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A Call to Women:Think before you Vote.
- Mr. Vachaspati Velavartipati

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Need a urgent legislation By Velavartipati. Vachaspati. M.A (Political Science), M.A (Anthropology), NET (Anthropology) Women are demanding reservations in legislatures, but political parties failed to come to come to consensus. Capt.Lakshmi Sehgal, the first women, who is as great as Mr.Abul Kalam, to contest the Presidential Election, is defeated. In recent Gujarat Communal Carnage, the way women are raped and a pregnant women¡¦s womb was cut opened and the foetus was taken out killed, expresses the degree of patriarchal prejudices against women. The life of Ms.Phoolan Devi tells the story of suppression, oppression, and exploitation of women by the system. Bride burning, wife baffling, eve teasing of school of college going student by men irrespective of age became quite common in the Indian society. Hence, the question how to prevent these discriminative practices against women became biggest challenge to the civilized society, and how to empower women has relevance to discuss in public. To know how to solve these problems of atrocities against women, it is necessary to know the definition of empowerment of women. Empowerment of women means to make women powerful and confident in their day-to-day life. In India, the motto of policy makers is to make women empowered by means of economically, socially, physically and politically. Economic empowerment of women by means of providing jobs, self -employment and other forms of economic activities. Social empowerment of women by means of providing education about their rights, and made them to live with dignity, free from social discrimination. Physical empowerment of women by means of providing skills of getting livelihood, martial arts, functional dresses required by changing patterns and needs of their social behaviour. Political empowerment of women by means of providing reservations in legislatures, jobs, welfare schemes etc. The empowerment of women became necessary as they are almost fifty percent of the population and are being discriminated at all fronts. The moral inferiority of Indians, especially Hindus, was supposed to be demonstrated by the barbaric practices followed against women. Writing in the nineteenth century, John Stuart Mill considered Hindu civilization crude and immoral. Thus colonial historians justified the British rule in India by arguing that Hindu women received the protection and intervention of the colonial rule, as at that time the practice ¡¥sati¡¦ was widely practiced. Even from the Brahmanical sources, there sufficient evidence to show that the structure of institutions that ensured the subordination of women was complete long before Muslims as a religious community had even come into being. As for property is concerned, women not only did not own property, they were considered to be property or commodity, the bride, for example, being gifted to groom along with other goods. The for present days problems like bride burning, domestic violence, suicides of wives, daughters and sisters, the origins were laid by our ancestors out of ignorance. Hence, the solution lies in empowering women to eliminate the Economic Inequalities, Social Inequalities, Physical Inequalities, and Political Inequalities. Economic Inequality of women may be in terms of inheritance of property, salary, contribution to the maintenance of the family etc. women have no right to inherit the property on equal basis on par with her brothers as per Dharma Sastras. This social deformity resulted in the raise of Dowry System in the Hindu Society. Social Inequality means inequality in terms of literacy, education in which women are not on par with men. As per Census 2001, the female literacy is 54.16 per cent compared to the male literacy of 75.6 per cent. These statistics speaks volumes out Census. This was due to discouragement of female education by men, who may be brothers, fathers and others, or as a whole. On levels of education too, a women from her childhood, who is eager to study has to overcome ¡¥n¡¦ number of obstacles, which may be social, cultural and biological. In India, female entrance into colleges is mere 35.5 per cent, and the percentage of female entrance into post graduation and in other higher studies is dismal. Even though she completed her education, her decision to do the job or a particular job depends at the mercy of the male members of the family, as they suddenly attain the feudal face and the women¡¦s decision would be turned down by a single stroke of word. The political inequality is at high degree, which is visible to the naked eye, and can be seen by observing the number of women representatives in the legislatures. Women have been politically marginalized in our country and most of them live extremely restricted lives. They are not allowed to have much of a voice even within their community or family¡¦s decision-making processes, live along a meaningful say in the national politics. Not just politicians but also even many intellectuals are angrily rejecting the idea of reservations for women and calling it a retrogressive move even in societies where