Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start your answer by briefly discussing the significance of women and women’s organization.
• Discuss their role in education, health, economy, politics and social movements.
• Conclude accordingly.

Introduction

• Women have played a significant role in various spheres of life such as education, health, economy, politics, and social movements. In recent times, women have proved their mettle in diverse fields and have contributed immensely to the development of society.

Body

• Education:
  • Women’s role in education is fundamental as they are the first teachers of a child. Women have played a significant role in the field of education, and it is an area where they have excelled.
  • Women’s organizations have played a pivotal role in providing education to girls and women, which has helped them to become self-reliant and contribute to society.
    • One example of such an organization is the Malala Fund, which was founded by Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist. It aims to provide education to girls in developing countries and has helped millions of girls to get an education.
  • Further, the government has also taken various initiatives to promote education for girls and women. In India, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) campaign aims to promote education for girls and has been successful in increasing the enrollment of girls in schools.
• Health:
  • Women have always played a crucial role in healthcare, especially in the field of maternal and child health. Women’s organizations have been instrumental in providing healthcare services to women, especially in rural areas.
    • One such organization is the White Ribbon Alliance, which aims to improve maternal and child health worldwide. It has been successful in providing healthcare services to women in developing countries, which has reduced maternal and infant mortality rates.
  • The government has also taken various initiatives to promote healthcare for women for e.g., the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) aims to provide healthcare services to women, especially in rural areas.
    • The NRHM has been successful in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
• Economy:
  • Women have always played a significant role in the economy, but their contributions have often been overlooked.
  • Women’s organizations have played a pivotal role in empowering women economically, which has helped them to become self-reliant.
    • One example of such an organization is the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), it aims to empower women economically by providing them with employment opportunities and training.
  • Further, there are various government initiatives that promote economic empowerment for women, like the Mahila E-Haat initiative aims to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.
    • It has been successful in providing employment opportunities for women and has helped them to become self-reliant.
• Politics:
  • Women’s role in politics has always been significant, but their representation in politics has been limited. Women’s organizations have played a crucial role in promoting women’s representation in politics.
    • For example, of such an organization is the National Alliance of Women (NAWO) have played a crucial role in promoting women's political participation.
      • It has conducted several awareness campaigns to encourage women to participate in politics and has also provided training to women on leadership and public speaking.
  • The government has also taken various initiatives to promote women’s representation in politics like, the Women’s Reservation Bill aims to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.
    • The Women’s Reservation Bill has not been passed yet, but it has sparked a debate on women’s representation in politics.
• Social Movements:
  • Women have played a crucial role in several social movements in India. The Chipko movement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan, and the anti-liquor movement in Andhra Pradesh are a few examples where women played a vital role.
    • Women's organizations such as the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) and the All-India Women's Conference (AIWC) have played a crucial role in promoting women's rights and empowering women. These organizations have also provided support to women who have been victims of domestic violence and sexual harassment.
  • Further, the National Commission for Women (NCW) aims to protect and promote the rights of women and has been instrumental in supporting women’s participation in social movements.

Conclusion

Women and women’s organizations have played a significant role in various spheres of life such as education, health, economy, politics, and social movements. Women’s contributions have been instrumental in bringing about change and promoting gender equality. The government has also taken various initiatives to support women’s participation and promote gender equality. However, there is still a long way to go, and more efforts need to be made to ensure that women’s contributions are recognized and their rights are protected.