Dear Readers,
International Women's Day was celebrated on the 8th of March as a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Attempts to bring women's status into public realm probably goes back to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. The first International Women's Day was launched on March 8, 1911 in Copenhagen by Clara Zetkin, Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany. Even after so many years though, women's presence in public spaces is still restricted by socially repressive norms and practices. The articles in this issue bring to focus the many obstacles that women continue to face even to this day. The Gender Team takes this opportunity to laud the struggles of every woman attempting in her own way to overcome the many hurdles to genuine equality.
Lead Story
Gender and the Millennium Development Goals
Madhu Sharma
The progress on the Millennium Development goals relating to the achievement of gender equality (MDG3) is to be mapped on the indicator which states "To eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015". Is it true that by eliminating gender disparity in school education, we would be able to achieve gender equality? Is the relation between education and gender sensitivity so simplistic? The northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, which are all doing fine on the female literacy scale, become major culprits on the aspect of an adverse child sex ratio. This then mean that the measures of gender equality need go beyond the indicator of educational parity. Only then would it be a more meaningful exercise by keeping pace with the reality and actually address the real concerns.
While the Gender-related Development Index (GDI) is actually the Human Development Index accounting for the inequalities between men and women in the average achievements on the measures of longevity, educational attainment and living standards, where are we taking into account the inequalities between men and women in opportunities or enabling factors which have direct bearing on these achievements? Provision of safe environment and freedom from gender-based violence is one such important factor which has a direct bearing on all three dimensions of longevity, educational achievement and living standards, and which is not taken into account by the GDI and MDG.
Two such indicators can be sex ratio and incidence of crime against women Gender based -violence in all its forms throughout the life cycle of a woman from female foeticide, disparities in education and employment, morbidity, mortality, sexual crimes, should essentially be factored in enumerating gender development (keeping in mind their inverse relation) indicators or the progress on MDG3.
Rarely does a day pass when the news channels or the newspapers do not have any news about inane acts of violence against women. While no reason can justify the depriving of any one their rights to survive or live with dignity, respect and free of discrimination, the range of rationale often given is reflective of the sheer criminality and insensitivity of sections of society. It highlights the heights of ruthlessness, callousness and viciousness that society is heading towards. While you wonder whether the grounds quoted are more numbing or the act, the statistics keeps increasing.
According to the UN definition, the deprivation and denial of opportunities for basic human amenities and means of livelihood like health, education, training, skill building also define violence against women. Understanding the phenomenon of gender violence requires an analysis of the patterns of violence directed towards women and the underlying mechanisms that permit the emergence and perpetuation of these patterns.
1. Violence against women is an impediment for achievement of MDGs.
2. Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of equality,
development and peace
3. Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women.
4. Violence against women leads to domination of men over women.
5. Violence against women leads to discrimination against women and girls (even unborn).
Side Story
Women's Political Participation
Pradeepti Pathak
Since long, women were not allowed to participate in the socio-political realm. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution states that "Ours is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic and it shall secure to all its citizens (which includes women) Justices, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and opportunity." Yet, in today's era women are not given their rightful place and face various forms of subjugation and denial even, within the political sphere.
During the first general election in 1951, 66 women contested the election to Parliament and 19 were elected to the Lok Sabha. The figures today do not tell a different story. The 14th general election in 2004 saw 355 women candidates out of a total of 5,435 and only 45 women were finally elected. In the Rajya Sabha out of 245 members only 28 are women. The 73rd and the 74th Amendment Acts reserved seats for women at the grassroots level bodies, Panchayats and municipalities, with the hope that these measures will set the trend to provide women their legitimate place in public life. The Women's Representation Bill was tabled in the 12th and the 13th Lok Sabha but could not be passed.
Politics has thus far been male-oriented. Politics projects the power play as an exclusive 'male domain' where masculinity becomes synonymous with violent money and muscle power as a cherished value. Increasing criminalisation of politics and use of violence to counter opposition works to the disadvantage of women. It assumes male norms of citizenship and is gender myopic showing women as failing to behave/perform in the same way as men. Traditionally, politics is the least suitable vocation for women. Low socio-economic status of women, household chores and childcare considered the women's preserve, leave little available time for concerns outside the home. Lack of social support structure render all public pursuits beyond women's reach. Political parties do not favor nomination of women candidates as they have no ability to mobilise recourses and their access to financial resources is negligible.
According to women Members of Parliament (MPs), there are many factors which influence or hamper women's full involvement within the party. Age or seniority is one of the most important factors which influence the role and participation of women MPs. Majority of the women MPs are included in the party due to some male MPs and not due to their individual personalities. A majority of women MPs agree that being women they have to work harder to compete with their male colleagues. Generally, when a male MP fails to do something concrete, his party's general attitude is that he is not capable but if a woman fails, it is said that women (by implication all women) are not capable.
The exclusion of women from positions of power deprives society of the special contribution that women may make to decision-making. Women can bring distinctive values, priorities and perspective to public life, since their traditional pre-occupation with the home and family make them particularly sensitive to issues and decisions that affect women, children and every aspect of family life. Moreover, women's rights and responsibilities to participate equally in political life must be treated not as a minority issue. The political space belongs to all citizens: politics is everyone's business and affects the lives of each of us.
