Sri Veerbhadra Channamalla Swami of Nidumamidi Mutt has called for ushering in a qualitative change in our thinking to end the discrimination against women and atrocities on them.
“This has to start from the family, which is the origin of discrimination against women,” he said after inaugurating a two-day seminar on ‘Prevention of atrocities on women – problems and challenges’, organised by the department of woman studies, Kannada University, Hampi, here on Monday.
“Gender discrimination has been a common phenomenon in the male-dominated society for ages. It starts in the family where a lot of restrictions are imposed on girls and women, right from childhood, limiting her to the house, while no such restrictions are imposed on boys and men. Religious beliefs also gave more importance to men and women are neglected.
In these circumstances, there is a need for ushering in a change in thinking to treat men and women equally. This will help prevent the widening of gender discrimination gap and also stop atrocities to a great extent,” he said.
The swami also exhorted women organisations to forge unity and launch a powerful movement on the lines of Dalit and farmers’ movement to help bring down atrocities on women. “This is the only alternative,” he said.
Lack of political will
Preethi Shubhachandra, professor, Mysore University, said that laws were enacted to prevent atrocities on women as a sequel to a series of struggles and movements by women organisations, but political will was lacking.
Rani Satish, former Minister, expressed concern over the delay in extending 33 per cent reservation for women. She said that political parties could consider extending it in phases.
Hi.Chi. Borlingaiah, Vice-Chancellor, was of the view that the delay in dispensation of justice was a major reason for the rise in atrocities on women and underlined the need for speedy disposal of cases with stringent punishment, which he said, would bring down such cases.
Shivanand Viraktmutt, head of women studies, and M.G. Shobha, director, woman studies, were present.
