Give dignity and not segregation to Women

Recent spurt of tokenism in the cause of woman empowerment by opening exclusive bank branches or women police thanas has confounded the entire policy to give dignity to the women. When Chidambram goes to Mumbai to open a bank branch for women exclusively what is the message to the country? Are we segregating them from normal banks to say that we are unable to protect them in normal branches? This is the same psychology that has given rise to Talibnisation of women in the world that advocates strict purdha and segregation of women to isolate them from contact with men.I concede that separate toilet for women cannot be disputed as there are differing needs of two sexes. But  Banks must give such atmosphere in their functioning that people do not rot in the long waiting queues and rub each other. It needs better management of the functioning of the banks rather than taking away women in special confined places. Similarly the remedy to give safety in police reporting and attendance is to recruit more women not in constables alone but in higher positions of Inspectors and officers. The remedy to unending rapes stories is to treat women with dignity in each organization and also educate them to occupy larger places of influence in society. In this sector we have failed miserably. Nordic countries have 40% women in legislature and Brick countries like Russia, China and Brazil have more than 50% in the world of work. There are only 11% women in Parliament in India  and a bill for 33% representation is languishing. Even if that is passed the situation is not going to improve as we are not doing enough to enable them to reach influential professions and party organizations.

So far no party has provided a solution to the mindset that we give token allocation of tickets from parties to fight elections. Even the ticket are given to only few such candidates who have god fathers or relations at the top positions in the party. The workers who slog are ignored. Unless merit constitutes our standard for selection the existing stalemate will continue.

It is common knowledge that provison for reservation of 50% women in panchyats posts has hardly met its objectives as most of the representatives are illiterate or semi literate making them dependent on others. If we have to empower women we have to open flood gates of professional education to the women instead of doing lip service by passing laws and making a few exclusive places for them. Look at our attitude as shown in Mamta Banerjii words where she blamed the nation for rising rapes and said” Rising number of men and women mix more than they need to. Earlier a man and women hold hands  if caught would be reprimanded by parents but now everything Is open”. A BJP Minister of Goa wants a full dress and not bikini on the beaches. They forget that they are living in global world where internet and media uncovers the entire world. You cannot take country to anachronistic practices and expect the world to come to you for tourism or business. We cannot live in isolation and segregation like Talibans who enforce same stifling life and exploitation of women which we condemn. Strangely BJP does not realize that Hindu civilization was not  purdah prone and women freely participated in different functions and discussions even in Mahabharata and the dress was not for total camouflaging the body as would be needed by the protagonists of anti-bikini or jeans class. The camouflage of women followed Islamic influence. Let there be freedom and liberty so that women equally go ahead and realize their own best in society. Those who look at women only as object of pleasure or greed should be tackled by effective policing and law and order. If we are unable to enforce law and order we cannot tell the women not to move out as it will be retrograde step and moronic thinking. Remedy lies in more women police and strict punishments for use of force or harassment to women.  They should have freedom to move anywhere at any time. Normal risks are always there even in advanced countries .Taking that cue women must, when enabled and educated, use their own discretition.

Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India