24 January National Girl Child Day: Women will be self-reliant then society and country will change
Special on 24 January National Girl Child Day: Women will be self-reliant then society and country will change
History is made in the world’s oldest democracy when Kamala Harris is sworn in as America’s first female Vice President in 2021.
It is seen as a wonderful example of women empowerment. But when we talk about the world’s largest democracy, we saw such women empowerment in the sixties when Indira Gandhi became the first woman Prime Minister of India.
Written by Nishant Chandravanshi & Deepa Chandravanshi.
History is made in the world’s oldest democracy when Kamala Harris is sworn in as America’s first female Vice President in 2021. It is seen as a wonderful example of women empowerment.
But when we talk about the world’s largest democracy, we saw such women empowerment in the sixties when Indira Gandhi became the first woman Prime Minister of India. Then in 2007, in our country, Smt. Pratibha Patil became the first woman President of the country.
But can we claim a safe and empowered society for women today? The society in which virgins are searched for worship in Navratri. Kanyadaan is considered to be the biggest charity, without which heaven and salvation cannot be attained. The mood of the same society becomes primitive as soon as the girl gets information in the womb.
Our country’s Indira Gandhi, Mary Kom, Sushma Swaraj, Saina Nehwal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Kalpana Chawla, Sunita Williams, Indira Nooyi, Mirabai Chanu have made their mark in the world in their respective fields.
Society and the world of the girl child
It is said that “the civilization of a society can be estimated by the respect given to the woman in that society.” The contribution of women in the proper and all-around development of human society has never been less, but it is an irony.
It has been that they have rarely got equal status in society. It is said in the Vedas that “Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah” means that where women are worshipped, the gods reside there.
In the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1979), it has been said that women should be given equal rights in every field, whether it is the political field, economic field, social field, at the same level as men.
Whereas today the important question about the girl child stands only after her birth. Education, career, marriage and equality are the latter. Even if there is a chance to take birth, social security is always at risk. Today more violent crimes against girls are being done by their acquaintances.
Indian Constitution and daughters of the country
Indian Constitution provides many rights to women, including legal equality in Article 14, Article 15(3) not to discriminate based on caste, religion, sex place of birth etc., Article 16(1) without discrimination in public services.
Equality of opportunity, freedom of expression equally in Article 19(1), Article 21 does not deprive both men and women of life and personal liberty, Right to education and culture in Article 29-30, Constitutional in Article 32 Right to remedies, right to equal pay for equal work for both men and women in article 39 (d), provision of reservation in Panchayati state institutions in article 40 through 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment, maternity assistance for women in article 42 The system of attainment, in Article 51 (a) (e), all the people of India should give up such practices which are against the honour of women etc.
In 2050, India will celebrate 100 years of our Constitution. Our Constitution guarantees equality to all citizens, yet gaps exist almost everywhere. Globally, India ranks fifth for the most skewed ratio of boys and girls at birth, and on average, 22 crimes are committed against women and girls across the country every hour. The rate of crimes against women in India is 54 per cent in India.
According to a survey, 55 per cent of women in the capital of Delhi have experienced sexual or physical violence in public places. Policy initiatives to empower women are needed as gender inequality in India persists even in the backdrop of economic growth.
Indian women bear the burden of unpaid caregiving, women have played a vital role in the development of the Indian economy. It is estimated that women in India contribute only 17% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) against the global average of 40%.
This shows an important difference. Although they are strong in the farming and dairy sector, India’s rapid urbanization has yet to encourage more women to join the labour force. According to the Global Gender Equality Index 2019, India is ranked 95th out of 129 countries and it is ranked 112th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2019-2020.
These indices suggest that there is a need to encourage Indian women to participate in the workplace or that the same benefits are not provided to women that are given to their male counterparts.
Although there has been some improvement after Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao Skill India and Mudra Loan, women’s entrepreneurship is at a high level. Statistics show that by 2025 around 10 crore entrepreneurs will be funded, of whom 50% will be women.
There is a need to take more steps towards the economic empowerment of women. If the condition of girls is to be improved, then education has to be given maximum emphasis, we have to change our thinking. Daughters can also become support for old age, it takes time to change social beliefs, but it seems that will not take long.
