On trajectory of prosperity, man traversed the stages in a rough and tough manner for mastery of certain attributes with all out efforts for his advantage. The fruits are visible therein where one can visualise the track record of civilisations, they transcended from one of barbarism to their present state with lot of efforts in entirety. One couldn’t imagine the way we got the present order of life in comparison to that of tribalism and feudalism. The slavery and the class system debarred the ongoing process to sustain movementum with progress in economic security for entire humanity. One such dimension which got sloppy treatment from a section of people is women. Now the concepts of gender and empowerment seems to have attained their right full spot in today’s environment. But how far the truth touches its basis is hidden deep in the mystery of issue as “women empowerment” ipso facto. Why women empowerment? The answer here is to empower the powerless women in plain white.
The developmental part of humanity is multi dimensional in orientation in sync with multifarious interests. There is not a nibble of doubt in development of humanity to maximum expanse. But the question of the time is to gauge the success in bias less court of justice where the trial should be given with argument of its reach to non reachable people vis women , children, disabled and above all poor. Let me elaborate on section of women’s part to their share in development of humanity and subsequent bias in the share of benefits . Right from inception of modern attributes in humanity the predominance of Male section developed in sync with trajectory of human development. For ancient periods there main priority remained limited to “hand to mouth” for survival through traditional means where there was no distinction largely for women folk and subsequent treatment remained satisfactory to both sections. Therefore the analytical approach starts afresh from what we call “industrial revolution” which changed the entire thinking in every angle of humanity. For it the saga remains,  either to compete or perish which heavily acted upon this section. To its fate the time adorned “women just to peace of enjoyment” hindered their progress on nip and tuck lines of their male counterparts. This attitude barred the vital section from attaining education and thus rendered them economically insecure, which of course pave way to their dependency. The onslaught continued to attain the phase of Samaritan dilemma, though the mindset has changed a lot , thanks to ethical standards of religions which prioritise the motherhood of women and debts of humanity to their yore. They accord a prestigious position of high stature to their worthiness.
As the scientific modernism progressed the success was monitored through the prism of economic advantage. Herein lies the problem to rely on excessive materialistic standards which diverted the attention towards the prime concern of prosperity in economic dimension without discriminating between right and wrong. Gradually the mindset changed due to various initiatives to bring parity between sexes in matters of distribution of social goods at large. Ours is a case of different matter, as herein lies the deep bended respect from religious sanctions.  Be it Islam or Hinduism, women’s are accorded place of prominence. But the social development in contemporary fashion progressed contrary to its mandate. There are two specifics to gauge the women empowerment to its real end. The difference in nature of sexes and the difference in social preference which seems antagonistic. On first front women adorned themselves with every jewel through limited  opportunity they got and now it’s general belief among both sections that there’s nothing like superior and inferior between sexes. The question of debate arises from the second front.
The cognitive bias of menfolk for other section raises the demand for their empowerment now. There are two ideological views on this front, either the dominant section had penchant or the efforts of women aren’t upto mark, the market demanded. Whatsoever may be the case, one thing is clear that bias in  distribution of social goods and services later spread its wings to politico economic sphere later. The marked difference remains on the societies of the time to  reassure the vulnerable section of its right. On second level of debate the highest legitimate authority is holded  by the government of the day. Like others the debate in India remained at its place and for the same efforts were directed to rectify the bias to bring parity.
The constitution of the country includes ample provisions to better the lot of women to their advantage. With rule of law and equality in place, our country applauds their  contribution in socio economic development and works on multidimensional fronts to improve their lot . For better, we are a  changed society with changed mindset now. Women are being given opportunity at par with men to bring parity. Be it legislative,  executive or judicial, they  share their numerical majority though in small number. More or less the success story is better with some bleak spots like on one hand we have global icons kalpana chawla,Mary kom, Indra Nooyi, Sushma swaraj, Arundhati Roy,Mithali Raj,Tessy thomas,Indra Gandhi etc say for example with black dots on the other hand in form of  Rising incidences of Rape (Nirbhaya Rape Case), Dowry deaths , Women trafficking, Harassment at public places , Abortion of girl child , illiteracy in vulnerable section to mention a few. The government has remained committed to its task, but their is a scope for empowerment to gauge  the policy of reservation on much more reliable front with complete integration of this Section in society in letter and spirit. To cite an example the bill granting reservation to women  in parliament makes no head away because of in seriousness of dominated section. There are more failures than success on face of democracy from the gender perspective. The programmes of Bheti Bachao Bethi Padao in present form with dovetailing approaches like ladli  Bethi scheme, promotion of SHG’s, reservation in local self government etc are part of our strategy towards women empowerment.
The initiatives when put under the serious scanner brings fore the hidden mystery to scrap the reality ipso facto.  The mystery is in ” women empowerment” itself as far as the role of women are concerned. Why not half of reservation in local self government to ensure parity and equality? Why not right to property for girl child to curb dowry death as their is crystal clear sanction in religious laws as well if not for time being the law should be amended in respective dimension. Why not half reservation in case of employment opportunities to shed the bias in education for women at social level where law has no proper reach say for example ritual bended society. The said policy reforms aren’t asked on part from women as the charity but the right full process to ensure equity. But as is said “The physical form is manifestation of idea”. That is to say the issue of gender is cognitive which requires the refurbishment of mental thinking in tune with equality as law of nature to raise above the cognitive bias towards parity.
To conclude is to remind the saying that “society should be ready for adopting any change otherwise results are bound to prove counterproductive”. Of course government is busy to enhance on legal front but the government is just a representative of public opinion barring some exceptions. Hence the real change should begin from society itself. The issue of public harassment is a slap on face of modern democratic country like India governed by rule of law. The societal abuses like “CHAUPADI”( a former of ritual by some tribals who held belief that women having menstrual cycle is impure, therefore should be separated to far off place  from family till completion of the period which acts upon security of life directly) sends shivers down one’s spine. These and other gender biased abuses should be transformed by society itself on the spirit of motherhood of women, otherwise legal initiatives mean to send coals to New Castle which serves no purpose other than publicity. I  would like to conclude on this note “To realise the dream of women empowerment”. For me the mystery is empowerment the reality is women. The debate should end on” they don’t need doles and handouts  of economic security but complete integration as an essential part thereof”  to shed the distinction of priority on bases of sex.  Let’s hope.

Writer hails from Ganderbal and can be reached at [email protected]