Spotlight

New Delhi, 3 June 2016

National Policy for Women

FUTILE, SANS PUBLIC SUPPORT

By Dr. S.Saraswathi

(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)

Amidst increasing cases of violence against women along-with growing demand for gender equality and justice by women’s groups, the Draft National Policy for Women was released by Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi for public comments last month.

Notably, this is to guide action for women’s development and welfare for the next 15-20 years replacing the last policy also by the erstwhile Vajpayee-led NDA Government in 2001.

Unfortunately, the policy has not received publicity though it concerns the entire population, men and women. Many newspapers did not publish it and where it was printed, it was not highlighted like sensational cases of crimes against women or activists march to   break age-old traditions and enter temples in order to assert their Constitutional rights.

No doubt, in the last four decades since the First National Commission for Women, drastic changes have occurred in our perception of women’s status in the society.  Initially it was welfare-oriented matters now it is concerned with basic gender issues that are root causes of discriminations. 

Whereby, the entire development process is seized of these matters which in a way rattle society and many of its outdated beliefs and traditions. Consequently, the Policy has to guide thinking on these issues and plan for remedial action.

Recall, the 2001 draft called the National Policy for Empowerment of Women laid down a comprehensive policy for advancement, development, and empowerment of women with appropriate operational strategies. 

It included, participation of women in decision-making bodies, strengthening of the legal system to eliminate all forms of discriminations against them and maintaining gender perspective in the development process.  The Government followed up with action.

However as global changes in technology and information system have revolutionized life including that of the home-bound Indian women in the last 15 years it has shaken their everyday life in multiple ways. 

Wherein, a fresh look into their status vis-à-vis the changes occurring   around them are imperative to make adjustments and take corrective measures so that women are not left behind to remain content with their position silently. 

Not just that. The gender gap should not be allowed to widen by appropriation of the major benefits of the technological revolution by men.

Indeed, economic changes have affected life across the country.  Therefore, unless the mindset of our patriarchal society changes, women cannot take the full benefits of these changes. Thus, a positive policy is needed to address and remove blocks in women’s way.

Besides, self-imposed restrictions are socially constructed and to break these women need positive guidelines and action plan. So the new Policy has to provide a road map for social transformation.

Undoubtedly, the Draft National Policy for Women has been framed to help “establish a solid foundation to accelerate our commitment made in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals”, said Maneka Gandhi.  These goals were proclaimed after the expiry of the Millennium Development Goals period in 2015. 

It will address not only  problems which continue despite proclamation of  policies and programmes  and  recommendations  of various commissions-committees like infant and child mortality, maternity care  and school drop-out, but  also  emerging challenges faced by women like cyber crimes, social media threats, gender sensitivity in family planning, security to surrogate mother and inequalities among women.

Pertinently, instead of a welfare-oriented approach pursued so far, the new Policy offers a “rights-based approach”. In practice it underscores that women are no longer to be treated as simply objects for sympathy and care, but as citizens with inalienable Constitutional rights.  

Thus, the focus shifts from “entitlements to rights” and women should be in a position to influence the direction of social change through participation in the social, economic and political spheres of life.  The focus also moves from “empowerment to creating an enabling environment”, which is a step forward in promoting self-confidence among women in an equalitarian atmosphere.

Notably, an enabling environment is to deal with housing and shelter, provision of drinking water and sanitation, media, sports and building infrastructure. 

As in our present social set-up, deficiencies in the living environment directly affect women more than men and make claims of rights and empowerment meaningless.

Accordingly, capacity development and training are accorded highest priority and specific programmes are envisaged to be implemented through facilitation centres to be set up in villages with the help of village coordinators.

The Policy’s salient features include essential basics like health, education, employment opportunities and skill development of all women. Alongside, develop a framework to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women thereby creating a society with women working as equal partners in all spheres of life.

True, these are old ideas but they need concrete action programmes   based on review from time to time.

Additionally, the Policy aims at addressing all forms of violence against women, improving the child sex-ratio and preventing trafficking at source.  Arguably, why they can’t be addressed under existing laws and administration?

That we still need a special policy to deal with these issues only shows the presence of irremovable obstacles in enforcing the Policy against settled practices.

Also noteworthy is inclusion of criminalization of marital rape in the Draft. Certainly, this is a revolutionary idea for people brought up in a mistaken notion of conjugal rights and prone to looking on “wife” as a sex object and a child-producing machine.  Notwithstanding, the Policy might lead to male harassment by women. 

Clearly, some action is required to establish women status as equal partners with men in every field of activity and not mute subordinates.  Therefore, we have to boldly adopt drastic policies so that desired changes in people’s perception of women can be introduced.

Interestingly, the Muslim Personal Law is keen on fighting for Muslim women’s Constitutional rights, yet ignores the plurality of customary laws which make life miserable for women in the majoritarian group. 

Widows’ plight, child marriage, harassment for dowry, denial of property rights and financial freedom still continue with open connivance of illegal organizations like Khap Panchayats. 

Hence, we need a policy to spread legal knowledge and practical lessons to change our mindset.  Progressive policies will become futile in a hostile social atmosphere.

Alas, the Draft does not touch this matter whereby the gap between the legal and actual situation will only increase if we are unable to practise what our National Policy elucidates.

Shockingly, India ranks 108 among 145 countries in the 2015Global Gender Gap Survey. This gap is widest vis-à-vis domestic responsibilities, a sphere almost exclusively in the domain of family.

In sum, changes have to start within the household as social taboos and economic disparities start at home and must be fought at the root to free women from all kinds of discriminations.

Remember, household practices are largely determined by the family, caste and religious beliefs. Unmistakably, heads of these institutions must come forward to free women from their bondage to unauthorized customs.  ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)