Atrocities on women have continued, unabated, whether it is the rape of the young woman returning from a party in an Uber taxi or the misogynistic practices of khap panchayats. The Nirbhaya Fund of Rs 1,000 crore lies unused and the rape crisis centres, while rightly scrapped, have not been replaced by a revolutionary new idea. So here to help are six ways for the government to demonstrate its intent towards women.
1. Recognise women as an integral part of the workforce This has many dimensions, as gender activist and Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association, Kavita Krishnan, points out.
It means recognising the woman's work at home as an economic activity, ensuring domestic and home-based workers are recognised as professionals with labour rights, enforcing labour laws to ensure the right to unionise and ensuring equal pay for equal work at the workplace.
2. Make public spaces safer This cannot be done if women are afraid to step out unescorted and at any hour. The Uber rape was clearly preventable had there been good governance. As former police officer Kiran Bedi points out, there is also no coordination among government agencies, whether it is public transport or municipal agencies.
Suneeta Dhar of Jagori, who has been working on this particular issue for a decade now, points out that in the urban context, there is an urgent need to imagine and design spaces in ways that are inclusive of diversity, and where women's voices shape policies and decision making. There is need to push back forces that are seeking to impinge on women's right to equality and to making her own choices.
3. Create Chief Ministerial Taskforces in every state These taskforces, says Supreme Court advocate Karuna Nundy, would have all Ministries list their smallest responsibilities under the law, also the personnel, resources and training needed. The taskforces would remove overlaps and leverage synergies.
An example has been established with the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, where four ministries have converged to finalise a programme that will be implemented in 100 districts to ensure both an equitable child sex ratio and more girls in school.
4. Ensure all laws are gender neutral Harpal Singh, chairman of Save the Children India, has a great idea - ask all the state Attorney Generals to provide an annual compliance report confirming that there are no laws in their state in conflict with the rights assured to women under the Constitution. Should there be such laws, the AGs should, in consultation with their respective state leadership, define a time bound plan for making the required changes in laws on inheritance, wages, office timings or property rights.
5. Encourage role reversal Corporate trainer Suruchi quotes the NASSCOM-Interweave report of 2010 to give examples where role reversal has encouraged a change in mindsets. Tata Steel through its initiative called Project Tejaswini trained and motivated women employed in roles such as sweeping and mopping; to switch to non-conventional roles such as driving ambulances, forklifts and even security trucks.
This ensured a long term commitment that has seen these women not only stay true to these new roles but also hold a record for accident-free driving while doubling their earlier wages.
Suruchi also points to Air France collaborating with the Ministry of Education to come up with a drive that encouraged boys to think of taking up traditionally female-oriented jobs (retailers, flight attendants) and girls to look at more traditionally male-dominated jobs (pilots and mechanics).
Only then, she says, will the mandatory requirement of the new Companies Act of 2013 for all companies in India to appoint a woman on their board, be more than mere lip service.
6. Create a Mission For Women, perhaps call it Streegraha Promote women's social autonomy with a vigorous campaign for women's rights to choose who they will marry, what work they will do, how many babies they want, says Krishnan. Back it with helplines for women facing domestic/parental coercion, and provide safe, minimally invasive and accessible contraceptive options.
In short, create an environment for women to be what they want to be.