Grassroots Experiences
Woman Sarpanch evolves a monitoring system for NREGA
Pallavi Kolte
A unique initiative taken by a woman Sarpanch of Sapotara Panchayat Samiti in Karauli district of Rajasthan has resulted in the evolving of an efficient monitoring system for NREGS for ensuring unhindered access of rural populace to the scheme and checking corruption in the implementation of the scheme. Asserting her leadership ever since the NREGS began in her Block, the 25 year old Sarpanch, Shakuntala Meena, constituted a 21 member Monitoring Committee to assess the progress of the works under the scheme. This was the first intermediate level committee, as stipulated in the NREGA, appointed in the country. The members of this Monitoring Committee would visit the work site to ensure that the works are carried out as per the provisions of the Act, the quality of the materials used are of the prescribed standards, there is availability of work-site facilities, for instance availability of drinking water and crèche for children of women workers, medical kits etc. They also ensured timely wage payments to the workers. Certain provisions in the Act, such as the existence of muster rolls at the work-site, one-third participation of women, maintenance of records and public display of information through the RTI Act were other initiatives that Shakuntala undertook on her own to ensure the effective implementation of the NREGS. When she became aware of cases of people being dissuaded from filing applications under NREGS, she provided application forms and instructed the Panchayat Secretary to be present at the Panchayat Samiti and receive applications. As a result 45 people were provided employment in the village. Her many successful initiatives were highlighted by the media, and caught the attention of Union Minister of Panchayati Raj who sent her an appreciation letter for her remarkable initiatives under NREGA, along with an invitation to be part of a youth delegation visiting Seoul. Shakuntala has become a role model for many other women Sarpanches in the block and the State
When I interacted with the teachers and saw the attendance register, I found that the children of the community are actually enrolled. When I enquired about this the teacher said that all know that the Bawaria do not send their children to school. They have admitted them but they will not come. What could they do? ‘We have to work the attendance, as we have to show enrolment to the SSA.’ Even the ward panch of Ward 6, Baldeo Yadav, involved in the survey said that this is the fact. It is difficult to change their mindset. So it seems that it is difficult to deal with the situation. But does it mean that these community children will remain illiterate generation after generation and their name will be highlighted as enrolled & literate citizen of the community.
Local - Global Snippets
BJP plans for women's quota, (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 19 January 2008): With a consensus eluding the Women Reservation Bill, the BJP said it would mount a campaign to press the government to implement an election commission proposal making it mandatory for political parties to allocate 33% of seats they are contesting for women.
Rural wage bias against women and kids, (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 31 January 2008): Gender discrimination at the workplace, be it in rural or urban India, is a fact says new Government Survey. The bias in the payment of wages and salaries not only overlooks the number of hours put in by men and women but their education qualification.
Rape is India's fastest growing crime, (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 31 January 2008): Rape is the fastest growing crime in the country shows government data, even as reports of sexual crimes, including those against foreign tourists, continue to pour in from across India.
Eunuchs help NGOs to campaign for girl child, (DNA, Mumbai, 7February 2008): In a unique partnership, grassroots social workers and the community of transsexuals are spearheading a campaign to save the girl child and stop female foeticide in five districts of Tamil Nadu.
Customary payments and gifts not dowry, say SC, (Times of India, New Delhi, 1 Feb 2008): The Supreme Court has ruled that demand for money and presents from partners of a married girl at the time of birth of her child or for other ceremonies, as is prevalent in society, may be depreciable but cannot be categorised as dowry to make it a punishable offence.
'Domestic Violence Act covers live-in-relationships too', (Indian Express, New Delhi, 3Feb 2008): Legal luminaries stressed on the fact that the Domestic Violence Act had in it a feature that required that government to publicise it as much as possible, so that even the poor knew how to use it. The act includes oppression in live-in-relationships as well.
Delhi ready to get its first women cabbies, (Mail Today, New Delhi, 1 February 2008): Delhi is set to get its first group of women cabbies. A project- Mahila Pragati Chakra, Women on Wheels- has been launched to train women from poor economic background as taxi drivers and automobile mechanics in the National Capital region.
Implement changes in sexual assault bill, says NCW, (Asian AGI, New Delhi, 3February 2008): The National Commission for Women has expressed its displeasure towards the government for not implementing the amendments of the Sexual Assault Bill, which the Commission had proposed in 2007.
Eve-teasing should be made non-bailable offence: NCW, (The Hindu, New Delhi, 2 February 2008): The National Commission for Women has suggested making harassment of women, including eve teasing, a non-bailable offence. Also, those who are witness to such attacks and do not come to the rescue of the victim should be made liable to prosecution.
Prepare a relief plan for rape victims: HC, (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 5 February 2008): Delhi Government told to ensure compensation, rehabilitation of rape victims and Rs.5.8 lakh to be paid as damages to a woman who was raped inside Safdarjung Hospital two years ago.
Most women work for 60 hours a week: ASSOCHAM, (The Tribune, New Delhi, 8 March,2008): In their pursuit to stay ahead of men and create a niche for themselves in the competitive economy, most women work for over 60 hours a week.
Women work at lower salaries, (Deccan Chronicle, 8 March 2008): A large number of women work with low salary and without any social protection, says a new report of International Labour Organisation.
E -discussion
Women and their size has been a topic of discussion over the centuries. In the current trend of 'enlightened' thinking, there has been much debate about the senselessness of being a 'size zero'. The fashion industry has taken steps to dissuade extra 'thin' models from participating in fashion shows. That has not stopped Kareena Kapoor from wanting to lose more weight (she is supposed to be 48 kgs currently!). Priyanka Chopra was asked by Karan Johar to get into shape for his next movie (how much thinner can she become?!). Women in the limelight (like Kareena and Priyanka) become role models for other women to emulate. Who then perpetuates this desire to be skeletal thin? Are the women themselves responsible in their desire to appear beautiful? Or are men, as appreciators of a certain standard of feminine beauty, responsible?
