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Women and society
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A three-day discussion on women's issues, held in the city recently, stressed the point that no society can progress without empowerment of women.
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A DISCUSSION on women's issues was held in the city this past week.
No state can progress without "giving women their due rights", the discussion, led Dr. Poornima Advani of the National Commission for Women (NCW), pointed out.
The programme was jointly organised by NCW and the State Women's Commission. `Strategies for economic empowerment of women', `Status of Women in Kerala' and `Sexual harassment of women at workplaces' were the main topics of discussion.
Those who participated in the programme included members of NCW, M. Kamalam, chairperson of the State Women's Commission, delegates from all over the State, members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and representatives of backward communities.
A deluge of "letters and petitions to NCW", Dr. Advani said, prompted them to visit Muthanga.
"My heart goes out to them. They have been living in inhuman conditions devoid of basic amenities and now have been implicated in false charges like abetment of murder. I have written to the Government of Kerala, to the Environment ministry and authorities concerned, and requested that the Government provide immediate short-term assistance," said Dr. Advani.
She was incensed at the way State Police personnel handled the Muthanga issue.
Dr. Advani voiced her disapproval at the way the State Women's commission dealt with issues of alleged sexual assault on women in Muthanga, by police personnel.
As could be expected, the issue struck a discordant note with M. Kamalam, chairperson of the State Women's Commission, who refuted the allegations. Kamalam negated the accusations of alleged "delay in responding" to the women victims in Muthanga.
Reacting to allegations that NCW "has been lethargic in formulating amendments to the Protection from Domestic Violence Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha, protecting certain political parties and delayed sending a fact finding team to areas affected by Gujarat riots", Dr. Advani pointed out that "no matter what NCW does, criticism is bound to come our way. We are moving on."
She said, "Some months ago, when Kuttubai of Timoli (Madhya Pradesh) observed Sati, NCW rushed to the spot. We have been to far flung places in Haryana and even to Midnapore and Timoli."
Elaborating on issues of `sexual harassment at workplaces', she said, women working in the unorganised sector were the worst victims.
"Even women in high posts, such as IAS, are not spared. We had a survey conducted by the PTI to examine the situation in the media. A lot of women journalists disclosed their experiences; we found a lot of gender discrimination in this field."
Another problem that was brought to NCW's notice was the non-payment of wages (as per rules) to women employed in unorganised sectors.
"There are laws to safeguard their rights. We've just visited Tirunelveli to meet the women employed in the beedi making industries."
One such industry was closed for the day, to prevent the members of NCW from talking to its employees. "Despite such attempts by industry owners, the women came forward with petitions and shared their problems with us," said B. Rani Maurya, a member of NCW.
In a subsequent discussion with select representatives of the public sector undertakings, none of the members put forth any complaints made by women employees regarding sexual harassment at their respective workplaces.
She pointed out that the absence of even a single complaint from a women employee could mean two things. "One, there is no problem at all. Two, no complaint has been lodged irrespective of whether there has been a problem or not."
The first, plausible explanation, was "difficult to accept" while the second one meant that "the women's committees concerned were not monitoring the problems" of their women employees.
A senior representative of a Central Government office here told NCW that she had received complaints from two women employees about sexual harassment by a "senior officer with a lot of clout".
Citing this "inaction" as a "problem", which led to women losing faith in committees that were supposed to safeguard their rights, Dr. Advani remarked, "In such circumstances, a written complaint has to be forwarded to the head of the organisation and a women's committee and also to the State Women's Commission. No matter how senior an official the `accused' happens to be, he cannot be excused for such offensive acts."
Problems such as female foeticide, monetary assistance for the old, welfare programmes for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, co-operation of NGOs and State Women's Commission were also discussed.
Dr. Sarala Gopalan, former secretary to the Government of India, Department of Home and Child, said the thrust would be on key issues such as increasing dowry problems, creating legal awareness through community-based programmes, incorporation of legal awareness in school curriculum and psychological and economic empowerment.
"We plan to write to the Railways requesting that the ladies compartment be brought forward to reduce inconvenience to women travellers," said Dr. Sarala.
Dr. Advani said, "We have always demanded 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. We do not support the `sub-quota' within the 33 per cent. The demand for the Women's Reservation Bill to be passed has instilled a sense of insecurity among men who do not wish to abdicate their political power."
Dr. Advani said that NCW planned to hold a public hearing of the women from minority communities, in Kerala.
"We will come back to address their grievances," she said
S.S.
Graphics: C.R.S.
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