The Myth about Empowerment of Women

The Minister,                                                                                                                       12^th June 2014

Ministry of Women & Child Development

New Delhi

India

Hon’ble Minister,

Re: The Myth about Empowerment of Women 

I bring to your attention as a concerned citizen, gross injustice being perpetuated against women, in flagrant violation of their fundamental rights granted by the Constitution of India, the National policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001), the International Treaty (CEDAW) (1993) ratified by India, the Citizen Charter of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (2013-14), and various legal judgements and rulings to this effect.

The immediate cause of action leading to my presenting an injustice perpetrated on women before you Madam Minister, is the denial of voting rights to women in most social clubs in India, possibly a hangover from the days of the British Raj. The sun has set on the British Empire, but the social clubs of India continue in selective discrimination against women. Women do not have voting rights in social clubs, relegated to being   disparagingly called “spouse members”, i.e. members without the right to participate in the democratic process of selecting the club’s office bearers. I am a member of the Defence Colony (Welfare Association) Club, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024, and am distressed as a citizen to witness in a country that granted universal suffrage by a single stroke of the pen incorporating it in the Constitution of India, clubs continue denying women their fundamental right towards justice in gender equality.  Ostensibly women have been deprived of this right under the guise that women’s rights emanate from their spouse, who are the members of the club, and consequently cannot exercise franchise as independent entities. If such reasoning were to be extrapolated to a national level, all homemaker women would be disenfranchised.

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women

India has also ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

However, there still exists a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies, plans, programmes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the reality as it exists on the ground level. This very obvious aberration exists not in the deep rural hinterland of India, or a poverty drought stricken district, but in the plush clubs of the capital and other metropolitan cities of India.

The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on equal basis with men in all spheres – political, economic, social, cultural and civil and the equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation has been resoundingly endorsed and consequently cannot be denied. Therefore changing society attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of women in all walks of life is almost an evangelical like duty reposed upon all citizens by the state, and every individual witnessing any form injustice must raise his voice in peaceful representation of the perceived injustice. It is in this spirit, Madam Minister, I write to you today, seeking your intervention of reforming / repealing the archaic practice of keeping women away from decision making processes.

The citizens charter 2013-14 of (your) Women and Child Ministry in its mission towards women states:

 “Promoting social and economic empowerment of women through cross-cutting policies and programmes, mainstreaming gender concerns, creating awareness about their rights and facilitating institutional and legislative support for enabling them to realise their human rights and develop to their full potential”.

Conclusion:

Consequently, by the directive principles of the Constitution of India, ratification of international treaties by the Government of India such as, ‘CEDAWS’ (1993) national policies enunciated in ‘National policy for the Empowerment of Women’ (2001) and the Citizens Charter by the Ministry of Women and Child 2013-2014, there remain no ambiguity whatsoever, on country’s views on the equality of women in all walks of life. The fact they are being precluded in social clubs from voting, on the basis of being “spouse members” is gender injustice, contrary to all the positive affirmations made, cutting across all sections of society and state, and needs to be done away with forthwith. I therefore invoke your good offices to initiate all possible measures to enable the application of the principle of universal suffrage to this blatant violation, which lies just before our very eyes, i.e. the social clubs of India.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony

New Delhi

Mob: 9810304580