or dictate a mother or even a mother land, you simply need to let her be illiterate. Therefore Women Social Educational and Cultural Empowerment is paramount wherein there should be specific educational training and self dependent programmes, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Housing and Shelter, Environmental support etc, Guidance in Global and Indigenous, Science and Technology, Indigenous folk and cultural education and enlargement etc, Coaching and Allied Assistance for weaker Sections and specially BPL community, Schemes for Young women scientists, Science and Technology programmes for women, rural development, society tribal groups etc, Introduction natural and preventive healing programmes for Family health welfare, Education schemes and alternative innovative education programmes for Children and Women , Integrated programmes for older and disabled women, children, and parentage, Social Bridging wherein  each developed support each underdeveloped, Women Socio-Cultural  Bridging Programme, Domestic training and self dependent programmes , Encouragement programmes of Women participations through Women Social Clubs in rural areas. I would like to mention that “WeExpress” programme, where women would be allowed to share their joy or sorrow, pain or relief etc is one of the wonderful programme of one Indian NGO Sweear, where the real social bridging and mutual healing for women in undeveloped or slum areas is undertaken.

“If health is wealth than women health is being richest”. Comprehensive and complete women and family care of the women is another important and key aspect in real women empowerment and virtual global health. Therefore we need to emphasize on Complete Obste, Gynae, Pediatric, Gender equality and general health care through, Integrated health programmes and checkups including HIV, AIDS, Cancer Infertility, Child Delay etc, Promotion and Development of Voluntary Blood donation, Undertaking leprosy, Tuberculosis, polio, aids, cataract, and cancer- survey, education, and treatment i.e. SET programmes, Overall improvement of Medical Services, Rural Health Scheme in and around the vulnerable and required areas, Aid control, treatment interventions, School Aid education etc. Tobacco, drug, alcohol etc de-addiction programmes for women and teenage children and Treatment and Rehabilitation of addicts etc


Law is always above truth, and if the truth is that we are trying enough for the women empowerment through several of the above mentioned initiatives then a parallel truth is that their needs to be transparency in the doing. So by inculcating Judicial reforms for women support the women empowermentors would actually establish their intention and larger intent. Today harsh domestic argument is no more a part and partial way of communicating with women, now it has judicial definition and legal implications. Even underdeveloped countries have implemented the law for the same. Indian, African, and Chinese initiative is needs a worth mention and applaud while talking of women judicial reforms.

One may be genuine, but he is not above law and therefore Judicial reforms  need to further accentuate on, Guidance and Support in Difficult Circumstances, Violence against girl child, Rights for Women and girl child, Domestic violence etc, Protection of Judicial rights, Fundamental rights and Privileges as per Directive principle of state policies, for women and children, Judicial and Non Judicial Advise/ guidance in various family matters  etc, Programmes for Juvenile Justice, support for National Initiative for child protection, Street Children and Juvenile Justice work plan etc

Categorical formulation and sincere implementation is the only way out for real women empowerment. To achieve such a gigantic task, Countries and organization will have to have specific work plan that should include words like action and actions like revolution. The organization should concentrate on regular and concrete 
Camps, Workshops, Colloquium, Seminars, Medical Checks, Treatment Facilitation , Orientations , Public Awareness and Outreach , Skill Development S&T Courses , Coaching etc for poor & BPL, Communication & Popularizations , Judicial and non Judicial Advisory camps, Counseling, Research & Development, Lectures, Interactive Sessions, Encampments, Village/Area Adoption, Telehelp line and Help Desk etc, Volunteers and youth higher involvement and interaction programmes.

I know knowledge has no limitations, inspirations needs no lecture, Motivation can never be external , but then when nothing works are required and the time refuses to wait and devastations and impacts are beyond patience there is no other but one option that either you be inactive and stop having children, because surely , if we being matured and  capable are unable to do anything for better and are keeping silence over the situation or say are acting in a aloof manner, how come it is possible that the infant , the child that we would be bringing in this world, would be able to.

I have enough words, and poor women vulnerabilities are adequate enough to conscript another epic, which you’ll don’t require, as all of us know the predicaments, the elucidations as well, but what we lack is activeness towards the situation. Such in activeness may be because of a feeling of helplessness towards the situation and therefore perhaps we have turned our faces, by leasing the situation for handling the vulnerability. According to an ancestral proverb “Bad activates faster when good remains inactive” and “Nothing changes for better before we change the worst.”, and therefore hitherto nothing has revolutionized and hereafter nothing would, until we turn towards the reality and abridge the gawk. In fact most of the routine problems we face while intermingling with the underdevelopment would intensify and gulp down our future if we remain stationary. So let’s be active and don’t just come forward but act forward by being Activity Members of any volunteer program, NGO, Govt body. I can we can contribute in active way in overcoming the women’s anguish, pain, frustration, illiteracy, illness, etc. After all “One who gives birth is worth”