Women's Day is observed

International Women’s day was celebrated all over the world. In India women in main urban centres, who are educated, employed and belonging to the upper elite had celebrated with enthusiasm. It was celebrated in several ways like, by having a meeting to discuss issues, or by going on outings or by attending a party. Only the women belonging to upper socio-economic status are having access to higher education and jobs.  By and large the Indian women are defined by culture to occupy a subservient role of a home maker— a wife and a mother. But women with career get home support by relatives or servants, and enjoy comfortable lives.Educated parents, educate daughters and strive to make their daughters independent professionals.

Those women who are in the lower social strata are pushed to the extremes. They are forced to make a living in pathetic circumstances like that of a domestic servant or maid. And without education or career opportunities, they cannot survive with dignity. Those in rural India have even more difficult situations to face, doubled with poverty and traditional societal pressures, they have no redemption. There are gender specific issues like harassment at workplace, which are dealt with legally. People are not sensitised to the issues faced by the Indian women and the social realities in which they live in. CEDAW (Convention on Eliminations of all forms of Discrimination Against Working women) tries to solve problems of women. The judgement on the “Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan” case and the Sexual Harassment Bill of 2011, try to redress the problems faced by the working women. Many women who work in inferior positions are harassed by their bosses who are men. When complaining, women get transferred and the cost of displaced has to be borne by her. This discourages women from complaining. The domestic workers do not get protected under any law.
 In some educational institutions female students are molested, but it is not “workplace” technically and hence the law cannot be applied here. Men pass lewd remarks which are equivalent to intolerable social ostracism.There can be no law to protect them from such emotional hurts.Crime against women goes unreported for it gives a bad name to the women affected. 

The Indian culture inculcates the value that the role of men is important and that role of women as unimportant, and this leads potential parents to seek birth of sons and despise birth of daughters. When ultra sound technique (in gynecology) was introduced in India 25-30 years ago, it grew popularity for it meant that the female fetus can be terminated before it is born. Our male female ratio is skewed now, but female infanticide still continues despite legal abolishment. Thus rules can exist only on paper; the Indian society itself has to change for status of women to rise.But they do not solve the fact the Indian society dictates inferior status on the females.Many plans are made to empower the women.

Women’s rights are  human rights; and efforts are taken by the government to give them their rights. Women have to be represented by one third in the local panchayats (local political bodies) and this is working out well. Now the number of women representatives is 42% and more than the reserved 33% prescribed. But number of women in the parliament is still only 10%. Laws have been enacted which had redefined traditional culture.For example in Goa, it was declared that 50% of the family property will be given to wife at the time of marriage. This had changed the unstable nature of the households; women, with half of the rights over property and money, had managed the home better and made sure that the health and wealth of the family increased.The stability of the Goan home/household was now strengthened.The law of inheritance gives daughters equal rights in property rights of parent, but the traditional culture is observed and daughters do not ask for property rights. 

This year in the last elections held, more women had voted than men; this reveals that there is increased political awareness amongst Indian  women. Given the chance, Indian women excel in their social roles, in the political sphere and in being committed workers.In future they will ask for the rights guaranteed and given to them.