STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIA

“The day a woman can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence.”
--Mahatma Gandhi
This slide describes about the position where a woman used to stand or stands in the current era or even in the days of vintage and the struggles a woman faces in her day to day life.

1. Presented by- SANJUKTA BANIK

2. INTRODUCTION The status of women in India has been subject to many changes over the last few millennia. Rabindranath Tagore in his novel aforesaid “For we women are not only the deities of the household fire, but the flame of the soul itself.” In modern India, women have been successful in achieving all heights as an athlete, an astronaut, a singer and even as a politician. However, women in India are generally still exposed to numerous social issues. According to a global study by the Thomson Reuters Foundation study, India was named the world's most dangerous country for women.

3. WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA Women controlled vital positions in the ancient Indian society. Indian women during the ancient time was said to be superior to men. They used to take important decisions and were also allowed to choose their own husband. Women enjoyed the tremendous right to education such as Gargi and Maitreyi. Ancient Indian texts describe the influence of the women in the society. Gargi was a prominent participant in the ancient society through the women education in ancient India

4. WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD Medieval India is supposed to be the ‘ dark age ’ for women . As polygamy was a norm that time, ordinary Indians wanted to protect to protect their women from the barbarous Muslim community. ‘Sati’ was practiced where women were forced to jump into the funeral pyre of their husband. Child marriage was a norm in medieval India .   Girls were married off at the age of 8-10. Widow remarriage was also not entertained at that time. Girls were only given education related to household chores.

5. WOMEN IN PRE-INDEPENDENT INDIA Raja Rammohan Roy’s efforts led to the abolition of Sati Practice. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played an important role in the implementation of Widow Remarriage Act. Jhasi Ki Rani led the Indian Rebellion at 1857. The Child Remarriage Act,1929, legalised the age of marriage for girls at 14 and boys at 18 which was later changed to 18 and 21. Many women such at Kasturba Bai, Pritilata Waddedar played an important role in India’s independence.

6. WOMEN IN INDEPENDENT INDIA Women in India now actively participate in education, sports, media, science and technology, politics etc. Indira Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India for a long 15 years making her the world’s longest serving woman Prime Minister. Constitution of India  guarantees equal status to all citizens of India including women under  Article 14   and does not distinguish or discriminate between a man or a woman. The Constitution of India also guarantees- i) to all Indian women equality ( Article 14), ii) no discrimination by the state (Article 15 (1) ), iii) equality of opportunity (Article 16), iv) equal pay for equal work (Article 39 (d) )

7. CURRENT ISSUES GENDER INEQUALITY hampers the overall well-being because blocking women from participating in social, political and economic activities can adversely affect the whole society. GENDER BIAS IN HEALTH: Health concern of women receive a low priority resulting to women bearing pain and discomfort in silence for long period of time without seeking relief. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN: Absence of timely transportation to the nearest hospital is one of the prime cause why women succumb to reproduction related issues. 1000 of women die every year due to lack of basic healthcare facilities.

8. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Violence against women particularly intimate partner violence is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. Globally, 38% of murders of women are committed by male intimate partner. Child sexual abuse usually extends over time and is usually perpetrated by a father or another male family member. The trafficking of women and girls for prostitution, sexual exploitation and forced labour is becoming a highly profitable activity.

9. CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN ACID THROWING S he became the victim of an acid attack for having refused to marry a 32 year-old man when she was only 15. RAPE Nirbhaya was  beaten ,  gang-raped , and  tortured  in a private bus by 6 other men including the driver. THUSHARA DOWRY DEATH Demanding dowry, her husband and in-laws locked up in a room giving only sugar water and soaked rice. LAXMI AGARWAL JYOTI SINGH

10. CONCLUSIO N Women represent half the world’s population, and gender inequality exits in every nation on the planet. Until women are given the same opportunities that men are, entire society will be destroyed to perform below their true potentials. The greatest need of the hour is change of social attitude to women. AN EDUCATED WOMEN CAN FEED A FAMILY, BUT AN EDUCATED WOMAN CAN SPEED ITS GROWTH