Mains Marathon 2024

Introduction

The women’s movement in India has laid the foundation for ongoing progress towards gender equality and continues to inspire efforts for women’s rights both within India and globally. The movement has played a crucial role in empowering women by advocating for their rights and challenging traditional gender roles. However, challenges remain in addressing the issues faced by women from lower social strata.

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The women’s movement has seen several important achievements:

• Legal Reforms: The Protection of Human Rights Act (1993) established mechanisms for protecting women’s rights, while the Domestic Violence Act (2005) provides legal recourse for survivors of domestic abuse.
• Political Representation: The 73^rd and 74^th Constitutional Amendments reserved one-third of seats for women in local governance, boosting their participation in decision-making.
  • The Constitution (106^th Amendment) Act, 2023, reserves one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
• Public Campaigns: The #MeToo movement has been instrumental in highlighting sexual harassment, leading to increased public discourse and legal reforms. For example, the Supreme Court’s guidelines on workplace sexual harassment were influenced by these campaigns.
• Educational Initiatives: Schemes like the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) aim to promote female education and empowerment. The program has seen success in increasing female enrollment in schools.

Women from lower socio-economic backgrounds face unique challenges:

• Poverty: Economic hardship limits access to basic necessities and opportunities. For instance, the rural poor often struggle with inadequate healthcare, leading to higher maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Limited Access to Services: Inadequate educational infrastructure in rural areas prevents women from benefiting fully from national programs.
• Child Marriage: Despite legal prohibitions, child marriage persists, particularly in rural areas.
  • Estimates suggest that each year, at least 1.5 million girls under 18 get married in India.
• Compounded Discrimination: Dalit women in India experience compounded discrimination due to the intersection of caste and gender. This dual marginalization often exacerbates their vulnerability and limits their access to resources, opportunities, and justice.
• Urban Focus: Urban-centric advocacy sometimes overlooks rural issues. For example, while urban women have seen improvements in workplace conditions, rural women continue to face exploitation in informal labor markets.
• Inadequate Representation: Leadership roles in women’s organizations often lack representation from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This has led to a disconnect between the movement's priorities and the needs of marginalized women.
• Implementation Gaps: Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have faced criticism for poor implementation in rural areas. Reports have shown that funds are often misused or poorly allocated, leading to limited impact.

Conclusion

Addressing the issues faced by women from lower socio- economic strata requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond surface-level reforms. It involves implementing policies that target the root causes of socio-economic disparities, enhancing access to quality education and healthcare, and addressing cultural and social barriers that perpetuate inequality. Effective policy implementation, increased grassroots involvement, and a focus on inclusive representation are critical to bridging the gaps.