Stop ignoring women’s rights

The government’s recently released draft national policy for women surprisingly has left out marital rape, pre-nuptial agreements and personal laws. Though personal laws might be contentious issue and need to be examined again and again, marital rape has been a subject of much discussion and debate among the educated sections of society and this should have formed a part of the national policy document.

However, this is the first time that the national policy for women, formulated way back in 2001, has been revised. But obviously the vital issues that were being raised have not been examined and it remains to be seen whether in the final policy documents, these would be incorporated after further discussion with lawyers, social activists and other stakeholders.

As is well known, there are various laws Prevention of Domestic Violence Act etc. which can be used but the question arises how many women can actually use them? Recall, a high-level committee set up by the UPA government noted that many discriminatory provisions in personal laws undermined the position of women and recommended detailed changes in Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Parsi laws.

The report, submitted to the Ministry of Women and Child Development has yet to be implemented. Scandalously, successive governments have side-stepped these issues but there is need at this juncture for the administration to be forthright and come out with its observations. An example. There have been debates galore against abolishing the triple talaq system and there are several cases regarding this pending in the Supreme Court.

Also with the change of the social system with women’s education spreading far and wide, the opposite sex has been entering the workforce. Moreover, they have become conscious of their rights and try to assert them in family life. In such a situation, marital rape has emerged as an issue which needs to be clearly enumerated in the final policy document.

However, it is good to note that the draft includes provisions for unmarried, divorced and widowed women who constitute 21 per cent of India’s population and number about 73 million, according to the 2011 census, and calls for legislative, economic and social recognition of the single woman category.

As far as India is concerned where secular and progressive attitudes specially towards women have been manifest, there is a lot that the government can do. Women have now steadily become educated, even in rural areas, and should be made aware of their rights in society and the laws that could protect them from all types of exigencies. Only strict implementation of these laws would help women live a better life.

True, crimes against women have increased in some States but it is good to know that these crime reports are now increasingly being filed or being highlighted in the media. But, on the other hand, the opposite sex is still being looked by a section of society as a commodity for pleasure and enjoyment. In sum, this attitude has to change and women have to be given their dignified position in society.

Patriarchy cannot rule in modern day life as both men and women have to be equal partners in society. Unless gender disparity is reduced, one cannot expect a balanced development of society and of the country.

By Dhurjati Mukherjee