Deep Discrimination

The persistence of hunger and abject poverty in India and other parts of the world is due in large measure to the subjugation, marginalization and disempowerment of women. The irony lies in the fact that it is women who bear the primary responsibility for actions needed to end hunger: education, nutrition, health and family income. If we look through the lens of hunger and poverty, it will become apparent that there are seven major areas of discrimination against women in India: malnutrition, poor health, lack of education, overwork, lack of skills, mistreatment and powerlessness. Indian maternal mortality rates in rural areas are among the highest in the world. Pregnancy is still viewed in many minds as a temporary condition that will disappear. The deep reluctance to seek medical care is evident by poor acceptance of such services. In many States, registration for maternal and child health services has been seen to be as low as five to 22 per cent in rural areas and 21 to 51 per cent in urban areas. Women receive far less education than men, due both to social norms and fears of violence. The Constitution guarantees free primary school education for both boys and girls up to the age of 14 years. However, primary education in our country is not universal. The literacy rate for women is 39 per cent as against 64 per cent for men. Attendance rates from the 1981 census suggest that no more than a third of all girls (and a lower proportion of rural girls) in the 5-14 years age bracket are attending school. To talk of another aspect, the extent of women’s contribution to agriculture is aptly highlighted by a micro-study conducted in the Indian side of the Himalayas which found that on a one-hectare farm, a pair of bullocks works 1,064 hours, a man 1,212 hours, and a woman 3,485 hours in a year!

Unequal access to education restricts women’s abilities to learn skills that require even functional levels of literary. In terms of skills development, women are impeded by their lack of mobility, low literary levels and prejudiced attitude towards them. Given the reality, transforming the prevailing social discrimination against women must become the top priority of the government and it must happen concurrently with increased direct action to rapidly improve the social and economic status of women. Indeed, we have miles to go before we can sleep. source: the sentinel assam