Utkrasht
- 1. Manthan Topic: Walk to Equality Ensuring safety and empowerment of women ARNAV CHOUDHRY RAKESH N RAO NEERAJ GADKARI PREKSHA SHARMA NACHIKETA CHAUHAN INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MADRAS
- 2. In the capital of India, about 75% of the total crimes committed are against women. The scene in the rest of the country is no better. The empowerment of women first requires their safety. The basic classes in which women lack security are: a. Social security: Denial of education to women, female infanticide • Reason: Patriarchal attitude, Orthodox view points b. Economic security: Little or no share in family property, lower employment rates, lesser earning opportunity • Reason: Workplace inequality, bad working conditions, lack of awareness of rights c. Security against crimes: Molestation, rape, eve teasing, trafficking, domestic violence, abusive language • Reason: Objectification of women, lack of awareness among women about mechanisms that protect them In India 30.3% women are unemployed, who can increase production India ranks 132 out of 148 in gender equality according to a United Nations survey
- 3. NEED for Empowerment of women For the overall development of any society the development of women should be put on a priority. Higher employment of women implies more workforce which leads to better overall economic growth of the country. Empowered women lead to a more morally aware and mature society. 0 50 100 150 Gender Equality Rank GDP (in 100 billion US$)
- 4. Roadmap to empower women Proposed Solutions • Creating awareness among women about laws • Better policy making • Effective law enforcement • Help in setting up of community business • Changing perspective of society • Creating awareness among women about laws • Better policy making • Effective law enforcement • Help in setting up of community business • Changing perspective of society Implementation Model • Mandatory education up to class 12 • Policy to identify perpetrators and have a zero-tolerance policy towards them • More trained staff – sensitive towards women issues • Cheaper loans to communities of women and setting up of a fund like the provident fund • Fast track courts for crime against women • Giving incentives for girl child education to girls and their parents • Creating public awareness through advertisements on mass media • Mandatory education up to class 12 • Policy to identify perpetrators and have a zero-tolerance policy towards them • More trained staff – sensitive towards women issues • Cheaper loans to communities of women and setting up of a fund like the provident fund • Fast track courts for crime against women • Giving incentives for girl child education to girls and their parents • Creating public awareness through advertisements on mass media
- 5. Building a network of workers to implement the solutions Colleges, Companies and Internet NGOs The Government Volunteers Activists Infrastructure Village Towns/Cities District State Nation Multi tiered organization Monitored by an external agency or ombudsman Professionals
- 6. Parameters of assessment of work done Parameter How does it help to assess situation of women? Literacy Rates More aware women Dropout rate at different levels Which age group is to be targeted for further assistance Ratio of sex ratio by sex ratio in schools Tending towards one, it shows enrolment of girls in school %age employment Job penetration among women Average income gap between employed men and women Helps in determining workplace equality Fund raised and released for women empowerment Helps in knowing the amount of assistance needed for elevation %age of assets owned by women in the family Shows economic independence of women in the family Crime Rates Security of women in society
- 7. Parameters of assessment of work done Parameter How does it help to assess situation of women? Female infanticide/ feticide rate It shows attitude of society towards girl child Pre-natal checkups At least 4-5 times will show that women are aware Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) It shows the quality healthcare given to women in country Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) Medical facility and qualified healthcare professionals attending to women in country during birth Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) It helps in showing the awareness of women in cases of family planning, their independence and so on
- 8. Sustainability of the measures Reasons why this would be sustainable? Solutions are easily implementable Lots of human resources available Lots of NGOs which will help to reach the goals Can employ college students and other volunteers who gain experience and other vocational skills People will be given subsidies on food grains and other commodities only on compliance with guidelines
- 9. Challenges to be faced during implementation Social Challenges • Over dominance of men in most spheres of life. • Men using women as pawns even in places where there is reservation for women. • Narrow mindedness of people in rural areas. • Slow acceptance of reality and change by people. • Political interests- People lobby for no change in current laws to protect themselves. • The number of villages is very large reaching out to all is tough. Other challenges: • Procurement of funds for a large response team is an economic challenge. • Ensuring funds reach the grass root level. • Co-ordination of activities on a large scale requires technical expertise and presence of skilled personnel.
- 10. Mitigation of challenges faces during implementation • Have local participation in educating and creating awareness. • Boost confidence of women through constant counseling of women who need it. • Educated women to play a bigger role. • Have open discussions in villages and bring them to terms with reality through use of songs, plays, television commercials and so on to have awareness about inequalities and discrimination. • Change the ingrained mindset of people. • Raise funds through public performances. • Reach out to people who want to help.
- 11. References: • http://www.indiancag.org/manthan/women-safety-and- empowerment • http://www.indiancag.org/manthan/downloads • http://databank.worldbank.org/data/home.aspx • http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Default.aspx • http://ncrb.nic.in/index.htm We would like to thank the following sites for the content and data provided. And specially CAG for the invaluable guidance and opportunity to present our views on the subject.