women exercise relatively more freedom in day-to-day living, they remain politically marginalized. Women have done extremely well in the Scandinavian countries, Sweden (34 M.Ps), Norway (39 M.Ps), Denmark, and Finland, where they are moving in the direction of near equal participation. In these societies, women have begun to seriously alter the very nature of politics and have made enduring and substantial gains for themselves in every field. In India, the problem is more serious because while women are inching forward bit by bit, in India the participation of women in politics is actually declining. In the 1996 elections they are 6.4 percent of 543 seats in the Parliament, in 1999 elections they are 6.5 per cent. In the State¡¦s legislatures, the representation of women shows the contradictory features as they do not show the relationship between the rate of literacy of women and their participation in politics. A comparison between the status of Kerala and Rajasthan, whose literacy rates are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. In Kerala, the overall literacy rate is reportedly 90 per cent with 80 percent female literacy. By contrast, in Rajasthan, the female literacy is mere 20 percent and only 12 of the females are literate in rural areas. Kerala has a matrimonial tradition in which women have a much larger measure of autonomy and freedom of movement while most of the women in Rajasthan live far more lives that are restricted in aggressively patriarchal communities. However, not all the cultural and educational advantages of women in Kerala have translated into higher political participation. The percentage of women in Kerala legislative assembly rose from less than one percent in 1967 to six per cent in 1991. In Rajasthan, the representation of women was four percent in 1967 and reached eight percent in 1986-90. By contrast, U.P, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, which are known for their low educational levels and repressive cultural norms for women, have not only sent a relatively larger portion of women to the Lok Sabha but have also elected relatively more women MLAs. This is a huge disproportionate of representation in the Legislatures. . Women¡¦s reservation bill scuttled again. Why there is no consensus on the issue of Reservations to Women among political parties? The are arguments in support are: parties are reluctant to sponsor women candidates because of the overall patriarchal character of Indian politics, Reservations would increase the number of women at one go and the inhabitants arising from their minority status would disappear faster, leading to increase in political participation, presence of women in legislatures would lead to changes in the direction of debates and polity. Arguments against the Reservations are: Women can¡¦t be equated to socially backward communities as women are not a socially homogeneous group, women¡¦s interests would not be isolated from those of other economic and social strata, such a measure would lead to demands from other groups/communities, which would pose a threat to national integration, and the reservation criteria should follow the all criteria of OBC, SC and ST also. But if there are reservations within the reservations in other areas, why not in legislatures. If those reservations within reservations don¡¦t pose threat to national unity and integrity, so what women¡¦s reservations also. ¡¥the representation of women in the first parliament was four percent. Almost 55 years later it is just eight percent, not because they are not able but because they are kept out¡¦ is correct. Physical inequality is another form, which is the hallmark of patriarchy and causing the physical elimination of girl child. The character of Indian Society and culture, which is hailed as great, may be known by observing the fluctuating sex ratio against women; here sex ratio means the number of women per thousand men. In year 1901, it was 972, in 1921, it was 955, in 1941, it was 945, in 1971-it was930, in 1981, it was 935, in 1991, it was 929, and in 2001, it was 934. As per Census 2001, though the sex ratio has increased from 929 in 1991 to 933 in 2001, still against women, where as in developed countries there are 1060 female for 1000 male, as in those countries the life expectancy of women is generally longer than men due to the availability of health facilities. The causes for the low proportion of females in India are rooted in the cultural and social history of India apart from the fact that there are more male births. From the very beginning, males have been considered important for religious purposes and inheritance of property and titles. Further, the custom of early marriages, which was prevalent in India, caused frequent childbirth. This in turn resulted in high maternity mortality leading to depletion of female population. Hence, the present men got the superior status at the expense of women¡¦s lives. The poor sex ratio is a matter of great concern to the policy makers, as economic development centres on the position of women in the family, since they are perceived as the key factor in providing impetus to social and economic change The general tendency of life expectancy of women is larger is common to all over the