Wednesday, 25 January 2012

My dream for India.....An Equal & Just Society for Everyone

While India celebrates its 63rd Republic Day today, I am thinking of all those who are at the bottom of our social pyramid.Does days of national importance hold any meaning for them ? Or is it just another day of struggle to make a living amongst all the odds.

Our country is going through a dynamic phase right now,one which  is poised for unprecedented growth and development.Amidst all this, social inclusion is something that we tend to forget.While all of conveniently look forward towards the macro picture, it is the micro picture that also needs to be looked at more seriously.If the recent Hindustan Times report on hunger and starvation in India (http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Feeding-the-one-billion/Article1-786761.aspx) is anything to go by, then the Central as well as the State Govts. should take a hard look at their policy decisions.

Long live the Republic ! Jai Hind !  

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Creating Employment Opportunities In India may reduce Prostitution and illegal trafficking of Women


The 7th January Telegraph issue made for an interesting reading.There were two articles in particular that caught my attention and made me think about the issue of women's empowerment in India.

One was titled "Undercover jobs for Saudi women" that was written by James Hider of The Times, London and the other was an editorial by the much loved and respected Kushwant Singh titled, "Keeping tabs on the taboo". 

Both these articles, although very different in their scope and approach, made a strong case for women's empowerment. I personally feel that the problem of prostitution in India is deep rooted in our dogmas and our age old approach towards how we have been treating this class of women. Part of the reason why women in our country are pushed and lured into this so - called lowly profession is that fact that they are not educated or literate to get into any decent job and don't even have the necessary vocational skills to get self employment.  

The decision of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to ban men from selling underwear in lingerie  shops and introducing women in these shops has been criticised by sections of ultra conservative society but it will result in upliftment of women in a society that has traditionally decreed against working of women outside their homes.

A similar move in India can be adopted for so -called sex workers in India.With the Central Govt.'s decision of introducing more FDI in retail and with many Indian retailers opening their stores in B & C class cities, they may be trained to work in these retail formats and in other private stores which have a huge scope for employment. 

It is we who are responsible for such an appealing condition of the women in our society and efforts like these can only help in improving their condition. Better late than never.