world, but the sex ratio in India is against women. It is because the practice of female infanticide, particularly in urban areas likes Bombay, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Madras etc. The middle class families in particular are the main perpetrators of this practice due to economic reasons as bearing a girl child is uneconomical to them and the parents think the expenditure spent on her is lost forever, and another cause is the preference of the male child. In fact, women live longer, if they are allowed to live. In spite of having higher life expectancy, the number of women is low as indicated by the fluctuating sex ratios, which are against women. It is more serious in Haryana and Punjab where the sex ratio is seriously against women. The girl child has to encounter the first attempt before her birth. The medical test, amniocentesis, which is meant to test the health of the foetus, is being used to test the sex of the foetus. If the foetus is female, then there will be termination of the pregnancy. Here her husband or in-laws also decide not by that pregnant mother, but this termination issue. Hence, the saga of sorrows starts right from the womb. The girl child not only eliminated before birth, but also, if survived, sold to others by the parents due to poverty, as some tribal societies are presently doing, or neglected nutritionally during the growing period, which ultimately may result in maternal deaths, or subjected to burning for want of dowry, or often commit suicides. Even though, if she overcomes all these obstacles, then there is the threat of rapes and kidnaps in this so-called great Indian civilized society. More than 11000 rapes, more than 12000 kidnappings per year are reported in India. Ironically, age of victim may very from three year to 80 year old and the age of rapist could be from student to eighty-year-old man. Most of the atrocities against the girl child are unreported to the police officials due to fear of humiliation. In India, every one of three married women is subjected to atrocities like beating, burning, withdrawal, sexual harassment etc. The life of women particularly when she attained the age of marriage is miserable. She bound to face the several comments from street side Romeos and those Romeos may be a teenager or middle-aged man or ¡¥elderly¡¦ like man. Women instead of protest became habituated to this kind of social harassment. Even in settling her marriage, her opinion is often overlooked or may consider not necessary by the family members, particularly by the male members who is the basic violation of Human Rights, and is an offence under Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code. Some girls are made to get married even before the constitutionally prescribed age, 18. All these offences against women suggest the character of Indian society is not at all civilized and treats women as second-class or marginalized citizen; leave along the Right to dignity, their physical survival is in question. The Indian Society shows the unique distinction that whatever is the religion, caste, class or creed, it treats women alike, and commits atrocities against women alike with the similar intentions, and all the men treat women alike. Hence, it is a unique way of showing the Unity in Diversity. Here unity lies in treatment of women by the society and men, and diversity lies in different religions, castes, classes or creeds. The exceptional qualities of Ms.Jayalalithaa like Intelligence, Mental Toughness, Making critics silent seldom expressed by the Indian women, though they posses those qualities. More over, the woman Prime Minister and women Chief Minister failed to do anything to their women folk. What could be the reasons for these atrocities against women in Indian Society? The causes are multiple: Economical, Social, Physical and Political. The Economic Cause is the women do not have financial autonomy in general, as they do not inherit the property except Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Because of this throughout the life, they tend to depend for their survival on their father before their marriage, husband after the marriage, sons after the death of her husband. Hence, the autonomy in decision-making is out of question, as she bound to obey whatever her patron orders. If she has any source of income she could definitely influence the decisions of the male members of her family. Most of the women do not posses even the right on her sexuality, whether to have children or not to have children, is not within the rights of women. Her choice on her reproductive rights is almost ¡¥ZERO¡¦, as she has been dependent on somebody. Hence, she is giving births to cricket teams or football team numbered children throughout her life beyond her biological capacity. Hence, there is population explosion in India as we crossed one billion mark recently. One day her body may take rest permanently after prolonged number of deliveries. The socio-cultural causes are evolutionary in nature and with the help of religion, men were successful to made women as animate objects. Our great culture discriminates women as our religious texts, which laid foundations basing on hierarchy. Our Great Dharmasastras are against women and equated them with cattle. Particularly, the Manu allowed the husband to beat his wife with the stick if she questioned his orders. Manu even denied education and property rights to women, disallowed remarriage for a widow, and codified the methodology of subjugating the women and this methodology is being indoctrinated generation after generation. Her objections raised out of compulsion are often ignored. Even the 11th century Bhakti saints also equated women with cattle and allowed the husband to beat his wife with stick if she disobeyed his orders. Hence, women are denied of qualitative life under this perfectly framed culture in which they made handicap purposefully and culturally. In this culture, whatever women got from men are gifts only, but not their dues. One wonder is this indoctrination has entered up to DNA level! The women born and brought-up in this culture are becoming women patriarchs due to prolonged indoctrination of patriarchal prejudices. The mother, who is women patriarch, purposefully appears herself before her daughters as a model to show that how the women should be. Hence, the vicious circle or fatal triangle ¡¥Patriarchy-Men-Oppression¡¦ goes on and atrocities against women continue unabated and unstopped. Some mothers who are strict women patriarchs, do not allow their daughters even to laugh, to sit before books even for an hour, believing that girl child should learn to do domestic work first. This is resulting in ignorance of the girl child about the worldly affairs, day-to-day happenings, and changing patterns of the society. Hence, the girl after getting married under patriarchal set up, when enter her family of procreation, need to live with her husband who is aware of worldly affairs, day-to-day happenings, and changing patterns of the society, the girl faces the problems of adjustment within this new environment, which is different from her family of orientation. If her husband is compassionate, then it is well and good. If he is bad person, then the girl, who is ignorant of worldly affairs, day-to-day happenings, and changing patterns of the society, undergoes frustration result in maladjustment, ultimately leads to domestic violence. Even women who had higher education often get ill treated or cheated at the husband or in the society, as she has brought up in the patriarchal system, which is undemocratic. Hence, the generations of girls tend to grow in ignorance with indifference to worldly affairs, day-to-day happenings, and changing patterns of the society; their rights and their abilities, hence suffer. The existence of social injustice in India is a social fact and is combined with inequalities of women with men, is a continuous source of inevitable struggle. In India, almost all the communities, authority structure of all sorts at all fronts, is the primary source of struggle and generally, man are dominant in decision making, their implementation and the enjoyment of fruits of women¡¦s work. In the 21st century, where few women go on job do two jobs, one is in the office and another one is in the house, apart from producing children for men. Yet they suffer. The women who do not do job are often suffer from monatomic domestic work like cooking, cleaning the house and other allied domestic works. Hence, here lies the wastage of human resource of the country. Men instead of sharing the domestic work often indulge in quarrels with his wife and demand something new taste. Men often think that their authority is unquestionable. Such a system of authority necessarily involves struggle between those who give orders and those who take them, normally women. A male dominated family or community never finds equilibrium; such a unit or group has the structure of imperfectly entwined elements, which are held together by the coercion of inconsistencies. Struggle for justice, equality and independence are inherent in the very nature of such systems or units. Hence, empowering women, which are an extremely difficult, in different communities vary in scope, nature, intensity and degree of velocity; that may be latent or manifest, gradual or accelerated. Though the situation is miserable, the change, which is positive and perceptible in the uplifting women, is perceptible. There has been some series of provisions provided in eliminating the discriminating practices against women. 1. With the yeomen service of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, William Bentink abolished the inhuman practice, ¡¥Sati¡¦ in 1829. The Indians shall be thankful to this duo as long as the Indian history is written. 2. In 1856, with the efforts of Eshwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the government enacted the Widow Marriage Act, permitting the widows to remarry. 3. In 1929, the Child Marriage Restraint Act or Sarda Act was enacted, which prescribes the minimum age of 18 years for boys, and 14 years for girls. 4. In 1950, Hindu Succession Act enacted which provided the property rights to women, though not of equal share. 5. In 1961, the Maternity Benefits Act was enacted for the Maternity Leave for the women. 6. In 1961, Dowry Prohibition Act was enacted for prohibition of the dowry. 7. In 1976, the Government of India raised the minimum age levels of marriage from 21 years in case of boys and 18 years in case of girls. 8. The Constitution of India has provided, under Fundamental Rights, Art.15, 16 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, in addition to caste, religion, class or creed etc. 9. In 1982, UNESCO launched a programme called DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas), later made it part of IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme). After 1994, it the State, Andhra Pradesh became top in implementing this scheme. 10. In 1985, it was Mr.N. T. Rama Rao, not Ms. Indira Gandhi, who gave the equal share to the women in property inheritance, the State, Andhra Pradesh, for the first time in India enacted providing the equal share to the women in the inheritance of the property on par with men. 11. In 1985, Government of Andhra Pradesh, under Mr. N.T.Rama Rao, enacted a law providing the reservations for women in Jobs and educational institutions, the first of its kind India. 12. In 1986, Dowry Prohibition Act was amended, providing if the wife lodged the complaint within 7 years after the marriage; the husband has to prove his innocence. If the complaint was lodged after 7 years, the wife has to prove it. 13. In 1986, Women Development Corporations were established to identify women entrepreneurs, and to provide them technical advice, facilitate access to credit and promote marketing to the produced products. 14. In 1987, the Central Government launched training cum employment programme in traditional sector, like Dairy, agriculture, handlooms etc. 15. In 1987, Sati (Prohibition) Act was amended after Roop Kanwar incident in Rajasthan. Under this Act, punishment is provided for those who encourage sati or glorify sati. 16. In 1992, the National Commission for Women was set up to monitor the matters relating to the implementation of constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women, and suggest necessary measures and investigate cases of atrocities against women and bring them to the notice of the police, and also to suggest the needy measures for the betterment of women. 17. In 1992, the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh was launched, wherein when women save Rs.300 rupees and the Central Government will contribute Rs.75 rupees. 18. The RASS was established in 1981 at Tirupati. The activities and programmes of RASS were designed for the development of poor in the drought prone Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh. This region has a high percentage of population who belong to scheduled castes and the backward castes. The region does not have any major industries except a few agro-processing units. It also lags behind other regions of the State in terms of basic amenities. The rapid growth of population has aggravated poverty, unemployment and environmental degradation in the Rayalaseema region. Some of the anti-poverty programmes proved ineffective, as it was more on target achievement rather than human development. Moreover, the rural poor were not involved from the stage of planning to the stage of implementation and evaluation of programmes meant for their upliftment. Apart from this, hostels for working women/students were set-up. Pay-care centres for children of workingwomen were set-up. Residential schools for girl children in backward areas were set-up. Reservations for women in Panchayatraj and Nagarpalika were provided under 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments. Karnataka was the first state in giving reservations to women in local-self government under Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde. At all India level, thirty percent of welfare schemes are served for women. Yet, the atrocities against women are unabated, but increased and the national politics failed to give women a proper share in legislation. There are several further measures to be taken, to create confidence in their minds over their life and security. Hence, I suggest the following measures. „h Every woman below poverty like should be guaranteed for minimum of 20 days of work in a month, if they do not have self-employment. „h Measures to be taken enabling women to gain access to productive resources for sustainable agriculture. „h Measures to be taken for effective support provided to women farmers by the agricultural training and extension system and by other resource agencies. Because under them, it is proved that local biodiversity is conserved and regenerated. „h Women farmers to be supported to achieve household food security. „h There shall be reservations for women in all self-employment schemes, because there is evidence that women try to perform better. For example, DWCRA in Andhra Pradesh. „h Equal rights in the inheritance of property shall be extended to all the states. The Central Government should make a law in this regard. However, Central Government prohibited the Dowry, but it is still practicing and resulting in bride burning. This means, once you gave equal rights in inheritance of property, then only you can talk about prohibiting the dowry. „h Food for Education programme should be launched to promote education of the girl child, and the concept of DWCRA should start from there it self as part of their curriculum. „h Special Residential Schools for the girls should be started in the backward and tribal areas on the lines of proposed ¡¥Velugu¡¦ scheme of Andhra Pradesh. „h Mass media, which includes both private and public channels and All India Radio, News Papers, should be made to give advertisements regarding the empowerment of women and serials must be made educative instead of family politics and feuds. If necessary, the parliament should make a law in this regard. „h The Central Government should enact a law, which will ring the final bell for the male dominance and atrocities against women. The Act should be similar to the Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention) Act, under which if a women lodged a complaint against anyone including her husband of any act mentioned in Criminal Procedure Code, he will be take into custody immediately and a separate court should be established to deal this kind of cases, because the women who are suffering and habituated for suffering, must be forced to be free from it. „h The principal actors in this sub-programme will be members of the village-level organisations initiated by the Mahila Samastha programme in 500 villages of Medak, Mahaboobnagar, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nizamabad districts in the rain fed dry land belt of Telengana. Approximately 12,500 women will be involved in implementing different interventions under the sub-programme, and will benefit directly, as will their families. About 100 women¡¦s self-help, groups initiated by the UNDP-supported South Asia Poverty Alleviation programme (SAPAP) in 3 mandals of Mahaboobnagar district, with approximately 1500 women, will also be covered under the sub-programme. The families of these 14,000 women, as well as the entire population of the villages covered under the sub-programme will benefit indirectly from interventions under the sub-programme. Functionaries of the State Department of Agriculture at the district, mandals and village levels will also be involved in the implementation of the sub-programme. Opportunities will be created for them to build their capacities in addressing gender issues in agriculture, and in supporting activities in dry land agriculture. This should be further promoted with great vigor. It is expected that, as women build their competence in agriculture, they will feel more confident in diversifying into animal husbandry and horticulture. Attempts will be made to mobilize resources for these activities from other schemes and programmes of the Central and State governments. Since support to women farmers for diversified farming activities is envisioned in the Vision 2020 document, and since all sangham members fall in the eligible category ('landless or marginal farmers belonging to SC/ST'), it is expected that such convergence will be possible. The sub-programme will, however, provide direct support to women farmers to set up backyard poultries and small vegetable gardens to provide supplementary food for their families. Any small surpluses can be sold in the village market, or exchanged among sangham members. „h The policy makers need to realize that for the Sustainable Development, confident and empowered women are a must in any system. At present Gender Inequality is decreasing, as there is increase of participation of women at the local-self government. The State, Andhra Pradesh is far ahead among all the states in India in empowering women. At present there are more than four lakh DWCRA groups are in Andhra Pradesh that helped them to move towards near autonomy. This economic autonomy resulted in multiplier effect on the demographic structure of the Andhra Pradesh, as there has been a sharpest decline in the population growth. The increase of violence may be due to that the women are fighting against the stigma, culture and discrimination. India is that country which gave right to vote when the day when the constitution came into force. However, the other democracies, particularly western democracies gave it after prolonged struggle by women in their respective countries. Indian women are now coming out of kitchens, started doing jobs, talking and thinking about their rights. It may not be today, but there is a day tomorrow a day will come to show their full potential. It is further to be enhanced to address gender issues relating to food security and to provide concrete solutions for the feminisation of agriculture. If the above suggestions implemented correctly, the things will be settled. Let us wait for that day of gender equality and see the minimum of fifty percent of legislators are women both at national and state levels. But prior to that reservations for women in the legislatures are a must. If women fail to challenge the patriarchal nature of male legislators in the parliament, they will remain where they are. The rate of success in this regard by women is really poor. Whenever, women threatened ¡¥NOT TO VOTE¡¦ en masse with help of women legislators who are fighting for reservations, something could be achieved. Shabana Azmi need to take initiative in this regard as it is proved that men will not give reservations to women. More over, those movements will ignite the minds of women at the national level.

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